Toy Story 3 flopped in Russia.

I liked Toy Story 3, but I think it's one of Pixar's weakest offerings. Most of its successful humor and pathos derives from call-backs to the first two films.

"Hey, remember that time that Andy was playing, and Woody stopped One-Eyed Bart (portrayed by Mr. Potato Head), and he had an attack dog, with a built-in force field? Well, this is what it looked like in Andy's imagination!"

"Hey, remember that time Jessie had to deal with being abandoned by Emily? Well, she'll face the same fears with Andy!"

"Hey, remember when Andy was little kid, Molly was a baby, and Buster was a puppy? They're all much older now!"

"Hey, remember when we met the little green aliens in a claw machine? They won't really do anything in this movie, but if we make a call-back to the claw machine, you won't mind a deus ex machina!"

Again: I was moved by all of this. I love the series dearly. But it was the cheapest way of evoking emotion, and unlike Toy Story 2, I don't think that Toy Story 3 can stand on its own.

This article supports my suspicion. An audience who doesn't know the previous films is utterly disinterested. And I'd argue that that's a sign that Pixar hasn't so much "made a third movie" as "made a tribute movie."

Which is fine. But surely anyone could have come up with a touching scene where Andy gives his toys away. What makes Pixar great is that it tries not to rest on its laurels (except in the theme parks--grrr), and it's disappointing to see this encouraged in the Toy Story 3 reviews.