Review: Toy Story 3 is everything you hoped it would be

Far be it from me to admit that I've "grown up" after watching Toy Story 3. It has been 11 years since Toy Story 2, and I found myself in tears by how perfect Toy Story 3 is.

One can not go into this movie without understanding why it took so long for Toy Story 3 to hit theaters, so here is why. The main reason is because all the characters had to be reanimated to keep up with Pixar's new software. The models they had for the original two films were no longer compatible. Another reason was bringing back all the voice actors who worked on the first two films and allowing  each one to have their own moment on screen.

So as far the flick goes, it starts off fast and furious as Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, is battling with Mr. Potato Head, voiced by Don Rickles, in a wild west setting. This set up the further scenes well because of the sense of adventure it brought on, though there are a few tear-jerking scenes in later acts.

All the characters people fell in love with are back including my all-time favorite Woody; the talented, falling-with-style Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen; Jessie, who made her first appearance in Toy Story 2, voiced by Joan Cusack; and Slinky Dog, who is voiced by Blake Clark this time around because of the untimely death of Jim Varney between the second and third films.

The characters have not lost their luster in the past 11 years. I felt like I was 11 years old again after listening to the delightful returning cast as well as many new characters. My new favorite is the uniquely fashionable Ken Doll, voiced by Michael Keaton, who added a lot of humor to the mix with his hilarious pseudonyms about his eccentric lifestyle and being seen as a girl's toy, even though he was a male.