Toy Story 4: For the Kids or the Fans?

Toy Story 4 Discussion Questions and Review

To Know Before You Go:

Movie: Toy Story 4
Rating: G
Age Suggestion: 5 and up
Running Time: 1 hr. and 40 min.
Release Date: 6/21/2019
Stars: 3 out of 5
Themes: Friendship, loyalty, and purpose
Warnings: slightly creepy characters (Looking at you weird ventriloquist dolls) and scenes, mild violence, and small jump scares

Quick Summary:

Woody, Buzz and the original crew are back, but this time Bonnie’s here and a whole new world of adventures are ahead. Join the crew along with a host of new characters as they create friendships, escape peril, and discover new settings!

For the fans or the kids?: This is the very first Pixar movie that we felt seemed like just a money grab. Revamping the series so that they could also revamp the characters and world at the themeparks and for sales. If you’re a longtime fan- we did not think it was better than Toy Story 3 and this one did not leave us in tears or as happy as the 3rd installment. If you’re taking a group of kids however, they will probably love it. This ones for the kids.

Toy Story 4 Discussion Questions:

1- Who was your favorite character in this movie? Why did you like them?

2- Have you ever taken a toy on a trip or to school? Can toys help us when we are afraid? Why are our toys so important to us?

3- Why does Woody ignore his friends advice? How does that work out for him?

4- Gabby Gabby does some pretty bad this and never really says she is sorry. If you hurt someone else, why is it important to tell them that you are sorry?

5- What is your favorite toy in your house? Why is it your favorite?

Reviews (Contains slight spoilers):

Thoughts from the Hobbit

-As we have come to expect from Pixar, the animation is beautiful and flawless. The characterizations are wonderful, and some fantastic actors and actresses voice the characters. There is a fair amount of humor – all completely clean. For these reasons, kids will love Toy Story 4. However, the plot is thin and contains some problematic elements. These are not what you might normally worry about – this is rated G and there is nothing that is not “family friendly”. The problem is the philosophy – the story behind the story.

-There are two things in the movie that troubled me. One was that Woody continually broke rules, ignored advice, and endangered his friends – all seemingly for a “good cause” but really, as we find out, because he lacks purpose. At the end of the movie he has a new purpose and everything is therefore OK. The movie implies that breaking rules, ignoring advice, and putting friends in danger is fine as long as you are doing it with a “pure heart” – and that if you are it all works out in the end without consequences. For those of you interested, it is heavy on utilitarianism.

-The other is something that has become all too typical – a postmodern take on the “villain”. Even though Gabby Gabby and her dummies do some pretty awful things, they are really not bad – just misunderstood. In all of this, we fail to see the characters develop and grow significantly.

-I did like that the family was loving and supportive. The movie certainly says that we need purpose. And Woody rejecting his friends and them coming back after him could be a great analogy for God loving us even when we reject Him. However, I would suggest you talk to your kids after the movie as they are going to absorb some things without realizing it.

Thoughts from the Ent
-I have so many mixed feelings about this movie. My quick summary would be this: children will most likely really enjoyed this movie, but if you are an adult who loved how the trilogy ended, it may not be for you. There are several good things about this movie: the new characters, the fantastic animation, and some feel good moments. The main problem I have was just the overall feeling that this was a money grab from Pixar (which I really haven’t felt about most Pixar movies in the past). The plot is okay, but it does not have anything inspired and I personally did not enjoy the end of the movie.

-By far, one of the most enjoyable parts of the movie were the new characters introduced. Forky, a spork going through an existential crisis, and Ducky and Bunny, two hilarious characters voiced by Key and Peele, and Duke Caboom, a Canadian Evil Knievel rip off (voiced by Keanu Reeves) were all stand outs in a huge and very talented cast.

-The character development in this movie is very hit and miss. Seeing old classics come back and have their story come full circle was very fulfilling. One the other side of the spectrum, the new “villain” of this movie (Gabby Gabby) had such an odd, unfulfilling character arch. The overall story of Woody also came off as rushed and awkward to me, but I may be in the minority

If you haven’t seen any of the original trilogy, we have quick summaries with affiliate links.

Toy Story

Toys come to life when people aren’t around. Woody is Andy’s favorite toy, well, until Buzz Lightyear the astronaut becomes his new most prized possession. Buzz does not even try to fit in with the other toys because he believes he is on a misson. Woody and Buzz don’t see eye to eye for more reasons than that. But by the end of the movie, after a lot of adventuring through crazy places like pizza planet with the claw, they become friends.

Toy Story 2

Everything is going wonderfully for Andy’s toys. Until Woody gets taken from a garage sale by a crazy collector. Captivated by the new ,seemingly forever stable, family and purpose he thinks he has found, Woody does not want to go back to Andy.  This time Buzz has to save Woody and remind him how fulfilling it is to be a beloved toy. This time the adventures take them through stores, car rides and the main action takes place in an airport. In the end, Andy accepts Woody’s new friends as his own.

Toy Story 3

The toys worst nightmare seems to be coming true. Andy is getting ready to leave for college and they are being left behind. Instead of staying in the attic the toys get donated to a daycare center. The daycare center is filled with misused and abused toys run by the super evil bear Lotso. In finding their way back to Andy, most of the toys end up headed to a dump. There is a pivotal, emotional scene where the toys are headed to a fiery demise and are rescued by the claw aliens. After getting back to Andy the toys get given to a little girl, Bonnie. Andy gives them away to her to play with one by one and then plays with her and the toys before he leaves. A beautiful end that had everyonnnne tearing up or ugly crying.

Get the full trilogy here.
Check out the figure pack here

Check out some of our other Disney and Pixar movie reviews below:
–Ralph Breaks the Internet
–Incredibles 2
–Coco

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