“Toy Story 4” Film Review
Why this is a perfect conclusion
SPOILER ALERT
After a nostalgic callback to its predecessor’s conclusion, Toy Story 4 begins by throwing us back in time to a suspenseful attempt by Woody and the gang to rescue one of Andy’s toys, RC. At the same time, their owner’s sister Molly is giving away some of her toys — including Bo Peep: one of Woody’s closest friends. After saving RC, Woody ventures outside to help Bo sneak back into the house. Woody pleads with Bo to stay…but she insists it’s her time to go.
She implies that Woody should go with her by saying, “You know, kids lose their toys everyday…” After careful contemplation Woody places his hands on the box that Bo stands in, nearly joining her in leaving. But before he can get in, Woody looks over to see a distraught Andy looking for his favorite toy. He realizes, leaving isn’t what would be best for Andy, therefore it is not what would be best for Woody.
Plot Points
The function of plot points are simple: they move the story forward. Let’s look at our plot points.
Plot Point 1
Up until plot point 1, Woody’s task has been to make sure Forky stays by Bonnie since he is the most important toy to her at the moment. After her successful kindergarten orientation, Bonnie’s parents decide to reward her with a family road trip in an RV. At nighttime, Forky chases his mysterious belief that he was made to be trash by jumping out of the RV window. His jumping out of the RV changes the direction of the story. This means that Plot Point 1 is Forky jumping out of the RV, which calls Woody to chase after him: this pushes us into Act 2.
Plot Point 2
The film's antagonist is undoubtedly Gabby Gabby: the misunderstood child’s doll — but we’ll get to her in a bit. Gabby’s motivation throughout the film is to obtain Woody’s voice box since they were made around the same time. Gabby has a defective voice box which she believes to be the reason she is inadequate for Harmony, the granddaughter of the owner of the antique store in which Gabby resides. She assumes that if she were able to restore her own voice box, then Harmony would love and accept her.
In order to get Forky back from Gabby and her army of terrifying minions, Woody agrees to give Gabby his voice box. Now that Gabby no longer stands in their way, Woody and Forky must return to their friends at the RV: this pushes us into Act 3.
Woody’s Internal Conflict
Throughout the film, we catch glimpses into Woody’s internal conflict. These glimpses signify that he is struggling with no longer being Andy’s toy — that’s where he felt useful.
First, after not being picked for playtime, Woody expresses concerns to Dolly over Bonnie being able to handle kindergarten orientation and suggests having a toy go with her: because that’s what he did for Andy. Dolly says to Woody, “I hate to sound like a broken record, but Bonnie’s not Andy.” This is the first hint at what’s truly bothering Woody.
Second, when Woody chases after Forky who jumps out of the RV, he chooses to explain to Forky why he’s so important. “You’re Bonnie’s toy. You are going to help create happy memories that will last for the rest of her life.” To which Forky responds by indicating he didn’t hear a word Woody just said, infuriating Woody. It’s time for Woody to bring things down to brass tacks.
He says to Forky, “Like it or not, you are a toy. Maybe you don’t like being one but you are one nonetheless which means you are going to be there for Andy-” Forky cuts him off by asking who Andy is, and after a moment of self-reflection Woody brushes it off by correcting himself with Bonnie’s name. Although he doesn’t address it, Woody is struggling with the fact that he is no longer Andy’s toy.
Third, following a failed attempt to rescue Forky, the gang is nearly ready to give up. Woody tries to pull them together for one last attempt at getting Forky back. Bo tells Woody, “Nobody wants this.” To which Woody responds, “I do.” After being repeatedly asked, “Why” Woody lashes out at Bo Peep. “Because it’s all I have left to do! I don’t have anything else.” Woody believes Bonnie needs Forky, just like Andy needed him.
Finally, when Woody goes back into the antique shop once more to rescue Forky, Gabby tugs at his heartstrings.
Gabby reveals to Woody her true intention for wanting his voice box: to have a chance to experience the same type of memories Woody had with Andy. Woody sympathizes and agrees to give Gabby his voice box in return for Forky. Simultaneously, Woody realizes he was given the chance to be there for Andy — and that he may no longer need to be there for Bonnie since she already has Forky and the rest of her toys back home.
Bo Peep
If I had to describe Bo Peep using three words, I’d say she is independent, honorable, and above all, adventurous.
When we first meet her, we see just how fun, exciting, and happy she is. She loves not having a kid because she is free to make her own life choices. Bo decides to help Woody get Forky back so they can return to Bonnie, even though she considers having a kid something of a burden, and not to mention she’s already aware of the danger affiliated with the antique store.
We can really appreciate the symbolism with Bo Peep: not only does she look it, but she also acts as a shepherd of some sort — specifically to Woody. Even though Woody messes up time and time again, Bo is still there to help him when it matters most: she is the shepherd to the lost sheep that is Woody.
Following Woody’s rant about how saving Forky is all he has left to do, Bo tries to help Woody realize what’s really important. “Open your eyes, Woody, there’s plenty of kids out there. It can’t be just about the one your still clinging to.”
Woody defends himself by saying, “It’s called loyalty, something a lost toy wouldn’t understand.” And even though Bo takes offense, she doesn’t return the slightly insulting favor. She simply says:
“I’m not the one who’s lost.”
This is Woody’s greatest moment of self-reflection upon what he’s truly conflicted about. He can’t seem to overcome the fact that he doesn’t have to be there for Bonnie. He doesn’t know what to do. He’s lost.
Distinct Character Traits
One thing every film should possess is comprehensible characters. We should be able to not only understand how they act but we need to be able to understand their motivations, that is, what drives them.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Woody
Loyal to a fault, and there are faults. Woody will stop at nothing to help his kid, even though it clouds his judgment here and there.
