Toy Story (1995) Review

"This isn't flying, it's falling with style!"
-Buzz Lightyear




Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks) is the favorite toy of a young boy, Andy (John Morris), and the leader of all of Andy's toys.  When Andy gets a new toy for his birthday, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) seems to replace Woody as the favorite.  The rivalry between them grows until they both inadvertently end up outside of Andy's house and in the next-door neighbor's, which is home to Sid (Erik von Detten), a boy who tortures and destroys toys for fun.  With only a couple days before Andy moves away, Woody and Buzz have to learn to work together to escape Sid's house of horrors.


What Works:

The real question is: what doesn't work with this movie?  Toy Story is in my Top 10 movies of all time and it's as close to perfect as a movie can get.  Nostalgia certainly plays a factor, but I can't honestly think of a single flaw.  The pacing is excellent and the story never gets tiresome.  The locations switch up often enough and each gives the film a very distinct feeling.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are both excellent.  Allen commits to Buzz's delusions to the point you almost believe him.  Hanks gives much-needed charisma to Woody, who is an extremely unlikable protagonist, but Hanks makes him such an interesting character that you don't have to like him to be engaged by his story.  He also has an amazing character arc and the bond he and Buzz form feels completely genuine.

Sid's room is an effectively terrifying location.  I love the look of the room with all of the multi-color posters and weird toys Woody and Buzz encounter.  It gives you a real sense of danger no matter how many times you watch the film.

Sid himself is an extremely scary antagonist.  He murders toys.  Woody and Buzz's lives are on the line.  It's insanely dark for a kids movie and I really appreciate it.  The toys coming back to terrorize Sid still gives me chills to this day.

I love the design of Pizza Planet and wish the one at Disney World was more like the one in the movie.  It's just another awesome design in a movie that's full of them.

Finally, the 3rd act moving truck chase is well-structured and totally epic.  It's such a well constructed sequence and is a roller coaster of emotions.  When Buzz and Woody fall with style, the music gives me goosebumps and I can't help but grin from ear to ear.


What Sucks:

I got nothing for you.


Verdict:

Pixar's first movie may still be their best.  Toy Story is a perfect film with amazing performances, excellent pacing, well-designed locations, and thrilling sequences.  I can't think of any flaws and still love the movie as much as I did when I was a kid.  There is no question that Toy Story has got it going on.

 10/10: Amazing          

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