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"The adventure of a lifetime."
—Tagline


Toy Story 4 is Pixar's twenty-first feature film and the fourth installment in Pixar's Toy Story franchise and the sequel to 2010's Toy Story 3, the film was directed by Josh Cooley and released in theaters on June 21, 2019.

The film continues from Toy Story 3, where Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear have found new appreciation among their other toy friends after being given by Andy to Bonnie. Later in the film, the toys are introduced by Woody to Forky, a spork that has been made into a toy, and embark on a road trip adventure.

After its premiere, Toy Story 4 was theatrically released in the United States on June 21, 2019 in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, and IMAX. The film was positively reviewed, with critics praising its story, humor, emotion, animation, and vocal performances.[4] It marks the first Toy Story sequel without the participation of Jodi Benson, as well as the first film in the franchise without the participation of R. Lee Ermey who passed away in 2018.

Synopsis[]

Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that is Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called "Forky" to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy. Along the way, Woody is reunited with an unexpected old friend.[5]

Plot[]

Nine years before the main plot (three years after Toy Story 2 and seven years before Toy Story 3), RC is seen going uncontrollably down a storm drain. Andy's Toys successfully rescue him, but during this time an anonymous man ends up buying Bo Peep. Woody goes to rescue her, but Bo tells him not to worry and that part of a toy's life is to be given away. She tells Woody he could hide in the box and go with her, but when Woody sees Andy desperately searching for him he decides to stay. Woody and Bo then share a brief but heartfelt goodbye.

In the present, Woody and company are now Bonnie's toys, and although the other toys are happy Woody is struggling to adapt to an environment where he is no longer the favorite toy. In fact, Bonnie seems to far prefer playing with all her other toys and continually leaves Woody in the closet, which makes him miss Andy more and more. Desperate to feel useful, Woody hides in Bonnie's backpack as she heads to her kindergarten orientation as he worries she will not adapt to school. Woody's concerns are confirmed when Bonnie is shown to have a hard time making friends with her fellow classmates. Seizing the initiative, Woody places items on Bonnie's table during class to get her attention, which she uses to create a new toy; Forky, a white spork made with pipe cleaner and googly eyes. As Bonnie heads home, Woody is shocked when Forky suddenly comes to life like any other toy.

Forky, originally made to be a disposable utensil and not to be a toy, proceeds to break down in confusion following his introduction to the other toys at Bonnie's house, requiring them to restrain him from throwing himself out. Even so, on a road trip to a carnival, Forky manages to break away and launch himself out of the moving vehicle, insisting he was made for "soup, salad, maybe chili, and then the trash" before he does so. Woody pursues Forky, catching up to him and the two head to the carnival to meet up with the RV. As they walk, Woody tells Forky all about his life with Andy and how great it is to be a toy (and especially a favorite toy), finally persuading Forky to accept his new role in Bonnie's life.

En route, Woody notices Bo Peep's lamp inside of an antique store. Temporarily abandoning the journey to look for Bo, the two toys meet Gabby Gabby, a seemingly polite doll insisting on escorting them to Bo Peep rather than merely giving directions. Using her enforcers, the Bensons, Gabby Gabby unveils her plan to acquire Woody's voice box in an attempt to replace her own and, hopefully, finally be adopted by a child. However, Bonnie ends up entering the store, presenting an opportunity for Woody to escape, but Gabby Gabby holds Forky hostage against Woody's departure, who ends up missing Bonnie's RV anyhow. Trying to return for Forky, Woody ends up reuniting with Bo Peep, who has become a childless adventurer looking after lost toys. Together, Woody and Bo make their way through a carnival back to the antique store to rescue Forky.

Not willing to leave his best friend behind, Buzz tries to seek out Woody on his own. Unfortunately, Buzz ends up trapped, attached to a carnival wall as a prize. Despite having trouble soliciting help to escape, Buzz eventually convinces Ducky and Bunny to help him break free. Freed, Buzz finally runs into Woody and Bo Peep and together with Ducky, Bunny, and Bo Peep's friend Duke Caboom (their aid secured on the condition they get adopted by Bonnie), the group heads out to finally free Forky from Gabby Gabby and return him to Bonnie, who has been distraught in his absence.

