Belatedly, but gratefully, I come to Disney/Pixar's remarkable "Toy Story 3," arguably one of the most original prison-escape movies ever made. The prison in question is the jarring day-care center where Andy's toys - including sassy cowgirl Jessie (that's her above) - are sent because Andy is grown and soon off college and his toys have become, well, obsolete.The head toy there is an embittered old stuffed bear who sadistically puts the new arrivals in the line of fire of a bunch of stampeding brats.
Smoothly directed by Lee Unkrich, it's all alternately affecting, hilarious and heartbreaking, and among the new editions to its cast is a Ken doll who is worthy of/sleazy enough for a spot on ABC's "The Bachelor."
Lisa Cholodenko's "The Kids Are All Right" is a bright alt sitcom that benefits considerably from another thorough performance from Annette Bening and a playful one from Julianne Moore, the two (that's them above) playing lesbian partners/mothers whose world is turned upside down by the arrival their respective kids' same sperm-donor dad.The only problem with the film is not Mark Ruffalo's usual non-actor performance, but a conventional twist in the narrative which has Ruffalo bedding Moore and Bening discovering the betrayal in a way that would be dated even on a daytime soap opera. I'm not spoiling anything here; Cholodenko sets up Moore's interest in hetero sex early on by having the two women use gay male porno films to jumpstart their own sex lives. It's an unfortunate tonal shift that mars an otherwise smart comedy.
I loved "Toy Story 3" almost as much as I loved "Toy Story 2". I'm not afraid to admit to getting teary eyed during the trash inferno sequence and then bawling altogether when Andy made his pit stop on the way to college. I was wanting to see it again the other day, but the local Century has it one screen and in 3D only.
ReplyDeleteI was not very happy about that since I had made the mistake of seeing that way the first time. Also, great analogy on the prison escape movie. Never thought of it that way.
John- Yes, and if you think about it, the inferno sequence references the Holocaust, particuarly when all the toys join hands thinking that their fate is sealed. Quietly powerful. -J
ReplyDeleteRuffalo always leaves me cold. He's good-looking enough but he seems terrribly aware of it. It seems to me that he gives the same mumbly performance in every film. It's wearing thin.
ReplyDeleteJanice- I concur, but the critics seem to love him. I find him one-note and hugely uninteresting as an actor.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read about the movie review,According to me Toy Story 3 has all the action, and derring do of the indiana jones movies, the charm, admiration, and fun of its predecessors and cousins at pixar, and enough laughter.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read about the movie review,According to me Toy Story 3 has all the action, and derring do of the indiana jones movies, the charm, admiration, and fun of its predecessors and cousins at pixar, and enough laughter.
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