CheekyChicago

When I was little, I had more Barbie toys than I knew what to do with. They were the first thing I grabbed when I wanted to play, and they were the last thing my mom had to pry from my grip when we were giving old toys away.

So watching Barbie get given away in Toy Story 3 was especially emotional. It made me wonder, why did I give all of those old toys away? How could I have done such a terrible thing?

That’s the beauty of the Toy Story trilogy: it’s just as appealing to adults as it is to children. I found myself weirdly invested during the third installment, wondering if the children surrounding me could possibly understand how heart wrenching the film really was.

But it is for children and adults alike. The story finds us reuniting with our favorite Toy Story characters as they deal with their beloved Andy heading off to college. When Andy has to decide which toys to keep and which toys to toss, a problem arises for Woody, Buzz and their toy family.

The toys find themselves in a daycare facility, facing a new home and new friends. But when they discover that one of their friends isn’t so friendly, everything changes. The toys do whatever they can to get back to Andy and their real home, sticking together the whole way.

Besides teaching children the value of friendship, it teaches them what’s important once friendships are developed. The constant theme of camaraderie was made very clear by the original characters, even after arriving at the daycare center. Sitting there, I hoped that my children would eventually see the film one day and learn the fabulously hidden lessons from Toy Story 3.

Familiar voices make it even more fun for the adults. Back yet again are Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and Ned Beatty, with the new voices of Bonnie Hunt and Michael Keaton present for the third installment. It goes to show that even Tom Hanks, one of Hollywood’s most praised actors, has a special place in his heart for Woody and the whole Toy Story family.

And, let’s face it: who doesn’t love Toy Story? There’s the classic Woody and Buzz relationship, the adorable relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head and the relationships that only adults will understand, like that of Ken and Barbie. And if it’s at all possible, the animation has been kicked up yet another notch this time around, taking realism to another level.

Leaving the theater, after being on edge almost the whole time, I found myself more satisfied after a children’s movie than anything else I can remember seeing in recent history. Toy Story 3 is definitely a must-see for adults. Oh, and bring the kids, too.