Nearly 31 years after “Toy Story” revolutionized animation and captivated audiences, “Toy Story 5” captures that authentic feel that several generations have grown to love. Critics have begun to ask, “Why is another installment needed?” Yet, Pixar continues to produce new, original, and great stories that extend the franchise and give it a new, necessary place in our changing world.
The fifth installment explores a problem so fitting to today’s society: screens. Viewers see the disconnect Bonnie feels as she notices kids her age lack imagination and the desire to play with toys. She receives a new tablet, but still struggles to make genuine friendships. Following some memorable side plots (that eventually connect to the main story fantastically), the crew fights to keep Bonnie off the tablet and attempts to find her a genuine friend.
The fifth installment centers on Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) rather than Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), as previous films have. Viewers learn much more about her past. Woody was hardly even needed to make this story work. Surprisingly, I think this was an excellent decision by Pixar. Following “Toy Story 4,” which felt like a Woody solo movie, a dive into Jessie’s past, paired with the changing world of tech, made for a classic story.
Toy Story continues to set the standard for animation with each release. The visuals in this installment were fantastic. Animals look so realistic that it becomes mesmerizing. A memorable moment occurs when Bullseye first notices a real horse counterpart. The horse looks strikingly detailed, and it helps viewers to understand just how far Pixar has come since 1995.
I didn’t appreciate the score in this film as much as I have in past movies. I felt like it really lacked some of the classic, tear-jerking songs that many of us attribute to our childhoods. In fact, Randy Newman’s classic “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” doesn’t even make an appearance as it has in every other film. It’s a song so ingrained in this franchise that its absence is genuinely felt. However, Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” fit perfectly in the film’s credits. It closes the film on a more modern note. It’s different, but it works.
At its heart, “Toy Story 5” is a kids’ movie. It’s a film that resonates with the youth just as every other installment has. But I believe that any generation can take something away from this film. This certainly includes the parenting generation that grew up watching these films. It highlights the importance of face-to-face interaction and the negative effects of too much screentime, especially at a young age. In a world where kids are experiencing the effects of tech at younger and younger ages and imagination is seemingly getting lost, it is a heartfelt reminder to parents that it’s never too late to inspire creativity.
My review: 4/5 stars