Toy Story 4 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Toy Story 4

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2019

84%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Woody gets an existential crisis and a girlfriend—yes, this Toy Story is about a midlife awakening, and your kids might have feelings about it.

7.6/10

96%

7.5

→

Toy Story 4

movie

G, 2019

84%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Woody gets an existential crisis and a girlfriend—yes, this Toy Story is about a midlife awakening, and your kids might have feelings about it.

7.6

96%

7.5

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7.6/10

96%

7.5

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Screenwise Verdict

Toy Story 4 is gorgeous, funny, and surprisingly heavy. It's a movie about what happens when your purpose expires and you have to figure out who you are beyond the role you've always played—which is deep stuff for a franchise about talking toys.

Forky steals the show with his existential dread ('I'm trash!'), and the antique store sequences are legitimately beautiful. But this isn't the warm group-hug ending of Toy Story 3. Woody chooses Bo Peep and freedom over Bonnie and duty, and that's... a lot. Some kids will find it empowering; others will feel like their childhood just got divorced.

The 'Safe' score accounts for mild creepiness (those dummies) and emotional weight, but nothing traumatizing. It's Pixar, so you know it's well-made, but you might want to prep sensitive kids that this one ends differently than they expect. Also, be ready to field some big questions about loyalty, purpose, and whether toys have free will. You know, light stuff for a Tuesday.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-12, though the emotional complexity plays differently across that range. Younger kids enjoy the adventure and humor; older kids (and parents) will feel the existential weight of Woody's choice. Teens might still appreciate it for nostalgia, but it's clearly aimed at the generation that grew up with Andy.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Pixar's signature emotional intelligence shines through themes of loyalty, purpose, and letting go. Models healthy relationships, cooperation among diverse characters, and emotional processing. Woody's journey of redefining his identity is handled with maturity. Some separation anxiety themes and Bonnie's initial rejection of Woody may be tender for sensitive kids, but overall tone is warm and affirming. Pacing is balanced with humor breaking up heavier moments.

Imaginative

The 'what if toys are alive' premise remains enchanting, now expanded with Forky—a spork-turned-toy questioning his own existence. The antique store setting, carnival sequences, and new characters (Duke Caboom, Gabby Gabby) bring fresh visual creativity. Road trip adventure structure invites curiosity about the wider world beyond the bedroom. However, this is the fourth installment retreading familiar territory, so originality is somewhat constrained by franchise expectations.

Safe

G-rated Pixar fare with no gore, nudity, or inappropriate content. Some mild peril (ventriloquist dummies that might creep out younger viewers, carnival chase sequences, brief moments of toys in danger). Gabby Gabby's initial antagonist role is nuanced rather than truly scary. The emotional weight of Woody's goodbye and themes of obsolescence/rejection could be unexpectedly heavy for kids who aren't prepared for existential toy drama, but nothing shocking or traumatizing. Standard Pixar emotional gut-punches.

Enriching

Tackles surprisingly mature themes: finding purpose when your role changes, choosing your own path vs. obligation, what makes something 'trash' vs. 'treasure.' Forky's existential crisis is genuinely philosophical. Woody's decision to leave Bonnie models autonomy and self-determination. Builds empathy through diverse toy perspectives. The ending sparked real debate about whether it honors or betrays the franchise's core message, which itself is enriching conversation fodder. Entertainment value is high—Pixar's animation and voice acting remain top-tier.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Pixar's animation is stunning—the antique store and carnival settings are visually gorgeous
Forky asking 'Why am I alive?' is accidentally the most philosophical kids' character in years
Models that it's okay to redefine your purpose and choose your own path, even when it means leaving what's familiar
Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom is a gift we didn't know we needed
Tackles loyalty, identity, and autonomy in ways that work for kids AND adults processing their own life transitions

⚠

What to Watch For

The ending is divisive—Woody leaves the gang, which some kids (and adults) find beautiful and others find like a betrayal of everything Toy Story stood for
Bonnie basically ignoring Woody is rough if your kid identifies strongly with being overlooked or replaced
Gabby Gabby's ventriloquist dummy henchmen are lowkey nightmare fuel for the under-6 set
This is heavier than Toy Story 3's incinerator scene in some ways—it's existential rather than action-peril, so harder to predict which kids will struggle

Conversation Starters

"Forky thinks he's trash, but Bonnie sees him as special. Have you ever felt like something you loved wasn't important to someone else?"
"Woody decides to leave Bonnie and go with Bo Peep. Do you think that was the right choice? Why or why not?"
"What would you do if your favorite toy could talk and told you they wanted to leave?"
"Bo Peep is really different now—more independent and adventurous. How do you think people (or toys) change over time?"
"If you were a toy, would you rather have a kid or be a 'lost toy' exploring the world?"

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