Family movies often get harshly treated by critics because simple family values often offend the cynical. I enjoy the 'grown up' references in things like Toy Story as much as anyone, but I don't feel cheated in some way if a movie doesn't try to give a nudge and a wink to the adults in the audience.

This is a straight forward fantasy quest with a very simple and loving message. It's well executed. It's honest.

I especially like the way the animators coaxed life-like expressions and gestures onto clearly not very life like figures. And the voice acting is first rate.

It's well paced and interesting and I laughed out loud a fair bit. So mission accomplished.

I had a quibble about the 80s vibe, which seemed inexplicable even for a fantasy movie set on another world. I get the whole rock and roll thing because I lived thru it, but this is alien to kids today. It would be like Bill and Ted being dressed in Zoot suits and listening to Big Band music in their 1989 adventure. Really odd stuff. I also thought the score was too over the top at times as well. It is just un necessary imo.

Definitely one of the better Pixar movies.