MovieChat Forums > Toy Story (1995) Discussion > The most obvious 'plot hole'

The most obvious 'plot hole'

posted 9 years ago by thecheatsdeleted
6 replies | jump to latest

First I would like to say that I couldn't care less that this is a plot hole, it's a kids movie so no one should but I just find it hilariously obvious and wish they would have tried to explain it.

So in Sid's backyard we learn that toys have the power to reveal themselves at any point even if it is breaking "some rules" as Woody points out, So with that revelation it completely undermines the entire plot of the film.

The film centers around Buzz's denial (and Woody's jealousy) that he is a toy and no matter what is said to him he will not believe different so why would Buzz act like a toy around Andy or any other human until he was convinced he was a toy? Aa I said I don't really care but come on, this is a little too obvious. Thry could have at least thrown out some excuse like toys can only come alive in front of people if the situation is dire. Oh well, still a 10/10 film.

There are a couple more but this is the most glaring.

[–] ellakittykat 9 years ago

I agree that it is a plot hole... My kids are obsessed with this movie and after watching it a few times I can't help but wonder why the writers didn't think of that. They even show a part where Andy is firing the laser at Woody yet Buzz still thinks it's real?? Also I am sure there would be times when Andy is playing with Buzz that he opens his hmet etc. and like you mentioned, if he didn't think he was a toy why did he not interact with Andy?

[–] danielle81587 9 years ago

I agree, this seems to be a point that was overlooked by the writers.

However, in the "FAQ" section of the IMDb page, this is the explanation given:

If Buzz doesn't believe he's a toy, why does he always freeze whenever people are around?

One of the 'rules' of being a toy is that you cannot be seen or heard by humans. That's why Woody tells the toys in Sid's room that they're going to teach Sid a lesson but 'we're going to have to break a few rules.' Believing himself to be a space ranger, not a toy, Buzz Lightyear still seems to obey the rules, e.g., he freezes whenever people are around. One possible explanation is that it is an instinct for all toys, so Buzz does it involuntarily, much like falling asleep. A second possibility is that Buzz considers humans dangerous given their size, so he imitates toys because their behavior seems most appropriate.

"Are you hinting my apples aren't what they ought to be?" -The Wizard of Oz, 1939

[–] Lunchbox-3 8 years ago

But then there's the scene at the gas station when the truck drives up to the pump and Woody flops on the ground and almost gets run over. He would have probably let himself die just to preserve the illusion! Yet Buzz doesn't freeze, he simply runs away.

Or how about when Woody gets Hannah away from the tea party by calling to her and pretending to be her mom? The rules seem pretty inconsistent.

[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 8 years ago

But then there's the scene at the gas station when the truck drives up to the pump and Woody flops on the ground and almost gets run over. He would have probably let himself die just to preserve the illusion! Yet Buzz doesn't freeze, he simply runs away.

I don't think that breaks the rules at all since it's a Semi Truck and he obviously didn't see them. Though that does make it weird Woody chose to freeze especially as he was under the truck at the time out of the vision of the Semi Truck Driver. Suddenly though this discussion makes me think of how many times a Semi Truck Driver might have run over small animals in real life and not even known it. That's depressing.

1, 2 Freddy's coming for you. 3, 4 better lock your door.

[–] skeetchtvs 9 years ago

Remember in the second movie when the toys went to the toy store and all the Buzz's had to obey a protocol. One of the rules was to freeze around humans.

[–] silenthill_eternal 9 years ago

What's actually disturbing/nonsensical to me about this film is that the toys have adult thought processes, behavior, and intelligence and yet want to be played with by children.