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With their owner Andy grown up and moving on to college, Andy’s toys – cowboy Woody, cowgirl Jessie, astronaut Buzz Lightyear, and all the rest – question their future. Woody insists it is their duty to stay in the attic, where they will always be there for Andy; but the other toys jump at the chance to be donated to the Sunnyside Daycare Center, where they will be surrounded by children who play with and love them. But Sunnyside turns out to be a nightmarish prison, dominated by the stuffed bear Lotso. Can Woody save his friends from daycare? And can all the toys face existence without an owner?

Like its predecessors Toy Story and Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 is a completely family-friendly film, delightful for children and adults alike. As in the previous outings, the characters are confronted with fantasy situations perilous to toys: being slammed around by children, thrown into a garbage dumpster, sent to an incinerator, and the like. There is also some innuendo surrounding Barbie’s companion Ken, including his obsession with clothes and his “dream house;” and Ken is mocked by the other toys for being “just an accessory.” The innuendo extends to dialogue, with Barbie remarking, “Nice ascot!” on meeting Ken, and similar comments. Most such examples are amusing to adults, but will go over the heads of children. 

Toy Story 3 is filled with adventure and comedy, and contains the familiar lessons from previous movies: loyalty, courage, kindness, and doing the right thing are all celebrated…but the story involving Andy moving to college also allows the film to become meditative and even poignant, with powerful lessons about facing change, making choices, and moving on, which will help children understand difficult circumstances, and which may touch adults even more deeply than children.

Every indication from Pixar is that this film is intended as the last Toy Story movie; and the beloved characters couldn’t ask for a better sendoff. For once again providing delightful family-friendly entertainment with strong, positive messages, the Parents Television Council is pleased to award Toy Story 3 with the PTC Seal of Approval^TM. The PTC does not recommend this film for viewers under age five.

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