'Toy Story 3' is top-notch

TOY STORY 3 — ★★★★ — Animated feature starring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and others; shown in 2-D, 3-D and large-screen 3-D formats; rated G (violence, vulgarity, slurs); in general releases

Even the best of filmmakers have made at least a bad movie or two. Steven Spielberg had "1941" and "Hook." Martin Scorsese had "Boxcar Bertha" and "Kundun." And Orson Welles — the maker of the supposed greatest film of all time, 1941's "Citizen Kane" — had "Journey Into Fear."

So far, there is an exception to that rule, though: the geniuses at Pixar. Even the state-of-the-art animation house's weaker films are better than at least three-quarters of its cartoon competition — and even more of its live-action ones.

And make no mistake about it, Pixar's latest, "Toy Story 3," is not one of its weakest movies.

If anything, the computer-generated animated feature ranks up there with its best and earlier films — and yes, that includes both of its predecessors, 1995's "Toy Story" and 1999's "Toy Story 2."

Like those movies, this "three-quel" is funny, thrilling, smart and is even a little touching. It's easily the best film of the summer so far … if not the entire year.

"Toy Story 3" picks up the story several years later. Andy is going off to college, and his beloved toys are worried about what that means for them.

Cowboy toy Woody (again voiced by Tom Hanks) is set. Andy's planning to take him to college. The rest — including Buzz Lightyear (the voice of Tim Allen) — are supposed to be stored in the family's attic.

Instead, they're accidentally thrown away by Andy's mother and wind up in a nearby day care center.

That would appear to be perfect — and the toys are looking forward to be played with by children.

The ruling toy "hierarchy," ruled by Lotso (Ned Beatty), has other plans for them. He wants these new arrivals to take the brunt of the abuse from the day care's youngest kids. And to make sure that happens, he has reprogrammed Buzz, who becomes his unquestioning toady and helps keep his former pals imprisoned.

Meanwhile, Woody is faced with a dilemma. He could go off with his beloved owner — or he could help his friends escape their cruel fate.

Unlike most sequels and follow-ups, there's a compelling reason for the film to exist. And it's not just for the sake of cashing in to sell action figures and other products to fans.