I’m not going to pretend that I like animated films very much. At best, they typically amount to throw-away fluff that can serve as 90-minute entertainment. At worst, they can serve as babysitting distractions for parents who crave a much needed break from their annoying kids. It is very rare that an animated film can transcend that limited range of possibilities. “Toy Story 3″ is one of those films.
I was blown away by the inventiveness and intelligence of the movie. It evokes heartfelt emotions out of CGI. It creates truly three-dimensional characters out of children’s toys. “Toy Story 3″ performed the impossible on me — it made me forget that I was watching a cartoon.
Most Disney / Pixar movies have their fair share of “wink-wink” jokes intended to keep the adults amused as the kids giggle at the pretty colors and silly noises. However, “Toy Story 3″ is so brilliantly written and directed that it manages an equal footing for both grown-ups and children. Sure, it will work on all the base levels of entertainment… But, in my opinion, it is one of the very few animated movies that could easily be watched solely by a group of 30-year-old adults without it being a ridiculous sight.
This is one of the finest films of 2010. It will likely end up just in or just outside of my year-end Top 10 List. I couldn’t recommend an animated film much more than this. It is well worth a place on your DVD shelf.
