For most of my life, I’ve been a film buff with a particular soft spot for kids’ movies. Even before we became parents, I’d drag my husband to the latest Disney (and later Pixar and Dreamworks) had to offer. And now that we have two excuses to go to these movies (a.k.a. our son and daughter), we’ve seen it all: From perennial classics like Cinderella and more recent hits like Up to less-than-stellar-but-my-kids-still-love-it movies like Gulliver’s Travels and Yogi Bear. (Seriously!?! They couldn’t come out with one good family movie this past Christmas?)

So I kind of consider myself a bit of a children’s film aficionado and with the Academy Awards just a few weeks away, I feel compelled to say the following: Not only should Toy Story 3 win Best Animated Feature Film, it should also win Best Picture of the Year…hands down.

Of course, the dialogue was brilliant and snappy and the animation sheer perfection. I would never expect anything less of Pixar. But Toy Story 3 not only instantly became my kids’ favorite movie of all times, it became one of mine as well. How many movies can be silly and hilarious, but also deeply moving and poignant? How many movies bring you to tears no matter how many times you see them? (Other than Sophie’s Choice, The Color Purple, and Schindler’s List, I can’t think of any.)

Sure The Social Network was pure entertainment and The King’s Speech was elegant and inspirational. In fact, this has been one of the best year’s for movies since Forrest Gump beat Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, The Shawshank Redemption, and Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994.

But Toy Story 3 is a pure gem. It’s one of those rare movies where each of the 103 minutes delights in some way. Of course my kids loved it….for goodness sake, they even loved Yogi Bear. But I don’t know one adult who didn’t love it as well. The movie beautifully addresses loyalty and friendship, the importance of moving on while always maintaining a bit of a childlike imagination. The plot, the characters, even the score and closing sequence are all exceptional. And most importantly, Toy Story 3 is a movie that you still remember days (ok, months) after you’ve seen it.

If that’s not the criteria for Best Picture, then I don’t know what is!