Toy Story 3

Pixar, the most artistically and commercially successful studio of the past decade, has a 2-part formula for its films. Part one: an emotionally resonant storyline, frequently involving themes of family. Part two: a jaunty adventure tale, often featuring the protagonist struggling to return home. "Up," for example, gave us an old man tragically mourning the loss of his wife--and fleeing a pack of talking dogs.

This juxtaposition continues in "Toy Story 3". The filmmakers have said that the raison d'etre of the movie is to conclude the toys' relationship with Andy, their owner. College-bound, Andy no longer has a need for his toys. But this cold fact is emotionally wrenching for Woody, Buzz and their companions, who have spent their entire "lives" seeking to entertain him.

This is a powerful storyline, but a Pixar movie needs more. To sell tickets and merchandise, they need an adventure that will rope kids in and recoup the studio's investment. So Woody and the toys are donated to Sunnyside, a seemingly idyllic day care center. The toys are excited at the prospect of being played with once more--until they learn that they will be forced by the sinister toy bear Lotso to play with two-year-olds who seem hellbent on breaking them apart.

The Sunnyside storyline has its charms. It's a witty send-up of prison films like "Cool Hand Luke" that features some very funny bits, such as when Buzz is switched to his Spanish-language version and Barbie falls for Ken. But the escape from the prison and return to Andy inevitably involves extended action sequences that grow old. Particularly unnecessary is a scene in which the toys are sent to a landfill. Does anyone really think the "Toy Story" series would end with the characters dying in an incinerator?

This is the trade-off that Pixar has to make: it must placate children to make its films profitable. Hopefully, as its technology becomes cheaper and easier to use, the Pixar staff can use its tremendous talents for characters and storytelling in the service of a truly great film.