Edgar Cochran ✝️’s review published on Letterboxd:
Before the release of this film, there was a pretty strongly established consensus that the cycle the third entry in the franchise closed did not require expansion under almost any possible justification. However, there is an inherent loyalty towards all of us Pixar Animation Studios supporters to just give one more chance. In a way, we are experimenting with our preconceived notions. Thanks to the avid work and reputation of this studio, whose outcome is now random in quality (although it still has more ups and downs, with the downs being the majority of sequels and prequels), we are always encouraged to challenge our expectations.
What this film does is something unnecessary in a good way. It isn’t the best way, mainly because the establishment of the relationship between Bonnie and the beloved toy characters was not as memorable and iconic as that of Andy’s during the first entry. In order to introduce new characters, few of them quite likeable and a hugely interesting antagonist with a character arc much more interesting and rounded than the flat Lotso, the Bonnie storyline is quite sidetracked after the first chapter, which could be said was only used to create the new centerpiece of this story, “Forky”... definitely a cult character in my eyes! However, it is a subpar adventure, not worth spending time on.
The film shows, from time to time, traces of dependency towards the original trilogy (not always as melodramatically as during the first 15 minutes that were exposition seeking for additional plot elements to throw at you), but uses this in a way that turns out to be somewhat productive, such as Woody confusing Bonnie’s name with Andy’s during one key scene. Unlike the third film, however, which I disliked given how derivative of forced Dreamworks humor it came out to be and how much it recycled the same plot points and character conflicts from the original masterpiece, this film is more independent during the remaining 85 minutes. However, not even Pixar's trademarks save the film. Bonnie is an adorable character that is not explored enough. The relationship between her and her new toys are as a given, and the conflict at hand is not self-sustaining enough to be understood and empathized with. Adding the concept of "conscience" to the toys is quite insane for reasons of ambition, but I won't complain entirely at how it was managed. After all, the prologue of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) did it indirectly, appealing to the self-destructive nature of humans and how we tend to shut down our conscience, individual or collective.
I found surprising how unpredictable the whole plot evolution was, and Gabby Gabby is one fascinating character (my favorite, to be honest, excluding the original ones), but what surprised me the most was how the film decided to end, which of course I won’t mention. There was a search much more mature than the one plot summaries, posters and trailers sell you, and it is a very brave, but fair decision. It is actually the most sensible, in my opinion. Outcomes are unexpected and they appeal to personal growth. This film turned out to be much more emotionally resonant and moving than the one I expected, but please do consider my standards were those of the third installment. The humor, you ask? Random, quite forced, like the embarrassing predecessor.
All in all, media is promoting this film as the unnecessary film nobody asked for, and it quite is. Some characters are modified in personality beyond surrealism. That makes you question how much actually a story should or shouldn’t be continued. The resolution of this film, funnily enough, has no further development THIS TIME. But, who knows... As long as they are not feature-film projects aimed at monetizing, because this one surely didn’t.
Paradoxically, the third film wasn’t the film I needed nor the one that was supposed to be, and this is the film nobody of us thought that needed and turned out to be what the third film should have been (except for the ending of part 3, which became iconic). In average, none of both worked fully.
Oh, and please, stay for the entirety of the credits. One of my favorite scenes is there, and the PIXAR logo closes... Well, you’ll see. Adorable.
53/100
P.S. Just like I appreciated the nod to Totoro in Part 3, I hugely appreciated the nod to Tin Toy (1988) in this one!
