Toy Story 4 Is an Absolute Must See With the Kids, but There Are a Few Things to Be Wary Of

Updated on 6/18/2019 at 5:45 PM

Come in close, y'all, because I'm making a bold statement: Toy Story 4 is the best kids' movie that's come out in a long time, and your kids need to see it.

Walking into the theater, I'll admit it . . . I was a little skeptical. Toy Story 3 wrapped up the franchise of my childhood so well that I wasn't sure what parts of the story were left to be told, but woooo boy, I stand corrected — there was plenty of story to tell, and Pixar has gone and messed me up in the feelings all over again (there's no slow drop into an incinerator in this one, but damn, so many emotional moments).

Which brings me to what, I feel, are important things to note about the film for those parents bringing young children (we'll say under 6 or so) to the theater with them when it's released on June 21. It's perfectly appropriate for kids of all ages (though there are some innuendos, as with any great children's movie), but there were a few moments when I felt I would have had to do some damage control if I'd been with a young kid.

Toy Story 4 Is an Emotional Film

As with the Toy Story movies before it, number four tugs at the heartstrings in both happy and sad ways. In Toy Story 4, we finally learn what happened to Bo Peep and why she wasn't in the previous installment, and even though it's clear from the previews that Bo is back (and better than ever!), what happened to Bo and her sheep is upsetting.

There are a few sad moments in which various toys talk about never being owned by a kid or are shown being rejected, and though these moments might go over a toddler's head, your young kids might get a bit upset. Plus, there's a pretty heartbreaking moment toward the end that left me, a grown-ass 29-year-old woman, BROKEN. Just a point to consider if you have particularly empathetic and sympathetic kiddos.

There's a New "Toy" in Toy Story 4, but My Goodness, His Entrance Is Shocking

Toy Story 4 features little clips of our beloved Andy in the beginning, but this movie's all about Woody and the rest of the gang belonging to Bonnie. On the day of her kindergarten orientation, Bonnie's a little apprehensive, but Woody inadvertently helps her cope with feeling afraid and lonely on that day by providing her with the materials to build her new "toy" friend, Forky — a literal plastic spork with a pipe cleaner for long arms (which Rex hilariously makes a comment about, because poor guy has the shortest arms).

It's all very funny how he comes to be and how he behaves in Bonnie's room, but his "I'm alive" scene scared the bejesus out of me and those around me and might frighten a younger viewer.

The Dummies in Toy Story 4 Are the Things of Literal Nightmares

Seriously, I don't mean to be dramatic, but you'll understand what I mean when you see the film — the ventriloquist dummies (yes, that's plural) in this film are absolutely terrifying. It almost becomes a joke after a while how freakin' scary their faces are, especially the main dummy, Benson. You'll want to punch each and every one of them and scream "NOOOOO" at the top of your lungs whenever they're on screen.

So if you're going with kids, know that the first time we see the dummies is when Woody and Forky are in the antiques shop, then they're a pretty big part of the movie from there on out (why, Pixar, WHY?!), but they're exclusive to the antiques shop. Sometimes they arrive on screen so suddenly, your kids will jump out of their smooth baby skin; other times, you know they're coming. But I promise, it's a shock every time and just something to know going in (and to note: in one scene, they're particularly brutal with Woody and the string and voice box in his back).