Out of all of Pixar's computer animated Toy Story movies, the second one is my personal favorite. I think it is brilliant, and even tops the first one, which, itself, is pure joy. While Toy Story 3 is a lot of fun and a good movie, it is my least favorite because I feel it recycles too many ideas and situations from the first two films. So, I was worried that a fourth trip to the well might come up stale (Lethal Weapon 4 or Scream 4, anyone?). Well, Toy Story 4 isn't quite Toy Story 2, but it is still an absolutely wonderful and inventive film.
In kindergarten class, young Bonnie (voice of Madeleine McGraw) creates a new toy out of a spork and pipe cleaners and names him Forky (voice of Tony Hale). The problem with Forky is that he considers himself trash and not a toy and is always attempting to throw himself away. It is up to cowboy doll Woody (Tom Hanks) to keep an eye on the plastic spork because Forky is Bonnie's favorite. However, during a family roadtrip, Forky makes his escape, so Woody goes after him. Of course, spaceman action figure Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) isn't going to let Woody do it alone. Needless to say, our favorite toys end up trying to escape from a creepy as hell antique shop complete with a vintage baby doll, Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), who wants Woody's voice box. Her ventriloquist dummy henchmen are total nightmare fuel and may scare small children...because they scared me.
The characters responsible for the biggest and loudest laughs are a couple of plush carnival dolls, Ducky and Bunny (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele respectively), who are sewn together by the hand. Look out for the "plush rush".
Toy Story 4 is all about love - love lost and wanting to be loved. It's also abundantly clear that this movie was made with love.
