First Reactions For Toy Story 4 Are In And Keanu Reeves ‘Steals The Show’

PA/Pixar

When it comes to franchises and sequels, it seems Pixar can hardly put a foot wrong.

Though it could be said they certainly make their audiences wait for it, especially the 14-year gap between the two Incredibles films, and the 24 years over which the Toy Story movies have spread, there’s a reason Pixar are still at the top of their game when it comes to animated movies.

Their latest offering, Toy Story 4, seems to be no different, as early reviews are saying it’s one of their best ever sequels, and a great addition to the iconic franchise.

You can watch the trailer here:

Arriving 24 years since the first instalment, and nine years since the Oscar-winning Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4 seems to fall right in line with its successful predecessors, as critics’ reviews have so far been positive across the board.

Critic Jacob Hall, from Slashfilm, wrote:

Only Pixar at the top of their game can make a third sequel to a franchise about living toys that’s a poignant look at learning to prioritize your own happiness over the happiness of others. Also: feels as definitively final as 3 did. Keanu Reeves steals it all.

While Collider‘s Steven Weintraub said:

A few things about #ToyStory4:
The level of animation that @Pixar has achieved in this film is astounding.
#KeanuReeves is so awesome as Duke Caboom.
The theater we saw it in was a bit dusty…
And i loved the entire movie. So well done. Absolutely recommended.

Check out the other Toy Story 4 trailer here:

Editor-in-chief of Geeks of Colour, Dorian Parks, praised the film too, saying:

Just finished #ToyStory4! If you were nervous about another Toy Story movie, don’t be! It is amazing and another great addition to the franchise. I can’t wait to see it again

While Breaking Banter‘s Bailey Parkinson said:

I can’t describe #ToyStory4 as anything other than “emotionally punishing”.

This is Pixar at it’s best, and it’s the first of their nostalgia sequels since Toy Story 3 that truly feels earned in every sense as it twists and warps that very nostalgia into something transcendent.

While it sounds like it could be an emotional watch, especially for those of us who have pretty much grown up watching the Toy Story films, it seems Keanu Reeves’ character – Duke Caboom – is here for some comic relief.

Check out this behind-the-scenes action of the man himself:

Can’t wait for this.

Toy Story 4 is released Friday, June 21, 2019.

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Charlie Cocksedge

Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.