'Toy Story 4' Overcomes Summer 2019's Sequel Problem By Proving Itself Necessary [Podcast]

Howdy, partners. Welcome to another edition of The Playlist Podcast, the show where we discuss film news, reviews, and any other pertinent pop culture items. On this week’s episode, I’m joined by Mike Shutt (No Excuses) to discuss this weekend’s major release, in which a toy doll comes to grips with its own sentience and the inevitable existential crisis that follows… but enough about “Child’s Play.”

In all seriousness, we are here to discuss “Toy Story 4,” the latest entry in the long-running Disney/Pixar series, which sees the return of Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Bo Peep (Annie Potts), and a slew of new characters, most notably Forky (Tony Hale), an arts and crafts project made from a plastic spork who has a fascination with the trash. When the film was announced, the project was met with skepticism, given the rapturous reception of “Toy Story 3” (which went on to become one of only three animated films ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture) and the consensus that the film’s conclusion is a perfect end to a trilogy that does not warrant a fourth.

For most of this episode’s running time, we make a strong case (as most critics have) that “Toy Story 4” is playing at the same level as its predecessors, proving itself not just to be merely an epilogue, but a continuation of the overall story – while potentially ending some arcs – in smart, engaging ways.

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