“Toy Story 4” is as good as you hoped

Though it seemed unnecessary after the already-perfect ending we got from “Toy Story 3,” “Toy Story 4” somehow manages to pull off the seemingly impossible feat of bringing an even more satisfying closing to the series. In fact, it’s hard to say at the moment, in my opinion, whether or not it might be second best of the franchise to only the original. But for the love of all that is holy, Disney, don’t make any more!

It’s heartwarming, funny, nostalgic and a total blast from the opening credits to the end of the closing credits. In it we find Woody (Tom Hanks) watching over new toy and school craft project, Forky (Tony Hale), and the entire gang of toys takes a road trip that has them cross paths with an old friend, Bo Peep (Annie Potts).

But for a seemingly simple premise, it must be emphasized how many incredible layers of emotionality and reflections on life this movie has while simultaneously being hilarious and fun enough to keep the attention spans of small children.

“Toy Story 4” explores themes of one’s own relevance and meaning of existence, the pursuit of happiness and purpose, self-sacrifice to the point of one’s own detriment and loss, the pain of holding onto the past, expanding one’s own views and world, and even the bittersweet trope of a cowboy’s last ride.

Tom Hanks is as great as always, proving once again he’ll be remembered as “America’s Dad,” but something about his tone and delivery here seems particularly heartfelt and fatherly, especially when in scenes that have his character reflect on his past and what he’s left behind him. The plot has Woody examine his own relevance and desire to always be the watchful protector and leader of the toys and realizing all he has given and even parted with over the years. It’s hard not to get choked up just a tiny bit at times simply at the sound of Hanks’s voicework going through these scenes.

Annie Potts makes a great return here as Bo Peep, after being missing from “Toy Story 3.” However, her absence from the third film is perhaps the biggest reason for this movie’s existence, and aside from Woody she is the other lynchpin that gives the movie loads of heart and its central plot. She’s also the source of some great laughs involving what Bo Peep has done all these years, and the extended screen time for Bo allows Potts to really expand on the character as the series never was quite able to do before, making her far more fleshed out and three dimensional.

And though Woody and Bo Peep are sort of the co-leads of the show here, don’t expect any less heroism, screen time or fun from Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear, who still voices Buzz with as much enthusiasm, gusto and love for the character as always. His noble subplot of loyalty to Woody and finding his own self-reliance becomes just as lovable and absolutely tear-jerking by the end of the movie.

The loads of instant classic new characters may however make up the bulk of the comedy. Tony Hale is great as Forky, and Keanu Reeves’ steals every one of his handful of scenes as Duke Caboom, a Canadian motorcycle stuntman toy. But the laugh factory of the movie might be Ducky and Bunny, voiced respectively by master comedy duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. Their entire character shticks will probably be loved by both the kids and adults alike as their interactions play out very much like if they had done a “Toy Story” skit on their former show “Key and Peele” (just a bit more family friendly.)

Lastly, a compliment to Pixar’s finest animation to date. Watching the original “Toy Story” and then this (hopefully) final entry back-to-back is a mind-boggling contrast in animation and technological progress. There is so much love and detail put into every frame of this film you could watch it twice more just to catch all sorts of references, visual quirks, background happenings, and probably a few hidden Mickeys somewhere in there to boot.

There’s no doubt that if you enjoyed the other films in the series you’ll enjoy “Toy Story 4,” and it may really move you seeing this series finally go off into the sunset, especially those of you who grew up with it as I and many others did. But for a G-rated family film, it is one of the most successfully character-driven movies of the year and a fantastic and perfect finale for the beloved gang of toys we’ve loved for so long.

“Toy Story 4” ascends easily to infinity and beyond as one of the best films of the year and possibly one of the best animated movies of all time.

George Haerle holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing for media and lives in Cosmopolis.