Yesterday my husband and I went to see “Toy Story 4”.

In preparation of seeing this movie we re-watched the first three movies in the franchise since he had never seen “Toy Story 2” or “Toy Story 3”. Back in 2010 when “Toy Story” 3 came out I was fearful that Disney and Pixar were being greedy and would ruin a story that I loved so much. Back then I had nothing to fear because “Toy Story 3” was a truly amazing movie, not just an animated movie but an amazing movie. It touched on themes of friendship, and aging, and letting go. When I re-watched “Toy Story 3” earlier this week I was just as moved as I was the first time when I watched it in the theatre nearly a decade ago. The fact that “Toy Story 3” ended on such a perfect note with Andy leaving for college and giving his beloved toys to Bonnie was such a perfect way to end the series…and I still believe that it was the perfect way to end the series.

I had the similar fears going into “Toy Story 4” that I had going into “Toy Story 3”, that Disney and Pixar were milking a story that had already come to its natural conclusion. Be aware this review contains spoilers.

Nine years ago, my fears were unfounded but unfortunately this time my fears were justified. “Toy Story 4” feels like an extended epilogue that didn’t need to told. I don’t think that “Toy Story” 4 adds anything to the franchise, in fact for the first time I feel like there are inconsistencies in the characters that amount to sloppy writing. It is natural that new characters are introduced but there are so many characters introduced in this film that so many of the toys that we have grown to love since at least “Toy Story 2” are relegated to the sidelines. In fact, I feel like even Buzz is really a secondary character this time around. I like that Bo Peep is a strong independent woman who has made a life on her own.

However,  I feel like this is ruined by the fact that at the end she ends up with Woody. In all honesty I know I couldn’t expect Disney not to reinforce hetero-normative values but it’s still annoying. Going back to Buzz for a moment. In “Toy Story 2” Buzz is very aware of what he needs to do when Woody is kidnapped, yet in this movie we are presented with a Buzz that can’t figure out what to do unless he presses his buttons. This is giant inconstancy in the character that really bugs me. I also have a real problem with how the villain is rewarded for bad behavior. Gabby Gabby basically mutilates Woody in order to “fix” herself and she gets a happy ending.

What is that about? When you consider how dark “Toy Story 3” is I think Disney and Pixar missed a real opportunity to address the topic of how to accept yourself and thrive when you are born with a disability. Instead we see somebody who was born with a disability turned into a hateful, envious, villainous woman who imprisons people to perform involuntary surgery on them. That is messed up.

I am also a little troubled by the character of Woody. In both the original “Toy Story” and here in “Toy Story 4” he freaks out when he is not the number one toy. In a way I find this as a metaphor for straight white men (and let’s get real Woody is the equivalent of a straight white man in this story). What do straight white men do when they find their power threatened…Well, in “Toy Story” Woody pouts and tries to knock Buzz behind the bed so he can go to Pizza Planet.

In this movie he abandons his friends (after multiple films of him saying how important it is for everybody to stay together) and Bonnie because he just can’t stand that other toys (especially Dolly and Jesse, girl toys) are preferred over him.

Yuck…Also at some point Andy will find out that Woody is a lost toy. If Woody still cares about Andy why would he do that? Andy was going to take Woody to college, after all.

I don’t hate that I saw “Toy Story 4” but I hate that Disney and Pixar made it. Given that Disney can’t ever let things go I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a “Toy Story 5” in the next five to fifteen years but I will not be seeing it in the theatre. I don’t want to reward bad behavior by the world’s greediest mouse.

I can’t truly recommend “Toy Story 4”. I wanted to be surprised but I just wasn’t. Too Bad.

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Here is a description:

Justin Gomez and his sister, Terri, have never been close. Separated by nine years and distant in adulthood, Justin and Terri have little in common, except for the love of her three children. In the days before they embark on a road trip to visit the father that once abandoned them and their now deceased mother, both Terri and Justin are dealing with unexpected changes in their lives. Justin surprisingly realizes he might want more than a series of one night stands after a first date goes unexpectedly well. After a lifetime of being a strong type A personality, Terri is forced to confront the reality of the end of her marriage. As they hit the road, with Terri’s children in tow, they find themselves forced to rely on and confide in each other following a devastating event. Confronted with memories from the past and challenges from the present, Terri and Justin must dig deep and unearth the truth about themselves and their parents in order to build a new family based on their love for each other.