When Disney released a special 3-D double feature for “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” last October, it gave me a chance to catch up with the films for the first time in a while. I came away with a greater appreciation of both films – two of the best ever from Pixar animation – and looked forward to the third installment.

That installment has arrived and more than lives up to the lofty expectations as a worthy addition to the already classic series. There is something for everyone in the film, which is easily the best major American studio release I’ve seen in 2010.

“Toy Story 3” picks up with Andy about to head to college – leaving Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys concerned about their future.

When the toys are accidentally donated to a day care, most are happy with the idea of having children around who will play with them again. That joy quickly fades when they discover they are under the ruthless dictatorship of Lots-O-Huggin-Bear (Ned Beatty) – a strawberry-scented stuffed bear who forces the newer toys to remain in the playroom with the younger children.

It doesn’t take long before Andy’s toys band together, hatching an escape plan to get them back to Andy’s home.

There is so much to like about “Toy Story 3.” For starters, Michael Arndt and John Lasseter’s screenplay once again captures the innocence of this toy world but doesn’t play down to its audience. There are plenty of laughs for the kids, while adults will be entertained as well. Perhaps the best running gag in the movie is the on-again, off-again relationship between Barbie (Jodi Benson) and Ken (Michael Keaton) that delightfully plays off Ken’s androgynous stereotype. I can’t think of many films released this year with writing as smart as “Toy Story 3” – both a credit to this film and a sad commentary on the state of Hollywood in general.

The film also works as an action movie with a clever escape sequence that plays a lot like the animated film “Chicken Run,” which itself was a clever take on the popular film “The Great Escape.”

Those two reasons alone make “Toy Story 3” worthy of its predecessors, but the film also has an emotional and heart-tugging final act that brought back memories of last year’s Pixar entry “Up.”

That film was rewarded with a Best Animated Feature Oscar and a Best Picture nomination as well. I think “Toy Story 3” deserves the same fate – a fitting climax to a great American trilogy.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s dandy is “She’s Out of My League” (B-), the Judd Apatow-inspired comedy that is not quite up to films such as “Knocked Up” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” but is still pretty funny.

Jay Baruchel stars as Kirk, an average Joe working as airport security who meets Molly (Alice Eve). She proves to be everything he could ever imagine in a woman – smart, successful, sexy and funny.

As the relationship deepens, Kirk begins to question what she could possibly see in him. His lack of confidence deepens as his friends and family begin to question the attraction as well.

Written by Sean Anders and John Morris, this is a pretty basic (and familiar) story, but the film is littered with some frank (and funny) conversation.

Barachel, who had small roles in “Tropic Thunder” and “Knocked Up,” is comfortable in the lead role, showing a nice screen presence. Eve has fun with her role, too, showing much more spark than her small role in the recent “Sex and the City” sequel.

There is also some nice supporting work from T.J. Miller, Mike Vogal and Jessica St. Clair – although it all feels rather pedestrian, especially compared to the other Apatow entries.

Still, I laughed enough that the film is definitely worth a look – if for no other reason than to catch Baruchel and Eve at what should be the beginning of long and successful film careers.

“She’s Out of My League” is rated R for language and sexual content and is now available on DVD.

— To get sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton’s up-to-the minute thoughts on all things movies, visit his blog at mcompton.wordpress.com or his Twitter page at twitter.com/mcompton428. You can also e-mail him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.