The best ‘Toy Story’ of all. An actual adventure with all sorts of good lessons and fun. I took two of my grandchildren to see it-ages 4 and 12- and both liked it. Usually in animated movies I get in a wonderful nap but not this time. Woody and Buzz are back along with Jessie and the potato heads.

Andy is all grown up now and getting ready to head for college. What to do with all of his old toys? Store them, give ‘em away or dump ‘em. That is the dilemma– the toys are facing an uncertain future.

Through a number of unforeseen circumstances the toys end up at a day care center being mistreated by toddlers during the day and imprisoned by a toy mobster at night.

The greatest fun was had when Barbie meets up with Ken there. It is delightful and hilarious when Ken does a private showing of his extensive wardrobe.

A ‘Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear’- Lotso for short ends up being the villain that acts like a mobster who tries to enslave our hero toys. In the process of escaping from Lotso’s organization Woody and the rest end up at the dump. For small children this part of the story is the scariest of all. For old guys like me too!

However, all ends up well as the toys help each other out and eventually find themselves in another very fine home. Obviously more stories to come.

A delightful story based upon the popular children’s book by E.B. White.  Wilbur is born the runt of the litter and about to be eliminated by the farmer when his daughter Fern (Dakota Fanning) protests and saves the little piglet.  Fern raises the little pig and treats him like a puppy, even taking him to school one day.

The time finally comes when Wilber is too large to keep as a pet in the house.  The pig is moved to the barnyard of the uncle’s farm (Homer Zuckerman) across the road and Fern continues to visit Wilber every day.  A new story line begins as Wilber makes friends with all the animals in the barn, especially a spider named Charlotte (Julia Roberts).  All of the barnyard characters are quite interesting, particularly a rat named Templeton.

Out past the barnyard is a smokehouse that Wilber asks about.  The rest of the animals finally tell him about it and also warn him that ‘spring’ pigs like him usually end up in the smokehouse and never live to see the wintertime or the snow.  Wilber wants to see the snow.  The rest of the story is about how Charlotte spins special webs with messages featuring the pig and how Wilber and Charlotte’s webs become a tourist attraction.  Oh yes, Wilber becomes a prize winning pig and lives to see the snows of winter.

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