'Toy Story' Narrowly Misses Perfect Trilogy Marks (Thanks, Armond White)

By Zach Dionne Posted Jun 20th 2010 02:00PM

Thursday, 'Toy Story 3' had a shot at something special -- it stood to propel the three films into history, becoming the only trilogy rated 100 percent fresh across the board on Rotten Tomatoes.

Friday, that hope was dashed. As Roger Ebert and others predicted, notoriously contrary New York Press film critic Armond White dissed the third installment in Pixar's flagship franchise. White's review deems the nearly universally acclaimed film "essentially a bored [sic] game that only the brainwashed will buy into" and posits the series is only fit for "non-thinking children and adults."

The other negative review (seriously, there were two) comes from a critic named Cole Smithey. His "news outlet"? ColeSmithey.com, of course, where he dubs himself "The Smartest Film Critic in the World." No word on who he actually, y'know, is, or why he sits alongside the likes of critics like Ebert, A.O. Scott, Peter Travers and Owen Gleiberman on the review-compiling website.

It's hard to ignore the fact that the two Scrooges' opinions fly in the face of much of the Internet and more than 150 critics on Rotten Tomatoes -- the consensus seems to be that the film is a stellar conclusion to a shining series.

"Maybe Smithey and White – a lifelong devil's advocate who has made a career out of railing against popular opinion – used their reviews more as a means of grabbing attention," Time magazine writes in a post titled 'Can 147 Critics Be Wrong? Meet the Two Pundits Who Trashed Toy Story 3.'

The tally now stands at 155 fresh reviews and two rotten ones. Unfortunately, the pair of unsavory reviews keep 'Toy Story' from being the only trilogy of all time to receive perfect marks:

June 22 update: A third rotten review has rolled in, dipping the film's score to 98 percent with 167 positive reviews, three negative ones.

To turn off our journalistic objectivity device for a minute (what do you mean, we turned that off for the headline and never looked back?!), we'd be remiss if we didn't point out Armond White dished a positive review to 'Jonah Hex,' an 80-minute feature film receiving a severe drubbing from critics (15 percent fresh on Rotten Tomates). White also suggested 'Transformers 2' as a superior alternative to 'Toy Story 3.'

White's chink in 'Toy Story's' armor was the final straw for some film fans -- a petition, 'Ban Armond White from RottenTomates.com,' has received nearly 2,000 signatures. The petition spotlights White's approval of films like 'Norbit' and 'Confessions of Shopaholic' and his poor reviews of critic- and fan-favorites 'The Dark Knight' and 'There Will Be Blood.'

"I am forced to conclude that White is, as charged, a troll," Ebert wrote last summer.

Entertainment Weekly reports 'Toy Story 3' could earn as much as $120 million in its first weekend. Pixar's current opening weekend record is $70.5 million for 'The Incredibles.'

Read more: 'Surveying Cinema's Biggest Franchises,' in which PopEater's Jason Newman spotlights Pixar's 10-for-10 run with fans and critics.

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Tags: Armond White, Toy Story 3

Comments

(72)

Wednesday 23 June

By Ike Iszany

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These two idiots are actually proof that reviews and reviewers are all full of that famous brown stuff. Go see a movie for yourself and decide. For example..."Lord of the Rings" gets 92% positive. I LOATHE that movie!! One of my top ten most agonizing movie going experiences. So for me 92% of reviewers AND the Motion Picture Academy were wrong. Of course the Motion Picture Academy is so often wrong as far as I'm concerned.

Monday 21 June

By Entertainment2u-Twitter

I can't imagine anyone hating TOY STORY 3 -- you cannot have a heart if you hated it! That pretty much sums it up.

My glowing review on my blog -- just click on link on my Twitter page: Entertainment2u

By Austin

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I went to see Toy Story 3 in Asheville, NC last Saturday..and while it was begining it showed a picture of Andy when he was younger with all of the toys and I was sorta sadden to see Andy grown up and now the toys left un-played..it was a really really great movie, a perfect ending, I just hope we'll be able to see a Toy Story 4 soon, hopefully we wont have to wait around for another 10 years to see it..

By Dave Guthrie

To be honest...These losers will never amount to anything...I watch movies despite critics. I like to form my own opinion about films. TOY STORY 3 BETTER THAN JEDI !!!! I SAID IT!!!!

By Amanda

I also don't really care what most critics think, but this guy seems like a real idiot. Why is he even trusted as a critic on this site if he just votes opposite of what everyone else votes? On a random note, when they talk about box office records, are they taking into account inflating movie prices? Movie tickets have shot through the roof, so of course movies today are going to have greater box office sales... Sorry if this sounds dumb, but I was just curious.

By Isabella

Clearly, Armond has a Megan Fox fetish.
Jonah Hex AND Transformers (while both, I'm sure, worthwhile to see) are not nearly as important as the third installment of the Toy Story movies, which, though some adults might tire of it, is now a nostalgic institution, a staple of American childhood from the 90's on. You can't just give something like that a bad review because you were upset that there were no explosions or hot women. I mean my god, who is this guy, a 14-year-old boy?

By shytudnut1

147 positive reviewers, only a scant few mentioned by name.

3 negative reviewers, EACH of which is mentioned by name.

Is this honest reviewing, or just a cheap publicity ploy?

(Actually, I used to always think this about Pauline Kael...and Rex Reed, for that matter. When people feel so consistently critical and bashing towards movies, you have to start wondering: do they even like these things?)

By Christine C

Worth every penny of the admission price. It brought up emotions in me that I haven't felt for a long time while seeing a movie. Laughing, crying, and jumping in fear at that scary monkey and suspense ahhh!!. So much nostalgic feelings as well. Tom Hanks what can I say. All this over cartoon toys. Amazing Pixar you did it again. I Looooooooooved this movie!!!!!!

By Roland

Armand Smithy WHO?

Tuesday 22 June

By Ellen

This man is so against anything pop culture he actually wrote a book on it "go to amazon". He's nothing but a cult leader wanna be! If he hates pop culture so much then why would he even let rotten tomato put him on there? RT is as pop culture as you can get! A web site telling us what movies we should see! Give us all a break Mr. White and stick with your so called morals and petition yourself of!

By Caring Kate

Everyone has their own opinion. As for me and the crowd I sat with, we clapped and stood throughout Toy Story 3! One of THE most fabulous movies I have ever seen. Our little group included four young parents, two nine year olds, one five year old, two 14 year olds and two grandparents. The females of all ages cried, laughed and loved it! The males nearly cried, laughed and loved it! Best all around movie to date.

Tuesday 29 March

By kreiyu

IMO none of the sequels where "fresh". All the movies more or less center around the toys abandonment issues.

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