Toy Story 4 has Woody dealing with the loss of Andy, and it ends with Woody finally choosing his own happiness for once after always being Andy's patron. As an adult, I find Woody's protective and parental love for Andy the most interesting theme in the franchise, and Woody's «emancipation» is a very bold move -- and a logical follow-up to Andy's own emancipation in Toy Story 3. But I don't want it to end here. Woody's bond to Andy has always been the heart of Toy Story and his character, and I still feel it's Woodys fate to find back to Andy. I'm hoping Toy Story 5 will resolve this.
I liked that Bo Peep was reintroduced as a tough Mad Max character in a skunk radio car with a tiny «Polly Pocket» doll on her shoulder. What a character development! (although somewhat cliche). But I don't think good ol' Woody is a suitable match for Bo Peep outside Andy's room, so the happy ending felt forced. Though I wonder who Woody will become after living the same life in the field as Bo Peep. He's (literally) a softie and not suitable for that kind of life, I think. That's why I think he will want to find back to Andy.
The original Toy Story had a lot of physical comedy and clever gags and jokes throughout, but the screenplay in TS4 wasn't as entertaining as I hoped for. Key and Peele as comedic relief duo infuses another style of humor than Ratzenberg and Rickles' Hamm and Potato Head's more classic jokes, but I don't think K&P's self-aware, improv style of banter fits the Toy Story universe. It seems like the writers thought having K&P would be funny enough just by letting them do their thing, but the duo didn't get enough jokes or gags.
The Forky character was very endearing as a concept and introduced some physical comedy, but his «suicidal» tendendy in the beginning was actually too dark and depressing to watch and dragged on too long. Forky was a cute Frankenstein's monster and literally brought to life from the dead, but his «I am not a toy» delusion (mirroring Buzz' in TS1) was resolved early, and after that he was just used as a mere plot device. Forky had the potential to develop more and create an army of funny trash toys in the funfair if the screenwriters had allowed it, either as a villain or a savior.
The antiques store setting showed a lot of potential too for introducing new interesting toys, but I don't think the potential was released. Gabby and her goal was quite cliche, and her ventriloquist dummy mob as well. (The "toy that's never been played with" theme was treated in Toy Story 2 with Stinky Pete, so why do it again?) Duke Caboom wasn't funny to me either, although they tried hard to make him funny through his stiff mannerisms. But weirdness isn't the same as comedy.
I also felt throughout that the music score and dramaturgy was a bit lackluster. It was like watching a TV episode, not a feature film.
Despite my negative review, I'm awaiting Toy Story 5 to see Woody being reunited with Andy. My fan theory and dream is that Andy finally will see that Woody is alive, something that will break the "spell" and make Woody a real person -- just like Pinocchio, another Disney classic. Perhaps Woody was Andy's father trapped as a toy all this time? That would be a magical ending to the magical world of Toy Story.
I liked that Bo Peep was reintroduced as a tough Mad Max character in a skunk radio car with a tiny «Polly Pocket» doll on her shoulder. What a character development! (although somewhat cliche). But I don't think good ol' Woody is a suitable match for Bo Peep outside Andy's room, so the happy ending felt forced. Though I wonder who Woody will become after living the same life in the field as Bo Peep. He's (literally) a softie and not suitable for that kind of life, I think. That's why I think he will want to find back to Andy.
The original Toy Story had a lot of physical comedy and clever gags and jokes throughout, but the screenplay in TS4 wasn't as entertaining as I hoped for. Key and Peele as comedic relief duo infuses another style of humor than Ratzenberg and Rickles' Hamm and Potato Head's more classic jokes, but I don't think K&P's self-aware, improv style of banter fits the Toy Story universe. It seems like the writers thought having K&P would be funny enough just by letting them do their thing, but the duo didn't get enough jokes or gags.
The Forky character was very endearing as a concept and introduced some physical comedy, but his «suicidal» tendendy in the beginning was actually too dark and depressing to watch and dragged on too long. Forky was a cute Frankenstein's monster and literally brought to life from the dead, but his «I am not a toy» delusion (mirroring Buzz' in TS1) was resolved early, and after that he was just used as a mere plot device. Forky had the potential to develop more and create an army of funny trash toys in the funfair if the screenwriters had allowed it, either as a villain or a savior.
The antiques store setting showed a lot of potential too for introducing new interesting toys, but I don't think the potential was released. Gabby and her goal was quite cliche, and her ventriloquist dummy mob as well. (The "toy that's never been played with" theme was treated in Toy Story 2 with Stinky Pete, so why do it again?) Duke Caboom wasn't funny to me either, although they tried hard to make him funny through his stiff mannerisms. But weirdness isn't the same as comedy.
I also felt throughout that the music score and dramaturgy was a bit lackluster. It was like watching a TV episode, not a feature film.
Despite my negative review, I'm awaiting Toy Story 5 to see Woody being reunited with Andy. My fan theory and dream is that Andy finally will see that Woody is alive, something that will break the "spell" and make Woody a real person -- just like Pinocchio, another Disney classic. Perhaps Woody was Andy's father trapped as a toy all this time? That would be a magical ending to the magical world of Toy Story.