Movie review: Toy Story 3 *****

Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Michael Keaton, Ned Beatty

Director: Lee Unkrich

Rated: G

Showing: Liberty Theatre week of Friday, July 9 - Friday 2:30/6:30pm; Saturday 2:30/6pm; Sunday 2pm; Mondat to Thursday 2:30/6:30pm

Runtime: 104minutes

Animation/comedy/family

Sequels are usually something to dread — especially third instalments — but Toy Story may be the franchise to buck the trend.

The first two were remarkable in terms of animation and story and this is just as meticulously crafted.

Andy is going to college, so Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys fear they will end up in the trash or on eBay.

But they end up at Sunnyside Daycare Centre, which seems like toy heaven.

The gang hasn’t been played with in years and here they will get daily attention. They also make new friends, including Barbie’s counterpart Ken (Micheal Keaton), thespian hedgehog Mr. Pricklepants (former 007 Timothy Dalton) and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy called Lots-o-Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty).

But the daycare heaven is really hell — the terrible tots and their sticky fingers do not play nice and the seemingly kindly Lots-o has a dark streak.

Soon the gang is plotting a Great Escape-style break for freedom — but it won’t be child’s play.

The screenplay is by Oscar winner Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine), who expertly balances humour alongside serious themes like childhood separation anxiety in this fun homage to prison break movies.

The movie is also the first in the Toy Story series to be in 3D although it adds little to the experience — this franchise has always relied on characters and plot to win it praise rather than gimmicky effects.

Likely to be the final chapter, this threequel is a fond farewell to playtime.

Watch if you liked: Toy Story,Toy Story 2.

For more information about film times, call 292-7296.