Toy Story 5 ~ Review

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It’s hard to believe, but the Toy Story gang has been part of our lives for thirty-one years. During that time, Buzz, Woody, and their friends have explored loneliness, abandonment, friendship, and everything in between. They even found a new kid in the third installment. This time, the crew is dealing with an unfamiliar feeling: obsolescence. Technology has entered the toys' lives for the first time, and it might render them useless, which is terrifying for anybody, but for the Toy Story crew, playtime is everything, so what does it mean when no one wants to play with you? The Andrew Stanton-directed fifth installment in the Toy Story franchise wisely does not try to reinvent the formula that made this series wildly successful and iconic, but instead switches its protagonists from Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) to Jessie (Joan Cusack), giving a fresh viewpoint to the timeless themes of abandonment and friendship that make these films so beloved. And while it never reaches the highs of the franchise’s best moments, it is still a welcome emotional return.
 
It’s been two years since Toy Story 4, where Woody left Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) to help Bo Peep (Annie Potts) rescue lost toys. In the meantime, Jessie and the gang are helping Bonnie grow up through play. Bonnie is a girl who finds herself lost in her imagination, which is a great thing; however, it is not conducive to making friends, especially in this world dominated by technology. So, her parents (Lori Alan and Jay Hernandez) buy her an iPad-esque device called a Lilypad (Greta Lee) to help Bonnie connect to her friends. The toys find this new-fangled invention terrifying, as kids everywhere are sucked into technology and not using their imagination to play with their toys. Jessie takes this change especially hard; she’s already lived through one child abandoning her- how can she deal with another one? To make matters worse, Jessie and the Lilypad do not get along.
 
Toy Story 5 is not a sequel that fundamentally changes the franchise. It does not mess with the inner dynamics or world created across the previous four films, various specials, and shorts. Instead, it explores a character who hasn’t changed since her first appearance in 1999’s Toy Story 2. The script (credited to Stanton and McKenna Harris) explores Jessie’s fears of abandonment and obsolescence. It’s a rich thematic vein to mine, putting Buzz and Woody into supporting roles without losing their characterizations. This character shifting could have felt a little sweaty, but Stanton (who has been involved with the Toy Story franchise in one form or another since its inception) manages these character dynamics effortlessly. I also loved that the conclusion of the movie isn’t about throwing away tech or your toys, and that type of nuance is rare in a fifth entry of a long-running franchise.
 
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have been playing Buzz and Woody for so long that they could easily have phoned in their vocal performances, but they still bring a wealth of feeling to these characters and have not missed a step. Joan Cusack is the real highlight, however, bringing depth and warmth to Jessie that she hasn’t had to play since Toy Story 2. Conan O’Brien nearly steals the whole movie as Smarty Pants, a goofy toilet training device that Jessie begrudgingly befriends.
 
As with all the other Toy Story films, Toy Story 5 is a heartfelt ode to friendship and connection. And it is a testament to the creative team that I get just as much joy watching these characters in my 40s as I did when I was ten. Pixar’s usual mix of humor and heart is fully on display here, making a wonderful film. This summer has been ruled by sequels, so it’s refreshing to see one that feels genuine and is not simply just another product.
 
Three and a half out of Four Stars