From the very start, Toy Story 5 sets its expectations almost impossibly high. After a funny, yet surprising, cold open, the movie brings us back to 1999’s Toy Story 2. It revisits a few crucial moments involving Jessie the cowgirl (Joan Cusack) that don’t just rile up feelings now, but resurrect dormant emotions from almost three decades of nostalgia. Tapping into something that powerful in the second scene of a movie is a lot to live up to. And while it does take a while, Toy Story 5 not only meets those expectations, it exceeds them. It’s a wonderful film and a more than welcome addition to a beloved franchise.
Co-written and directed by Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo), Toy Story 5 picks up where things left off with the last film. Jessie, Buzz (Tim Allen), and the gang are still with their kid Bonnie (Scarlett Spears), while Woody (Tom Hanks) is off with Bo Peep (Annie Potts) and their friends, helping abandoned toys. Very quickly, though, Bonnie’s parents begrudgingly buy her a high-tech iPad-like device called a Lilypad (Greta Lee), which all but makes those toys obsolete. And so, it’s up to Jessie and the crew to remind Bonnie that technology isn’t everything and that playing with her toys still matters.
Make no mistake about it, Toy Story 5 is Jessie’s story. She’s the new leader of Bonnie’s room and takes charge in confronting Lilypad and all her abilities. She then, along with her trusty steed Bullseye, sets out into the world on the remainder of the adventure. An adventure that has all the laughs, excitement, and heart we expect from the very best Pixar has to offer.
However, with the focus on Jessie, almost all the other toys have their screentime cut back significantly. In fact, most of the supporting characters (Rex, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Forky, etc) get literally shelved for more than half the movie, which is a bit of a disappointment. Even Woody, who wasn’t with the group at the end of the last one, comes back here, but has a much smaller part to play. That might disappoint some fans, but when he’s on screen, it’s never wasted and always crucial to the story. Plus, of course, Hanks is fantastic as always.
Buzz Lightyear, on the other hand, is a different story. He, too, plays second fiddle to Jessie, but has a heartwarming side quest that’s seeded throughout the film. Oh, and there are 50 of him. Yes, one of the other key storylines that’s woven through Toy Story 5 is that a container of upgraded Buzz Lightyear toys crashed on an island, and they decide to work together to not just escape, but serve a higher purpose. We won’t spoil the specifics, but the 50 Buzzes seemingly get more screentime than Woody, which, at times, can be a head scratcher.
With Jessie doing one thing, our Buzz and the toys another, Woody’s integration, human kids, and adults, plus 50 Buzzes roaming around, Toy Story 5 can often feel a little disjointed, especially at the start. That’s compounded because a few of the stories, Jessie’s specifically, are simply more interesting and dramatic than the others. And so, as Stanton cuts between them, the film ebbs and flows in ways that bring it down ever so slightly. It’s never a huge, unforgivable issue, but there are moments where the film is clearly not as clean or cohesive as previous entries.
As expected, though, that’s eventually corrected. The stories slowly but surely come together, and once they do, we are rewarded with maybe the most powerful and exciting third act in the franchise to date. It’s just a little odd how you can basically watch and feel the entire movie clicking into place at a certain point.
Along the way, the script by Stanton and Kenna Harris (who also co-directs) gives us a lot to think about. Of course, there’s the obvious, overarching idea of kids and technology. That then branches off into threads about how tech can impact their social skills and development, plus there’s a throughline about bullying and more. Jessie’s story specifically also deals with issues of self-worth, confidence, and the meaning of friendship. All of which may seem like a lot, but unlike the actual plot, there’s cohesion throughout. The messages and themes fit in seamlessly and never overshadow any of the humor or story. They’re just there if you’d like to consider them. And you almost certainly will, long after you leave the theater.
There are also lots of new characters who help Jessie in her journey. Chief among them is Blaze, a new human voiced by Mykal-Michelle Harris. Blaze’s world gives Jessie a whole new perspective on things, especially since Blaze has her own set of toys. Slinky, Rex, and Forky might be in a box in Bonnie’s garage, but we do get to meet Smartypants, Blaze’s old potty-training device voiced by Conan O’Brien, Atlas, a GPS toy voiced by Craig Robinson, and Snappy, a digital camera voiced by Shelby Rabara. With these characters, Toy Story 5 dives even deeper into the weeds because these, like Lilypad, are all tech toys. They were each top of the line at some point, but have since been surpassed. Which is exactly how Jessie, Woody, and Buzz feel. So, through the new toys, ideas about purpose and longevity shine even brighter. Plus, they’re really funny and integral to the plot.
And that’s not all. Toy Story 5 is chock-full of subtle, brilliant moments that left us in awe. The way Jessie looks at Lilypad and almost gets sucked into its delights. A pan across a neighborhood revealing kids all on their screens. Lilypad’s eyes in certain scenes teasing what’s to come. A crucial setting off in the distance. The whole thing is a masterclass in filling every frame with meaning and feeling.
And so, once all of that comes together, Toy Story 5 absolutely lives up to that big promise it makes at the beginning. Those emotions you felt way back in 1999 not only come back, but are rewarded and expanded on. It would probably be a good idea to bring some tissues to the theater too because the film does its best to make you cry, just as have in the past. But it’ll also make you cheer, smile, and laugh along the way.
Toy Story 5 doesn’t quite match the perfection of the first three films, but it’s very close. It, once again, shows that when Pixar wants to do something right, boy, can they do it right.
Toy Story 5 opens June 19. And make sure you stay through the Taylor Swift song at the end. The film gives us one final gift in the middle of the credits.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
