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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 18 June 2019

In the joyous ‘Toy Story 4,’ the toys evolve too

By LINDSEY BAHR three? And if it was bad,
Associated Press would it tarnish the others?
It’s futile to ask “why more” Sure it might sound a little
in the movie business, but dramatic to get this emo-
it’s hard not to go in a little tionally invested in the leg-
suspicious of a fourth “Toy acy of an animated series
Story.” The trilogy was so about anthropomorphic
perfect. toys, but Pixar and Disney
What more could we ask did this to themselves by
of Woody and Buzz? What creating something so pre-
more did we as an audi- cious and lasting. But I’m
ence need? If we got an- delighted to report that the
other, would it live up to fears were unwarranted.
the unbridled joy and emo- “Toy Story 4 “ is a blast and This undated image provided by Disney/Pixar shows scene from movie “Toy Story 4.”
Associated Press
tional satisfaction of the first it’s great to be back with
the gang. It took a hercule- len), Jessie (Joan Cusack) favorite toy, Woody be-
an effort behind the scenes and the rest of the toys be- comes his protector. Tony
to get here too, nine years ing passed on to a new kid, Hale provides the perfect
after “Toy Story 3” left many Bonnie, as their beloved voice for this insane but
of us sobbing in our seats. Andy heads off to college. charming addition who
Ousted Pixar head John But it turns out Andy’s talk keeps trying to jump in the
Lasseter, who directed the with Bonnie about his favor- trash. (It’s his destiny as a
first two, was supposed to ite toy Woody didn’t have disposable utensil after all!)
direct and the screenplay much of an impact on the Indeed, “Toy Story 4” in-
switched hands three years fickle 5-year-old. At play- troduces a whole batch
into development (which time she prefers Jessie and of fun new characters, like
helps explain why eight often leaves Woody in the the Canadian stuntman
writers get “story by” cred- closet with the rest of the Duke Caboom (Keanu
its). Eventually the project toys she’s outgrown. “Re- Reeves), the 50s antique
was handed over to ani- member house,” a forlorn and all around head case
mator, sometimes voice chair (Carol Burnett) says Gabby Gabby (Christina
actor and first time feature wistfully, as they all notice Hendricks) and her creepy
director Josh Cooley to Woody has picked up his “Vincent” henchmen.
bring it home. first dust bunny. There’s also Combat Carl
None of that disorder is ap- This sends him into a panic (Carl Weathers), Bunny
parent on the screen, how- spiral as he grasps for any- (Jordan Peele) and Ducky
ever. A flashback tells us thing that will make him (Keegan-Michael Key).
what happened to Bo Peep essential to Bonnie’s life. And pay close attention
(Annie Potts) all those years When she decides that a and you might also spot
ago, and reminds us where deranged arts and crafts Melephant Brooks (Mel
we left off: With Woody project made of a spork Brooks) and Carl Reineroc-
(Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Al- she calls Forky is her new eros (Carl Reiner) too.q

Willie Nelson’s latest is relaxed, joyous

By GREGORY KATZ
Associated Press
Willie Nelson, “Ride Me
Back Home” (Sony Legacy)
Willie Nelson’s latest studio
offering, “Ride Me Back
Home,” is a relaxed, joyous
collection that finds Nelson
reflecting, explicitly, on age
and its toll — complaining,
in fact, about the way time
has left his face so lined —
but free of any self-pity.
It’s more of a celebration
than some of his recent al-
bums, and more of a show- In this Feb. 6, 2019 file photo, Willie Nelson performs at the
case for his deceptively Producers & Engineers Wing 12th Annual GRAMMY Week
simple guitar work, which Celebration at the Village Studio in Los Angeles.
still carries an emotional Associated Press
wallop with its easy tone lis Island in New York Harbor The most meaningful is
and subtlety. in a stunning and relevant “Come On Time,” which
Nelson vividly evokes the cover of Guy Clark and describes a personal com-
landscapes of the west, Roger Murrah’s “Immigrant petition with time that the
particularly in the title track, Eyes.” singer knows he can’t pos-
a paean to the days be- There are also three new sibly win. “You sure have
fore horses were fenced in, tunes Nelson wrote with put me in my place,” he
but also takes listeners to El- producer Buddy Cannon. concedes. q