Five films, and not a clunker in the bunch.
The 1995 smash “Toy Story” cemented Pixar as world-class storytellers. The saga became a model of consistency since then, refusing to obey the laws of Hollywood sequel gravity.
“Toy Story 3” may have been the most emotionally powerful entry in the series, and the fourth installment showed the Pixar formula in fine effect.
Now, for the first time, a “Toy Story” film is flashing its limitations. It’s not nearly enough to chase longtime fans away, though.
“Toy Story 5” is a treat, a smart and wise sequel with stunning animation and the return of our beloved characters. The film even introduces new themes that matter in the big cultural picture – the invasion of digital toys that rob the wee ones of their imagination.
Yet the themes so often cited in the franchise – getting older, growing apart from our youthful play – are starting to feel familiar. That, and some clumsy plot devices, suggest this franchise might want to end on a semi-high note.
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The new film finds us with young Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), who inherited our favorite toys in the last installment. She’s young and shy, but she comes to life while playing with Jessie the cowgirl (Joan Cusack) and friends.
She’s also gifted a new Lilypad gadget, an electronic toy that distracts her from her analog playthings. You won’t need an imagination to cherish this toy!
Her friends are similarly smitten with high-tech goodies that offer crude texting and image sharing tools. Oh, and on occasion, some light bullying.
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That digital peer pressure coaxes Bonnie to give up on Jessie and her trusted steed, Bullseye,setting the film’s story in motion. Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and Woody (Tom Hanks) reunite, and a plan finds the toys trying to pair Bonnie with a new friend, Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris).
That potential friendship doesn’t require WiFi connections or batteries. Blissful, no?
Parents will cheer the themes throughout “Toy Story 5,” and the film’s whimsical humor never fades. Conan O’Brien leaves the biggest mark as a high-tech potty device.
Still, some may object to the sequel’s over gender flips.
This is Jessie’s movie, far more than one belonging to franchise stars Buzz or Woody. The human protagonists are girls this time, too. The presentation focuses more on their flaws than any Mary Sue flourishes, which deflate any overtly feminist agenda.
Solid storytelling trumps woke at every turn.
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It’s still sad to see a “Toy Story” film maneuver around obvious plot devices, like an army of Buzz clones who enter the film early on and are exploited later for narrative purposes.
Yeah, it’s impossible not to notice.
Another jarring element? What happened to our Buzz? This time, he’s got marriage on his mind, and the subplot feels very different than Allen’s OG branding.
Think less grunting and more bashful handwringing (and worse).
Still, the sequel has its heart in the right place, acknowledges the threat digital toys pose and extols life lessons that few would find objectionable. The visual palette, too, has never been more stunning.
One can track the growth of CGI animation through the series’ 30-plus year span. The images here are never showy but consistently gorgeous.
There’s a lot to love about “Toy Story 5,” and we might heart it even more had we didn’t already see four superior “Stories.”
HiT or Miss: “Toy Story 5” proves the franchise still has life in its digital soul, but some cracks are beginning to show.
What’s your favorite ‘Toy Story’ installment … and why?
But Scream 7 was good. Christian, I get it, you have a hard on to hate Disney. move on, dude
This movie will make a billion dollars, so we will probably get a sixth one. I’m good with only viewing Toy Story as a trilogy and leaving it at that.
Yeah, I’m getting sick and tired of the Toy Story franchise myself. The series should have ended with the third one.