Deep Dive - Toy Story 3

We polled our entire team and ranked every Toy Story film across six categories. We weighted each category based on their overall value to the success of the movie.

Film: Toy Story 3

Release Date: June 18, 2010

Reception

Box Office

Trailer:

Synopsis: The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.

Analysis: Last time, everyone had to convince Woody to return to Andy's. This time, Woody has to convince everyone else to return to Andy's. These movies are also always about the toys questioning how much their owner wants them and trying to maximize their own play time or preserve themselves. I hope my toys don't question my loyalty as often as these ones question Andy's. I better go tell them before they try to escape my parents' attic.

 Grade: 9.7/10

Analysis: The toys are in a depressed state at the start of Toy Story 3, having been ignored in the toy chest for what was probably years. They must have been so confused listening in on the things Andy was getting into as he became a teenager. Woody's resolve through all of that, and the other toys once they were convinced of Andy's intentions, is truly inspiring. However, even Woody changes his tune when he realizes the most important thing they can do is to all stay together and continue to provide happiness to other children.

 Grade: 9.4/10

Name: Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear

Bio: A big, cuddly bear who smells like strawberries. Was accidentally abandoned and replaced by his original owner. Is still very salty about it.
 

Evil Plan: Take control of Sunnyside Daycare so he can keep certain toys trapped with the rowdiest children and allow himself and his officers to maintain the highest quality playtime for themselves.
 

Analysis: It gives us chills when Lots-o's soft exterior gives way and his nasty, evil interior is revealed. He is a great example of having a calm, charming demeanor and calculating intelligence in executing his evil plan that is the foundation of a great villain. Maybe we should have included him in our Take 5 podcast for top movie villains.

Grade: 9.5/10
 

The College Dropout

Antonio Buzzderas

True Grit

Veggie Monster

Second Eye Blind

T- Wreckx-n-Effect

Money In The Bank

Stretch Dogstrong

Bullseye Horseman

Bobs The Builders

Barbie 2020

Bruce Wayne

Notorious B.A.B.Y.

Trixie-Normous

Too Old For This

Child's Play 2

Sid You Miss Me?

Analysis: This time they really opened up the world and added all kinds of new toys to the cast with some star-studded voices. Michael Keaton as Ken stole the show, but they were all fantastic. Bonnie was set up as the perfect successor to Andy with how adorable she is and her wild imagination. It was also nice to see all those hours of therapy that Sid must have had after his traumatizing experience in the first Toy Story paid off, as he seems to have turned out fine.

Grade: 10/10

 Analysis: After Toy Story 2 was slightly lacking in humor, Pixar stepped up the creativity to the levels we saw in the first Toy Story with hilarious new characters and by adding spice to the old characters. Bringing in Barbie and Ken did wonders and everything they did was fire. Buzz took flamenco lessons for months leading up to filming, which also paid off. That's a great example of an actor who isn't satisfied just phoning it in with the same performance that has worked in the past.

 Grade: 9.3/10

Analysis: Don't even try telling us you didn't cry during this movie. You did, just like us, and that's perfectly normal. The furnace scene was done in a way that drove home the suspense and made us bawl when the toys held hands and seemingly accepted their fate. The changing of the guard to Bonnie was another touching scene and appeared to be the perfect ending to this trilogy. Let's hope Toy Story 4 doesn't ruin that would-be conclusion.

Grade: 10/10
 

Death By Monkeys

New Stomping Grounds

Analysis: Toy Story 3 embodied everything that made the original so great and added onto the established world to make this a worthy sequel. It was even nominated for Best Picture. Even though they could pump out Toy Story films until the end of time and make boatloads of money, Pixar is said to be getting away from making sequels after Toy Story 4, so enjoy the likely conclusion of the franchise.

Grade: 9.6/10

Image Credits: Disney