Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there is separation in the movie -- toys are separated from one another and from their owner. But if your kid made it to preschool without an issue, this should be fine. All the dynamics behind sibling rivalry are here as well, so if your kids are going through that, this is a perfect movie to have them watch together. Kids may be scared by Andy's next-door neighbor who has a mean laugh and mutilates toys for fun. He does get a mild comeuppance, however, when the toys "break the rules" to scare him into being nice to toys in the future. Really young kids may be confused by the toys being "real" here. Especially when Buzz really thinks he's a star commander.
Families can talk about whether or not they think that toys become "real" when humans leave the room. Another great conversation is about friendships and loyalty and rivalry. Kids are exploring all these issues in school and the movie has great models. Parents can share what their favorite toy was growing up and why. It's also great to notice that this boy seems to spend more time playing with his beloved toys than watching TV or playing video games. Kids: what's great about playtime over TV time?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Nell Minow
This Pixar release was the first feature film animated entirely by computer. Although the dazzling technology is especially well suited to a story in which the major characters are made out of plastic, it is the unpretentious imagination and energy of the people behind the story and the outstanding vocal performances that make the movie an instant classic.
The story is about the toys belonging to a boy named Andy. His favorite is a sheriff from the old west named Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks). He acts as the leader of the rest of Andy's toys, including a tyrannosaurus Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Mr. Potatohead (Don Rickles). All is going well until Andy receives for his birthday an astronaut named Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Woody becomes jealous, and in an effort to keep Andy from taking Buzz with him on an excursion, Andy accidentally knocks Buzz out the window. Woody follows, and the rest of the movie consists of their efforts to return home before the family moves away.
In a rather cute twist, these "real" toys think they aren't toys at all, but space explorers and cowboys. There's plenty of cleverness throughout and the story keeps moving at a great pace -- never a dull moment in these toys' lives.
Fans of this movie will also like the equally entertaining sequel and Pixar's Cars. Great books about the lives of toys include Toys Go Out, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and The Velveteen Rabbit.
Rate It!
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ViolenceSome tense scenes, toys in peril. A boy mutilates toys and straps them to rockets. |
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Social BehaviorTwo rival toys become friends and help each other. Both are very loyal to their owner. |
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CommercialismBarbie, Mr. Potatohead, and other classic toys. |
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