Despite the increase in numbers, the toys ultimately fail in freeing Forky when they return to the antique store. As a result of their failure, the group becomes disillusioned to the prospect of saving Forky. Woody insists on continuing to try and inadvertently insults Bo by saying loyality is something a lost toy wouldn't understand. Unwilling to risk the group's lives on another rescue attempt, Bo abandons Woody and returns to the carnival while Buzz returns to the RV. Alone, Woody capitulates to her demand for his voice box in order to secure Forky's release. Though Gabby Gabby tries to get adopted by Harmony, the voice box actually ends up disturbing Harmony and preventing Gabby Gabby from being adopted. Despite Gabby Gabby's antagonism, Woody comforts her and ends up reuniting with the other toys that had deserted him.

Bonnie, once more arriving at the antique store to recover her backpack she had left behind, is followed by the toys with help from Duke Caboom, successfully making it back to Bonnie (much to her delight). Still in the store, drawing inspiration from Woody's words, Gabby Gabby also manages to comfort a crying girl who then adopts Gabby Gabby.

With Bonnie, Bo Peep prepares to leave, causing Woody to become wistful. Knowing he will likely never be Bonnie's favorite, and with Buzz supporting him, Woody decides not to return to Bonnie and to instead depart with Bo on her mission to help lost toys get adopted by children. After an emotional farewell and hug with Bonnie's toys, the toys part ways. One year later, Woody and Bo are still together, following the moving carnival on their quest, and Bonnie (now in first grade) creates yet another utensil toy; Knifey. Forky welcomes the newcomer the same way he himself was welcomed a year before, though Knifey would rather be trash.

In a post-credits scene, Duke Caboom makes a successful jump onto the 'I' of the Pixar logo, poses, and gives Combat Carl a long-awaited high five, ending the film.

Voice Cast[]

Production[]

John Lasseter said regarding this film:[14]

We love these characters so much; they are like family to us. We don't want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what's gone before. Toy Story 3 ended Woody and Buzz's story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another Toy Story movie. But when Andrew, Pete, Lee and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie—and I wanted to direct it myself.

The film is described as a "new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the Toy Story gang."[14] Lasseter has stated the film is a love story between Woody and Bo Peep, and picks up where Toy Story 3 left.[15]

In an interview with the official Disney Latino blog, Jim Morris said Toy Story 4 would not be a continuation of the previous trilogy, stating:[16][17][18]

We are creating a great story. It is not a continuation of the end of Toy Story 3. It starts as one, but it will be a love story. It will be a romantic comedy. There will not be so much focus on the interaction between the characters and children. [...] The third film was a beautiful way to complete a trilogy. I don't think this film is part of this trilogy. It is a separate story, but I don't know if it will have a continuation. We don't start a project with that in mind.

Lasseter himself reiterated this point at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, saying: "I am very excited to be directing again. We're in the early stages of the film, but it's shaping up nicely. It's funny. The story is not as much a continuation of the past films, but a brand new chapter in the Toy Story world."[19]

The Los Angeles Times stated Lasseter and Stanton have worked on writing a treatment since 2012. According to Variety, Lasseter kept work on the sequel a secret, even from the studio presidents Jim Morris and Ed Catmull, until Stanton had finished a treatment.[20]

The script was going to be written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack; however, they later left the project because of "philosophical differences" with Pixar.[14][21] On January 18, 2018, it was announced that Stephany Folsom would write the script for the film.[22]

In November 2015, Tom Hanks indicated he was in the process of recording his lines as Woody.[23] Don Rickles had confirmed that he would return as Mr. Potato Head for the sequel, but passed away due to kidney failure on April 6, 2017,[24] and was unable to record dialogue for the film as the script was still being written around the time of his death.[25]. Don Rickles reprised his role as Mr. Potato Head, through unused audio recordings from the first three films, the video games and other media forms, similar to Doc Hudson and Rusty in Cars 3.[26]

On November 12, 2018, Disney & Pixar released the first teaser trailer for the film.

On November 13, 2018, Disney & Pixar released a teaser trailer reaction for the film, showcasing new characters Ducky and Bunny.

