Toy Story 5 takes every concern that most millennials had after Toy Story 4, and it gives us a movie that’s not only remarkably relevant today, but worthy in the lineup of great films in the franchise. It’s honest, reflective, and surprisingly hilarious, making it an excellent movie to sit with in the summer.
It’s hard not to wonder if this is really the end, but we all know that Pixar will likely return for more if the demand is there. But truthfully, I don’t know how much more I can handle of these toys, thinking that they’re disposable. The world is already a cruel place, and that reminder doesn’t feel necessary with our favorite fictional companions. Still, and I said this after Toy Story 4—I’ll be seated regardless of whatever adventures these characters embark on.
The fifth installment rightfully centers on Joan Cusack’s Jessie and her trusty sidekick Bullseye, making the entire movie a lovely letter to girlhood in more ways than one. We’re all Team Jessie here, tablets included, and there’s a lot of beauty in that fact. The detail that she gets closure from the belief that Emily forgot about her all those years ago wrecked me to a point of no return because it’s everything she deserves when her backstory results in one of the saddest scenes in the Toy Story franchise.
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Toy Story 5 also does a compelling job of subverting expectations on the concept of villainy, and that might be the most intriguing part of it. The initial trailers paint Lilypad as having the potential to become the worst villain in the franchise, yet the movie delivers a compelling plot twist by giving her the heart that’s necessary to make the narrative stick. Tablets aren’t bad. Our phones aren’t either. These new forms of communication might’ve changed the world completely, but the key has and will always be moderation. What’s important is control and an understanding of the boundaries we need to set. (But AI is always bad, let’s get that straight.)
Ultimately, with impressive animation that continues to remain a comfort and a thought-provoking screenplay, Toy Story 5 delivers a worthy narrative that touches on the importance of friendships. And that’s always been the crux of the films, hasn’t it? From the start, the message always comes down to unlikely friendships and the choices these characters make to preserve them. Whether humans or toys, companionship is what matters most.
It’s a close look at the lengths these toys will continue to go to in order to protect each other, and how they’ll show up through good times and bad. Woody’s return with Bo Peep is not only earned, but that last scene is a near-perfect representation of what his friendship with Buzz has always meant. The new toys provide the right amount of laughs, the tension is present throughout with the threat of screentime, and every main character we’ve grown to love remains just as delightful. In the end, there are few things more comforting than a happy ending, so seeing Bonnie make a friend whose mind is just as creative as hers is a beautiful thing that leaves us with a high note.
Toy Story 5 is now playing in theaters.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Pixar