Woody and Buzz Lightyear Come Out of the Toybox for "Toy Story 3"

There's a very real undercurrent of sadness throughout Toy Story 3, the latest-and most likely last-film in the series that changed the whole nature of animation. Director Lee Unkrich and the crew at Pixar take Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the whole gang out of the toybox again, but this feels like it's for the very last time.

Toy Story 3 starts with a familiar rite of passage

As Andy (voice of John Morris) packs up his room before leaving for college, his mother (Laurie Metcalf) makes him separate his belongings into piles, one of which is going into the dumpster. Woody, his best "pardner", lands in the "College" box while Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys are destined for the attic. Unfortunately, Woody's friends accidentally end up in a bag that's heading for the trash truck.

Not one to abandon a toy in trouble, Woody risks everything to save his friends, kicking off a high-spirited adventure that leads to some fairly dark and dangerous places.

Toy Story 3 is the best of the whole Toy Story franchise

Arguably the best film in the entire franchise, Toy Story 3 contains all the elements that made the first two films so great, especially the toys that baby boomers had when they were kids. Once again, great performers like Tom Hanks, John Ratzenberger and Joan Cusack give the toys their personalities and charm.

Some old favorites are noticeably absent, though, but these gaps are filled with new playthings, especially Lotso Huggin' Bear (Ned Beatty). Smelling of strawberries, Lotso leads the toys at a local daycare center, deciding which playthings are assigned to each room. Lotso may look and smell sweet, but he has his own personal agenda.

Dark elements dominate Toy Story 3

Michael Keaton also gets to do a hilarious turn as Ken, the, um, masculine doll who has as many outfits as Barbie (Jodi Benson). Although he keeps insisting that he's not a girl's toy, there are several sly winks to the audience indicating that the well-dressed Ken may be protesting just a bit too much.

Director Lee Unkrich also introduces darker elements in Toy Story 3, some of which may be too intense for kids under the age of 6. Severak scenes in the daycare center are especially frightening and a later sequence reminiscent of Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith could have the little ones in tears.

Despite the harsh elements, Toy Story 3 is animated storytelling at its finest. It's great to visit with Woody, Buzz and all the other characters from the toybox once more, but there's a sense of finality once the final credits roll. Audiences may be hungry for Toy Story 4 after seeing this installment, but Pixar would be unwise to go that route. Fans can take Woody and Buzz out of the DVD box from time-to-time, but it is time to put the toys away for now.

Toy Story 3, rated G, opens in theaters on Friday, June 18.