Woody and his friends returned to success at the box office through Toy Story 4. Film directed by director Josh Cooley did not only offer entertainment. The ending also makes the heart tremble.
After separating from Andy at the end of the third film, Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and other toys are now owned by Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw). Initially, Woody and friends became Bonnie’s favorite toys. However, when Bonnie made a new toy called Forky (Tony Hale), his attention diminished.
To show his loyalty to Bonnie, Woody struggled desperately to keep Forky from running away or missing. When Forky is gone, Woody desperately looks for it. In an effort to search, the cowboy instead met his old lover, Bo Peep (Annie Potts). The meeting with Peep made Woody again think of his existence as a toy.
As soon as Toy Story 3 ends, quite a lot of people judge that the story of the Toy Story is complete. However, this was not the case with Cooley and both producers, Jonas Rivera and Mark Nielsen. “The core story of the fourth film is more about Woody who faced changes in his life. You know, in the previous three films, Andy is the world for Woody, “Cooley said when met by Jawa Pos in the Toy Story 4 press conference in Orlando, USA, in early June.
According to him, the theme of life change is connected with most viewers. Especially for viewers who participated in Toy Story since the beginning it was released 24 years ago. Many of them are now adults and experience various phases of life. “Everybody changes right,” he said.
Although Toy Story 4 carries a fairly mature theme, there is still a humor and a joke typical of toys. “Watching it makes the audience feel like a child again,” said Mark Kermode, a columnist and critic of The Guardian film. The viewers will be made to laugh with the behavior of toys that try not to look at the same time as their way of looking at human life.
About humor, Forky is arguably the thief of the show. His attitude is plain and he turns into a joke that is quite eagerly awaited in every scene. It’s not wrong if Cooley, Rivera, and Nielsen appoint Tony Hale (comedian) to fill the sound of the fork.
Adventure also re-emerged as in the previous three films. In the middle to the end of the film, the audience can feel the efforts of Woody, the little toy, looking for Forky. The Peep role – which is now portrayed as stronger and more independent – adds to the color of the story.
The emergence of new characters also makes the story richer. There are Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves), Ducky & Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele), and Giggle McDimples (Ally Maki). Interestingly, all the new characters have a role in the storyline and uniqueness that makes it attract attention. “All must have a clear portion right,” said producer Jonas Rivera found in Orlando, USA.
What also made the film more touching was Cooley and the writing team describing the villain figure, Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks). For film content to be more mature and realistic, Gabby Gabby is described as having another side that makes people rethink the meaning of villain. “He only has a different perspective from Woody and other toys,” said Stephany Folsom, one of the story writers.
The stomach churning and exciting adventures are then closed with a touching end. The drama elements are formed from Woody and Peep who show their emotional side at the end of the film. At its peak, Woody’s big decision made almost anyone shed tears. “You could say, Toy Story 4 is one of the saddest films positively,” said Lara Takenaga, a film columnist for The New York Times.