Toy Story 3Rated G
Your preschooler is playing house with her friends when you overhear a surprising conversation. She assigns each friend a title — Mommy, Daddy, Sister, Brother — then lines everyone up in order of “importance.” When she names “Sister” as the least important, you ask her why. Tearfully, she recounts a recent experience when her older brother — not her — got to choose the board game your family played.
The moment offers you a chance to explain the roles each of us play in a family. And no person is less “important” than another; we all have value. It’s also a lesson learned by the lovable characters of Disney’s “Toy Story 3,” available this month on DVD and Blu-ray. Enjoy this soon-to-be-a-classic film with your family and talk about its commentary on family and friendship with our conversation starters. Then create “Thumbuddies Onboard” with our Play Together activity.
“Toy Story 3” follows Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the other toys as they consider their fate, now that their owner, Andy, is going away to college. Will he toss them aside, pack them away in the attic or send them along to some other child? Woody is confident that Andy loves his dear toys but his friends are not so sure. When Andy’s mom accidentally throws the toys away, they assume the worst.
The toys escape the trash heap and climb into a box destined for a nearby day-care center. At the day care, they are welcomed by Lotso, a teddy bear with an ulterior motive. Andy’s toys are excited to be played with by new children, but Lotso assigns them to the toddler room. The young children abuse the toys, as might be expected, but the toys beg Lotso to move them to another room. He refuses and they soon learn that he is a cruel tyrant who rules the center with terror and intimidation.
Woody, who was left behind when Andy tossed him into his box of college-bound stuff, sets out to rescue his friends from the day care. As they flee, Lotso and his henchmen face off with the toys at a Dumpster. Woody convinces the henchmen that Lotso is evil and they throw him into the Dumpster. Lotso pulls Woody in with him and the toys jump in to save their friend. A garbage truck then empties the Dumpster and unloads its contents into an incinerator.
At the last moment, the alien toys use a claw crane to pluck their friends from the incinerator. They make their way home to Andy, who decides to give his toys to a little girl named Bonnie. He tenderly introduces each beloved toy to her and they play together one last time. The toys come to understand that they will always hold a special place in Andy’s heart.
Talk together
Initially, Andy decides to save his old toys in the attic. What did the toys hope would happen to them after Andy leaves home? How did they end up in the trash?
The toys work together to escape from the daycare center. What are some activities your family accomplishes together? What job does each of you do to make it happen?
Play together: Thumbuddies onboard
Let the world know what makes your family special!
You will need:
• Window paint marker
• Paintbrush
Let each family member press his or her thumb against the paint tip of the marker and make thumbprint images of themselves on your car window or bathroom mirror.
Using a paintbrush, add arms, legs, hair and other features to convey your individual interests.
For example, if your daughter likes to sing, have her add a microphone in her thumbprint person’s hand.
Your kids will see how each of them plays a valuable role in your special family!
Plan a family movie night this fall! Check out our archives at www.Cinematters.com and get some great ideas for fun with your favorite films.
© 2010, Cinematters
