TOM HANKS, THE HUMBLE MEGASTAR

As Sheriff Woody in “Toy Story”—now running to a third chapter—Tom Hanks’s management style is low-key, inclusive, amelioratory, democratic. Rallying the toys in the face of repeated threats of obsolescence, he soothes their nerves, making sure every voice is heard before putting his plan into action, even though it is he‚ as a hand-me-down from their owner Andy’s father, who has most to lose from the encroachments of modernity. It is a role tailor-made for the Hanks persona.

Over the course of a 25-year career, Hanks has grown from the rubber-limbed comedian of “Big” and “Splash” to the unofficial mayor of Hollywood and custodian of America’s greatest hits in films like “Apollo 13” and “Saving Private Ryan”, receiving praise as a throwback to Hollywood’s golden era of personal decency, without ever quite ceding his penchant for improv involving pretzels. His mixture of even-tempered gravitas and self-deprecation remains the industry model for anyone seeking to thread the needle of megastar humility. Appearing on “Inside the Actors Studio”, Bravo’s weekly blow-job from James Lipton about the “craft” of acting, Hanks told an audience of expectant young Lee Strasbergs and Stella Adlers that some of his finest work was to be found in the cop-and-dog comedy “Turner & Hooch”. They all laughed. “I’m being serious!” he protested. He was, too.

"Toy Story 3", out now in America; British release on July 23rd

~ TOM SHONE