Toy Story 4 came out Friday, June 21st, and I, of course, had to see it opening weekend, because it is one of my favorite Disney franchises. I figured that the movie would be good, but I did not expect myself to walk out of the theatre thinking that this might just be the best Toy Story movie, for both kids and adults. It was actually rather bittersweet, because this feels like it might really be the end of the franchise, but, since that is not officially out yet, let's keep our hopes up and discuss some of the deeper meanings behind the movie.
Warning: spoilers ahead.
To start, the movie begins with a flashback to the good-old-days with Andy, taking us back to when Molly got rid of Bo Peep, and Woody had to make the decision to stay with Andy, because Andy needed him, letting Bo Peep go off on her own. Right away, I knew that this opening scene was going to play a significance for the movie in some way. As we all know, Andy left his gang of toys to go off to play with Bonnie in Toy Story 3, and Bo Peep clearly was making a return in the movie, because she was all over the movie posters.
Woody deals with a complex all throughout the movie that he does not have the same relationship with Bonnie as he had with Andy, which is why he tries so hard to return Forky to Bonnie all throughout the movie, because he feels that is all he is good for, and he still has a loyalty to Bonnie even though she does not have the same relationship with him.
This opening scene between the Bo Peep and Woody returns at the end of the movie, when it is time for Woody to go back home with the other toys and Bonnie, leaving Bo Peep alone once again (who has since become a lost toy, and enjoys living that life). Buzz tells Woody that "she will be okay," referring to Bonnie, giving Woody the okay to stay with Bo Peep, leaving his other friends behind in the process. This scene shows a lot of character development in Woody. It shows that he has grown up and matured, and is ready to live his life for himself and not just his owners. For adults, this development resembles their own, because it portrays finding your own place in the world, independent of your family and friends, but still wishing to share your experiences with them, which is just hard for toys to do. Woody's relationship with the toys has become to resemble his family, because they have always been with and there for each other. Now, it is Woody's turn to grow up, just like Andy did in Toy Story 3, and experience the world.
This is Woody's freedom, and even though he leaves behind Buzz and his friends, which was such a bittersweet moment, they will always be with each other in their hearts, to infinity and beyond.
