I distinctly remember my 8-year-old movie loving self seeing a little film called “Toy Story” back in 1995 and being completely blown away. I had never seen animation like that before, and I couldn’t get enough of Woody, Buzz and the whole gang from Andy’s toy chest. And when the sequel hit theaters in 1999, it was somehow as charming and captivating as the first. Now, 15 years after the original’s release, a third installment is about to grace the screen.
In “Toy Story 3,” Andy (voiced again by original Andy, John Morris) is all grown up and heading off to college. Now that he’s outgrown his childhood toys, his mother takes them to a daycare center where dozens of unruly tots can enjoy them. Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the gang try to adjust to their new lifestyle and meet a host of other toys along the way, including a pink bear named Lotso (Ned Beatty) and Barbie’s true love, Ken (Michael Keaton). But the gang soon starts plotting their escape, which of course doesn’t go as planned.
I’m always a little hesitant about threequels, especially if they come out more than a decade after the first film, but Pixar hasn’t released a bad movie yet, and I don’t think “Toy Story 3” will be an exception. All of the original cast is back (except Jim Varney, who died in 2000), and it looks like the magic of the first two films is back as well.
“Toy Story 3” hits theaters Friday. Check out five clips from the movie below.
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