MOVIE OF THE WEEK (6/21/19): TOY STORY 4

"Hey buddy ... Shouldn't there be a plastic knife around here?" Forky (voiced by Tony Hale)—Bonnie's craft-project-turned-toy—gets used to his new surroundings as Woody (Tom Hanks) tries to get him to embrace being a toy. Credit: Pixar. © 2019 Dinsey/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Madeleine McGraw, Ally Maki, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Joan Cusack, Kristen Schaal, Bonnie Hunt, Lori Alan and Jay Hernandez

DIRECTOR(S): Josh Cooley

WEB SITE: https://movies.disney.com/toy-story-4

THE BACK STORY: Beginning with a flashback to events 9 years ago, Toy Story 4 finds Woody (Tom Hanks) adjusting to a new role under the ownership of Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw): A toy regulated to the back of the closet with some of the other toys she inherited from his former owner Andy. Sure, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and some of the rest of the gang are regularly played with, but Woody and company are all finding themselves taking a backseat to the newest toy in the collection: Forky (Tony Hale), the spork turned toy creation Bonnie made at kindergarten.

With Bonnie's parents set to take her out on vacation, Woody finds himself tasked with convincing Forky he is not "trash" but a new toy that Bonnie needs to help her get through the day. But once they are out on the road, Woody discovers a whole world he never existed – which is why a reunion with an old friend in Bo Peep (Annie Potts) and a new adversary in Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and her voiceless ventriloquist dummies could amount to a serious life-altering experience. But fortunately, with Bo's help and assistance in the form of Canada's greatest stuntman Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) and carnival prizes Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele), Woody might have a chance to make things right once his latest epic adventure begins.

If not, he could end up becoming a lost toy like so many others – and if Woody isn't Bonnie's favorite toy, or at the very least, has a child that claims him, what will he be?

THE REVIEW: Next to perhaps Up, Toy Story 3 is arguably the most emotional, intellectually stimulating and deeply constructed animated film ever produced under the Disney•Pixar banner. And for many, the heartwarming film was the perfect end to the Toy Story story.

Then, someone got an idea to make a fourth installment, much to excitement of some fans and the chagrin of others. For while a fourth film could be great, it also had the potential to ruin one of the few truly great animated franchises.

Notice the word "had" instead of "has" – because Toy Story 4, while not quite a classic, is definitely a welcome addition to the franchise for it continues to touch on the things that make children of all ages enjoy it so much.

Still able to grab the imagination of both the young and young at heart, Toy Story 4 works not so much because of its premise, but because of the storytelling and emotional depth it goes into with each of its characters. Be it Tony Hale bringing out the fun in a common plastic utensil going from thinking it is simply trash to understanding its important role in a young child's life to character arc Christina Hendricks' as a rejected doll with a broken voice box, the movie also does an excellent job of exploring how the different facets of play reveal the different impacts they can have on one's life, be it human or plastic.

Of course, the perfect comedic excellence of new side characters like Duke Caboom show why John Wick's namesake is having a banner year as Keanu Reeves plays his stuntman action figure part perfectly with equal parts silly and serious. Fans of the show Key & Peele will likewise revel in the duo's (sadly temporary) reunion as the duo proves they haven't lost a step in delivering big, expertly-timed laughs since going their separate ways professionally to pursue various interests. Add in the other secondary characters throwing around jokes like quick 1-2 punches and you've got an ensemble cast that would give Saturday Night Live a run for its money ... If it were animated, told one long sketch and was more child-centric.

This isn't to suggest the older characters aren't in top form, however. Hanks still makes Woody a character that is thoughtful, the moral compass of the story and yet still evolving, as does Allen in his role as the venerable Lightyear. Potts provides plenty of girl power as Bo Peep, showcasing a strong, fearless feminine role in a positive, productive sense.

Overall, Toy Story 4 does what every good Pixar movie does in the end: It helps us explore, through something simple, all of the various highs and lows of life – childhood in particular – that many of us forget or let fall by the wayside in our adult lives. In showing how we all want to be loved and valued in the world, Disney•Pixar delivers another film of value to moviegoers of all ages ... All while setting up a possible part 5. Director Josh Cooley deserves all the kudos coming his way for making the world of Toy Story 4 vibrant and alive as ever, presenting real potential peril at moments when necessary before landing at the film’s eventual upbeat climax.

In the meantime, however, fans of the franchise will just have to be satisfied with enjoying how old toys can create fresh memories that will last thru childhood and beyond.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):