The theological significance of "Toy Story"
Yeah, this is actually something I've been wanting to write about for a while. There's this one scene from Toy Story that I keep thinking about, a scene that I guess you could say gets at the crux of the movie's themes (all movies have themes, especially the ones for kids). Funny thing, this scene also, if perhaps unintentionally, gets at the crux of the theme of being a human. That, kids, is called anthropomorphizing. But more on that later...
Anyhoo, the scene I'm thinking of: Buzz and Woody are in a very sticky situation, waiting on the nasty green carpet in Sid's bedroom for Sid himself to come along and blow them sky high. Well, blow Buzz sky high. He's duct taped to a rocket and his little plastic arm has popped off, lying limp and useless a few feet away (sheesh, this all sounds so horrific out of context). Woody is stuck under a milk crate with a toolbox stacked on top of it, making futile attempts to escape. Finally, in frustration, he asks Buzz for help. Buzz responds:
Apparently Woody's words did have an effect on Buzz, because within minutes he's shoving the tool box off the milk crate and the two of them are off on their glorious escape. Anyway, now that I've paraphrased that whole scene...
The question being answered here is: what makes our existence worthwhile? What if we can't go to the moon, write the great American novel, become a high-powered executive? What if all we can do is spout cheesy lines?
That doesn't matter.
Guess who Andy represents in this picture? Right. Our worth lies not in our achievements or abilities, but in what we are. We are humans, made in the image and likeness of God, with great beauty and great potential thereby. Every. Single. One. Space rangers and cowboys alike. Of course, the realization that our ability and achievements are not the most important thing is a little hard for us to swallow. We, like Buzz, think that our value as "just us" is a poor replacement for all the other awesome things we thought we were doing. But when we do accept it...man, things are so much better. Think of the movie's opening scene, where Woody is riding across the "desert plains" and all sorts of yadda yadda yadda, and doing it from the guidance of Andy's hand. He's having the time of his life.
And so will we, when we realize (however slowly) that we alone cannot be all that hot stuff. When we realize that with God, however, we can go to infinity and beyond.
(what was that I said earlier about spouting cheesy lines...?)
Anyhoo, the scene I'm thinking of: Buzz and Woody are in a very sticky situation, waiting on the nasty green carpet in Sid's bedroom for Sid himself to come along and blow them sky high. Well, blow Buzz sky high. He's duct taped to a rocket and his little plastic arm has popped off, lying limp and useless a few feet away (sheesh, this all sounds so horrific out of context). Woody is stuck under a milk crate with a toolbox stacked on top of it, making futile attempts to escape. Finally, in frustration, he asks Buzz for help. Buzz responds:
"I can't help. I can't help anyone."
Woody: "Sure you can. You can help me get this box off, then we'll get out of here and make a break for Andy's house!" (or something to that effect)
Buzz: Andy's house, Sid's house. What's the difference?
Woody: Oh, Buzz, you must not be thinking clearly!
Buzz: No, Woody, for the first time I am thinking clearly. You were right all along; I'm just a toy. A stupid, puny, insignificant toy.
Woody: Whoa, hey, wait a minute. Being a toy is better than being a...a space ranger, pal.
Buzz: Yeah, right.
Woody: No, it is. Listen, when Andy plays with you do you think it's because you've discovered planets, made friends with aliens or defeated the evil emperor Zurg? No. It's because you're a toy; you are his toy!
Buzz: But why would Andy want me?
Woody: Why would Andy want you?! Look at you! You've got wings, you glow in the dark, you talk! Your helmet does that, that whoosh thing! You are a cool toy!...As a matter of fact you're too cool. I mean, all I can do is (pulls string in his back, we hear a recorded yelp: "Thar's a snake in mah boot!"). Why would Andy ever want to play with me, when he's got you?...I'm the one who should be strapped to that rocket.
Apparently Woody's words did have an effect on Buzz, because within minutes he's shoving the tool box off the milk crate and the two of them are off on their glorious escape. Anyway, now that I've paraphrased that whole scene...
The question being answered here is: what makes our existence worthwhile? What if we can't go to the moon, write the great American novel, become a high-powered executive? What if all we can do is spout cheesy lines?
That doesn't matter.
Guess who Andy represents in this picture? Right. Our worth lies not in our achievements or abilities, but in what we are. We are humans, made in the image and likeness of God, with great beauty and great potential thereby. Every. Single. One. Space rangers and cowboys alike. Of course, the realization that our ability and achievements are not the most important thing is a little hard for us to swallow. We, like Buzz, think that our value as "just us" is a poor replacement for all the other awesome things we thought we were doing. But when we do accept it...man, things are so much better. Think of the movie's opening scene, where Woody is riding across the "desert plains" and all sorts of yadda yadda yadda, and doing it from the guidance of Andy's hand. He's having the time of his life.
And so will we, when we realize (however slowly) that we alone cannot be all that hot stuff. When we realize that with God, however, we can go to infinity and beyond.
(what was that I said earlier about spouting cheesy lines...?)
posted by James at
10:44 PM
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