I look back upon Toy Story and Toy Story 2 as two films from my defining years. That is to say, movies I saw during my 20’s, which is the time when most people sort of settle into the personalities and outlooks they adopt as adults.
It was a time just after college and before kids (for most of us), when you lived on your own and had responsibilities and jobs, but not so many that you couldn’t stay up til 2 in the morning every now and then playing D&D or video games. You could get together every couple of months for the weekend party. You were the hip crowd, the trendsetters (God, was I EVER a trendsetter???), the ones teens looked up to because you were on your own, and the ones the older crowd envied because you were “so young”.
It was while I was in that frame of mind that Toy Story hit the cineplexes. The story of a boy with a room full of toys. Toys he had enjoyed since he was a toddler, especially Cowboy Woody. But, toys that perhaps he was growing a bit weary of.
Buzz Lightyear to the rescue! New flash and style vs. the comfortable “what you know”. As it turns out, both can have a place in our lives.
Then, Toy Story 2. In my opinion, even funnier and better than the first (which is saying something, as the original was an instant classic). In it, Buzz and Woody confront the notion of “Get what you can, live in the now, don’t need anyone else” vs. loyalty, faith, and patience.
Perhaps my buddy Wolfman would say that I’m looking too deeply into these films (which I admit, I often do). But, truth be told, these movies spoke to me. Those movies were about my 20’s. Leaving the cool stuff about being a kid behind for the cool stuff about being an adult (or somehow finding a balance), and finding a direction and focus for your life.
Well, in 2010, we get what I suspect will be the final chapter in the saga of Woody and Buzz, Toy Story 3. It’s full length trailer was just unveiled today, and here it is, courtesy of ComingSoon.net:
I love the idea of the Buzz Lightyear reset to Spanish. Looks like this will be another winner.
I won’t look into this too much, but it looks like it deals with the inevitability of life and finding new adventures (which I can also find interesting parallels with my life of the last 5 years), and I’m sure those of you in your late 30’s or early 40’s may find some as well.
Pixar’s genius has always been finding themes and metaphors for us grown ups to enjoy. And that’s why they’ll always be special films for me.
