Last weekend, I went to see this movie with my two nephews (age 5 and 6). I have to admit that I haven't seen Toy Story or Toy Story 2, but I'm generally a Pixar-lover and therefore walked into the cinema with high expectations.
Let met tell you straight away: I was not disappointed. The animation was of amazing quality, but anything less would have probably been a letdown. What surprised me most, was the quality of the story. The plot is quite simple: Andy, the owner of the main characters (Woody, Buzz, and the other toys), is going to college and his toys end up at a day care centre, where things aren't as cheerful as they seem. So far, no 'original screenplay' oscar buzz. It's all in the execution. The story is strewn with nostalgia (various cameo's by toys we all remember), hilarious parodies (most notably Ken's fetish and Buzz's unknown latino side), and sincere emotion. As the story develops, you really start to root for the characters. In the end, you find yourself with a lump in your throat and the little voice inside your head that had been saying "Grab yourself together! It's a kid's movie!" has died out.
I actually went to see the movie in Dutch, but I imagine that the 'grown up' jokes and references are even better in English. As for my nephews; they loved it too. The six year old turned to me during the cliffhanger and asked me "They're going to be OK, right?". I noticed that I needed a little reassuring myself, too.
