Woody and Buzz's last round-up

The fear of becoming obsolete. Abandonment issues. Thethreat of Death By Monkeys.

They’re all part of the psychological backdrop of “Toy Story3,” a first-rate — and long-overdue — sequel that both lives up to and buildson the legacy of 1995’s “Toy Story” and 1999’s “Toy Story 2.”

“Little Miss Sunshine” screenwriter Michael Ardnt might haveseemed like a peculiar choice to pen the conclusion of the saga of Woody andBuzz Lightyear, but he’s done a marvelous job, effortlessly continuing the toneof the series and providing the same multiple levels of humor that marked theearlier films. While there’s plenty of fun to be had, there’s also aconsiderable amount of wistfulness and poignancy in this chapter; many viewerswill find their 3D glasses misting up during the finale.

Before then, however, they will have savored some wonderfulone-liners and, as in the previous “Toy Storys,” a fair amount of nail-bitingsuspense. Director Lee Unkrich, who edited the first “Toy Story” andco-directed the second, masterfully maintains the familiar personalities ofsuch beloved characters as Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Hamm the feisty piggybank, Jessie the vivacious cowgirl and Rex the eternally anxious dinosaur whileeasily working in some memorable new additions, including a seeminglybubble-brained Barbie who turns out to be anything but a dumb blonde, and asuave Ken doll with some major insecurities (“I’m not a girl toy — I’m not!”).

“3” picks up many years after the second installment, withever-encouraging cowboy Woody trying to convince his fellow toys that theystill have a place in the heart of Andy, their owner. The cheerleading sounds abit hollow, however, since Andy is now 17 and on the verge of departing forcollege; the old toy box is still in his bedroom, but its occupants haven’tbeen outside for quite some time. Pressured by his mom to get organized, Andymakes an error that has near-disastrous consequences for his old friends, whoend up in the “Caterpillar Room” at a day-care center laughingly named Sunnyside.At first, the toys are optimistic about their future — “The door has a rainbowon it!” Rex observes — but Sunnyside is not all fun and games, thanks to a crewof hyperactive toddlers and a tyrannical teddy known as Lotso Huggin’ Bear(whose alternatively Grampa-like and gruff voice is provided by Ned Beatty),who is not as cuddly as he appears to be.

One of the movie’s many remarkable features is how Tom Hanksand Tim Allen have managed to keep their respective characters of Woody andBuzz fresh and funny, even at this late date. Buzz, in particular, gets asavory storyline this time around, and Ardnt cleverly slips a mild bit of innuendointo Buzz’s relationship with Jessie, who begins to see the spaceman in adifferent light. John Ratzenberger’s Hamm, Don Rickles’ prickly Mr. Potato Headand Estelle Harris’ Mrs. Potato Head are also as endearing as ever.

Jodi Benson brings a knockout combination of girlishness anddetermination to the surprisingly shrewd Barbie, while Michael Keaton has afield day with the vain, fashion-conscious and easily manipulated Ken.

“Toy Story 3” concludes with a beautifully modulatedsequence that wraps up the trilogy in the best possible way. If Pixar isbidding a fond farewell to its founding fathers (and mothers), this is one sensationalsend-off.