The glow of originality may have dimmed, but Pixar's third rummage in the toy box delivers exactly what it's supposed to, with appealing fringe benefits. Director Lee Unkrich (Monsters, Inc, Finding Nemo) serves up an expert blend of slapstick fun and heartfelt adventure, in which Andy goes to college and his playthings are donated to a day care centre where the repressive toy regime consigns them to age-inappropriate man-handling. So it's Woody to the rescue in a sweet, thrilling and engrossing take on prison-break movies, with the underlying message about embracing life transitions leading to a tear-inducing finale. The new characters - including plush teddy bear villain Lotso and his creepy sidekick Big Baby - are a delight, while Barbie torturing Ken by ripping up his vintage 1960s outfits and Buzz Lightyear switched to Spanish language mode are among the hilarious highlights of this clever and colourful charmer.

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy's toys haven't been played with in years. With Andy about to go to college, the gang find themselves accidentally left at a nefarious day care center. The toys must band together to escape and return home to Andy.