Woody’s desires may be the most complicated although they seem crystal clear throughout the film: help Bonnie by saving Forky…or at least that’s what he thinks he wants.
He can’t seem to cope with such a new existence. Before Toy Story 4 he’s always been the favorite toy to Andy. But when Bonnie seems to not even play with him, Woody seems alright. What he can’t live with is not being useful to his kid, so he channels that by taking on the task of making sure Bonnie always has Forky by her side.
But as the film progresses, Woody faces self-realization after self-realization and eventually comes to face the idea that he may no longer have to be to Bonnie what he once was to Andy.
Bo Peep
You’ve already read quite a bit about Bo Peep. She’s adventurous, living on the edge, and incredibly helpful to a friend in need of assistance.
What drives her is freedom, the ability to make her own choices. But once she encounters Woody, her new motivation is to help him get Forky back.
Gabby Gabby
Our misunderstood antagonist with incredible depth. Gabby just wants a chance to reconcile her relationship with Harmony. Her motives are made very clear which makes her character easier to understand, while simultaneously making the conflict easier to understand.
She simply wants to be to Harmony what Woody was to Andy, what Forky is to Bonnie: although she doesn’t manifest that in the healthiest the ways, she’s a very straight forward character.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Even with all the detail among some of the more significant characters, the supporting characters have that detail as well, big or small.
Forky
First you might be thinking, “Why is Forky a supporting character?” Well, Forky is more or less a story device incorporated to help Woody realize what’s really important to him. Nonetheless, he’s still an important character.
Forky’s desires are simple: he wants to be trash. Yes, seriously. Forky’s desire is what creates conflict towards the beginning of the story and is essentially what pushes us into Act 2; however, Forky is unique in the sense that his motivation changes throughout the story.
Upon Woody’s explanation of why Forky is so important to Bonnie he summarizes things as, “Wait I get it now, I’m Bonnie’s trash!” Regardless of how Woody hoped Forky would interpret things, this simile, for better or worse, is true.
Buzz
Buzz Lightyear is loyal and always ready to assist, which is exactly what Woody needs. Buzz’s motivations are to help Woody both because he is his friend, and because he believes that helping Woody means he is helping Bonnie.
Throughout the film his motivations mainly stay the same. Buzz plans and executes his tasks in a successful, Buzz lightyear fashion, along with the help of a couple of furry friends.
Duke Caboom
Canada’s greatest stuntman is more than meets the eye. Duke plays a major role in the attempt to rescue Forky, and helps both Woody and Forky return to Bonnie.
We get a detailed anecdote into why Duke is so damaged: he too once had a kid, Réjean.
Unfortunately for Duke, Réjean unboxed him on Christmas with the unrealistic expectation that Duke would be able to jump as far as the Duke Caboom he saw in the commercials. Since he couldn’t, Réjean threw him away, and Duke has been emotionally damaged ever since. This damage affects Duke’s actions and self-image throughout the film.
Comedy
We’ve covered the majority of what gives this story depth, but there’s also plenty of laughs to go along with it.
Bunny and Ducky
Our introduction to them presents nothing but laughs, just like any other scene they appear in throughout the film. Their dialogue is effortless, that is, they are funny without trying to be: that’s just who they are.
Take a look at one of my favorite scenes which gives a great look at what type of characters they are.
Initially a minor obstacle in Buzz’s attempt to help Woody, these two fan-favorites become a comedic addition to Woody’s attempt at rescuing Forky.
Forky
Much like Bunny and Ducky, Forky is funny without trying to be. Whether it’s his unique love of being trash or his absolute obliviousness towards imminent danger, Forky creates some genuine, laughable moments as the story progresses.
Buttercup
Although we see far less of Buttercup in this movie, his humor doesn’t go unnoticed.
When the RV crew is brainstorming ways to help stall Bonnie and her parents, Buttercup floats the idea of “framing dad for a crime so he goes to jail.” Even though Jesse comes up with a different solution, Buttercup’s does not go unused…kind of.
As Woody and Forky make their way back to the RV, those who are still in it attempt to get back to the town where Woody and Forky remain. Enter Buttercup. He pulls back on the gas pedal, shooting the RV into full speed. Bonnie’s dad repeatedly presses the gas brake, though he can’t stop the RV from moving.
As they finally get the RV in place, the cops are right behind them. A clearly upset officer knocks on the window of the RV and asks Bonnie’s dad to step outside of the vehicle. Buttercup can’t help but laugh as he says, “Dad’s totally going to jail.”
Conclusion
As he finally gets Forky and himself back to their friends at the RV, Woody is taken back to the moment he was given the choice to leave or to stay. Only this time he’d be leaving Bo Peep instead of going with her.
He’s just as conflicted, but this time the difference is, staying is not what would be best for his kid…or himself. He realizes he doesn’t need to be there for Bonnie the same way he was there for Andy because Bonnie has her own support system. This allows Andy to start a new chapter in his life.
In the end, Woody decides to stay with Bo Peep.
After a tearful goodbye, Woody and Bo frolic at the top of the carnival as they watch their friends drive off. While those same friends look back as they reflect on all their happy memories together, Rex asks, “Does this mean — Woody’s a lost toy?”
Looking back at his old friend, Buzz responds:
“He’s not lost…not anymore.”
Woody has finally found inner-peace.
I believe this film is for everyone. As a personal favorite I highly recommend it, especially if you’ve seen any other installments in the series. This satisfactory, tear-inducing conclusion contains a lot more than what you see on screen.