On March 19, 2019, Disney & Pixar released the official trailer for the film revealing more characters.

"I love the idea of seeing the moment when Bo was given away early in the film. When Woody meets up with Bo years later, Bo originally went into great detail about what happened to her after she left Andy's house in a flashback. We saw her given to a new family, placed in storage for years, donated, brought at a thrift store, given as a white elephant gift, and then broken accidentally by a child. Bo then made a huge choice and left that kid. She and her sheep traveled through the rain and cover of night to create a new life at the antique store. Although emotional, the flashback was ultimately cut as the story evolved." Said by Josh Cooley the director of Toy Story 4 in The Art of Toy Story 4 book.

Future[]

In February 2019, Tim Allen expressed interest in doing another film as he "did not see any reason why they would not do it". That May, producer Mark Nielsen confirmed that after Toy Story 4, Pixar would return its focus to making original films instead of sequels for a while. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Hanks said that Toy Story 4 would be the final installment in the franchise, but Nielsen disclosed a possibility of a fifth film, as Pixar was not ruling out that possibility.

On February 8th, 2023, a new Toy Story film was announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger during an earnings call.[27]

Reception[]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 97% based on 384 reviews, with an average rating of 8.37/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Heartwarming, funny, and beautifully animated, Toy Story 4 manages the unlikely feat of extending – and perhaps concluding – a practically perfect animated saga."

Trivia[]

See Toy Story 4 Trivia.

Gallery[]

Promotional[]

Screenshots[]

Others[]

Videos[]

References[]

  1. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/toy-story-4-rashida-jones-john-lasseter-8-who-will-share-story-by-credits-1209677?u
  2. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/toy-story-4-rashida-jones-john-lasseter-8-who-will-share-story-by-credits-1209677?u
  3. Toy Story 4: Randy Newman to Score Sequel
  4. https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Toy_Story_4
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Toy Story 4 Teaser Trailer, Synopsis & Poster Introduce "Forky", November 12, 2018.
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 Press KitJune 8, 2019.
  7. Josh Cooley Twitter Feed, January 28, 2019."
  8. 8.0 8.1 Toy Story 4’s latest teaser is a ‘trailer reaction’ video starring Key and Peele, November 13, 2018.
  9. "Woody hits the road in first full Toy Story 4 trailer", March 19,2019.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Toy Story 4 Trailer Arrives: Meet the New Toys in Bonnie's Bedroom", March 19, 2019.
  11. ‘Toy Story 4’: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Actress Madeleine McGraw Voices Key Character In Disney/Pixar Sequel, Deadline, Amanda N'Duka, March 22, 2019.
  12. Lori Alan on Twitter: "I don’t think I could be more honored to be a part of this movie… ", January 21, 2019.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Comedic Legends Betty White, Carol Burnett, Mel Brooks & Carl Reiner Voice Characters in 'Toy Story 4', PixarPost, June 4, 2019.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Toy Story 4 Announced! Your Favorite Toys are Returning to the Big Screen. d23.com, November 6, 2014
  15. Behind the Scenes of Disney's D23 Expo With John Lasseter
  16. Jim Morris Revela Los Secretos De Pixar (Spanish)
  17. Toy Story 4 Will Be a "Romantic Comedy" and a "Separate Story" From Original Trilogy
  18. Is Toy Story 4 Going To Feature Woody Or Buzz Lightyear?
  19. John Lasseter on Finding Dory, The Good Dinosaur and Disney/Pixar Slate
  20. Creative Impact Animation Honoree John Lasseter Grooms Top Directors
  21. http://variety.com/2017/film/news/rashida-jones-john-lasseter-toy-story-4-1202621286/
  22. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/toy-story-4-finds-writer-1075806
  23. Tom Hanks Reveals Secrets Of Toy Story 4 - The Graham Norton Show
  24. Master of the insult: Comedian Don Rickles dies at 90
  25. Don Rickles Had Not Recorded His Role in Toy Story 4
  26. Toy Story 4 | Disney Movies
  27. ‘Frozen’, ’Toy Story’ & ‘Zootopia’ Sequels In The Works, Disney CEO Bob Iger Says, February 8, 2023
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