It gets pretty redundant to review Pixar movies. They have the best track record of any studio in Hollywood, so it comes down to less of “Is it a good movie?” to “How does it stand next to Pixar’s other movies?” Toy Story 3 stands near the top in my humblest of opinions.

Toy Story was released in 1995, capturing the attention of an entire generation. It put Pixar on the map as an animation super power and that train hasn’t slowed down in 15 years. Toy Story 2 was a tremendous creative and box office success, so there’s a lot of pressure for the last film to close out the trilogy (I honestly hope they keep it at 3). Fear not, the heart and soul is in the script and comes out on screen as we go on another adventure with the gang of toys.

This time Andy is getting ready for college, his childhood coming to close and it looks like the relationship with his childhood toys is as well. Through a mix up, most of the toys (Rex, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Slinky, Buzz) get packed up and sent to a daycare center. Woody springs into action to get his friends back to their home.

What follows is one of the most touching stories I’ve seen in awhile, animated or not. There’s something to it when you feel for an animated Mr. Potato Head. The themes of growing up, friends, family and even death are present. It feels a bit like a life journey in an hour and twenty minutes. But, it treads that careful line of not being preachy or condescending. It’s surprisingly adult though, it gets pretty dark until the happy ending. Who knew a strawberry scented teddy bear could be made into such a villain?

Toy Story 3 has it all, drama, suspense, comedy, thrilling action sequences, great characters that you know and love and a message about life that sticks with you long after the credits roll.