Toy Story 5 review – Pixar franchise needs new batteries
Toy Story 5 Review – Pixar Franchise Needs New Batteries
Toy Story 5 review - Toy Story 5, the latest installment in the beloved franchise, dazzles with its polished execution and seamless animation. The film’s visual appeal is almost flawless, rivaling the glitch-free perfection of its successors, Toy Story 6 and Toy Story 7, which are yet to debut. Its presentation feels like a brand-new smartphone—sleek, modern, and designed to impress. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a story that struggles to ignite the emotional spark that once defined the series. While the creative team has clearly poured immense effort into crafting each frame, the narrative lacks the urgency and originality that made earlier films resonate deeply with audiences.
The Tech Dilemma and Its Emotional Toll
The central conflict of Toy Story 5 revolves around the encroachment of technology on the world of toys. A sinister tablet named Lilypad, voiced with eerie precision by Greta Lee, infiltrates the children’s lives, promising connection and convenience. This device symbolizes the addictive nature of modern tech, which threatens to replace the imaginative play of traditional toys. Yet, the film’s handling of this theme feels underdeveloped. The stakes are not as compelling as they could be, and the message—though familiar—lacks the bite that made earlier entries in the series memorable.
“Those squeamish about spoilers had better look away now,”
the review cautions, hinting at the film’s reliance on a concept that has been revisited multiple times. Lilypad’s journey from a source of temptation to a hero in its own right is both surprising and disconcerting. It challenges the idea that technology is inherently destructive, suggesting instead that it might have its own redeeming qualities. But this thematic pivot feels rushed, as if the filmmakers are trying to balance two opposing ideas without fully committing to either.
The film’s plot centers on Bonnie, the only child in her neighborhood who still plays with toys rather than succumb to the allure of tech devices. Initially, her enthusiasm for Lilypad is infectious, but this quickly shifts to a darker tone as the tablet becomes a tool of online bullying. The narrative arc of Bonnie’s struggle is well-intentioned, yet it feels overly simplified. Her emotional journey is presented as a direct conflict between the past and present, but the resolution is more formulaic than heartfelt. The heart of the story is there, but it’s not given enough time to breathe.
Characters and the Echoes of the Past
Toy Story 5 revisits familiar faces, but their arcs lack the depth that once made them iconic. Woody, the cowboy who once stood in stark contrast to Buzz Lightyear, now finds himself in a feral, nature-centric existence. His physical changes—a bald patch and a growing paunch—are meant to underscore his aging and the toll of time, yet they seem arbitrary. Buzz, on the other hand, remains as pristine and unchanging as the first film, his sci-fi credentials intact despite the shifting cultural landscape. This contrast highlights the series’ struggle to evolve, as if the characters are trapped in a loop of nostalgia.
Jessie, the cowgirl from the original trilogy, is given a new storyline that involves a complicated subplot. She befriends a young girl named Blaze, a passionate horse lover and toy enthusiast, which introduces a fresh dynamic. However, the plot’s convoluted nature requires a swarm of upgraded Buzzes to untangle, creating a sense of confusion rather than wonder. The introduction of new characters, like Smarty Pants—a battery-powered toy with an LCD screen—adds a layer of commentary on the transition from analog to digital playthings. Yet, these additions feel more like afterthoughts than integral to the story’s core.
The relationship between Woody and Bo Peep, now a romantic pair, is another throwback. Their bond, once a source of tension and growth, is reduced to a subplot that doesn’t fully engage. The film’s attempt to revive the theme of mortality—long a cornerstone of the series—falls flat. In Toy Story 2, the heartbreaking song *When She Loved Me* by Randy Newman became a defining moment, capturing the vulnerability of a toy whose owner no longer cherishes it. TS5 tries to recapture that essence with a new song by Taylor Swift, but the emotional payoff is tepid. The song’s inclusion feels like a nostalgic nod rather than a meaningful exploration of the theme.
A Franchise in Transition
Toy Story 5 marks a pivotal moment for the franchise, as it grapples with the challenge of staying relevant in an ever-changing world. The series has been a cornerstone of Pixar’s creative output for over three decades, but the fifth film signals a shift toward comfort over innovation. The film’s reliance on recycled ideas and underdeveloped conflicts suggests that the franchise may be running out of steam. While the animation and voice work remain top-notch, the story feels like a placeholder, holding onto the past while struggling to embrace the future.
One of the film’s most notable departures from its predecessors is the portrayal of the children’s relationship with their toys. In earlier films, the emotional stakes were rooted in the bond between kids and their playthings, a dynamic that gave the series its heart. TS5, however, shifts focus to the broader impact of technology on childhood. The introduction of Lilypad serves as a metaphor for the digital age’s encroachment on imagination, but this idea is underexplored. The film spends more time on the visual spectacle of the tech device than on the emotional consequences of its presence. As a result, the narrative feels like a shallow reflection of the franchise’s past depth.
The characters’ internal conflicts are also less pronounced. Woody’s journey from a confident leader to a self-doubting toy is presented but not fully realized. His bald patch and paunch are physical manifestations of his emotional struggles, yet these are not tied to a compelling arc. Buzz, ever the loyal companion, remains an anchor of stability, which is admirable but also a bit predictable. Jessie, while given a fresh challenge, seems more like a side character than a central figure. This lack of development for key characters undermines the film’s ability to engage viewers on a deeper level.
Legacy and the Future of Toy Story
Toy Story 5’s shortcomings are not insignificant, but they are part of a larger pattern. The series, once a beacon of innovation in family entertainment, now appears to be repeating its earlier successes without the same level of ingenuity. The franchise’s age is a factor—over 30 years since the first film’s release—yet this should not excuse a lack of fresh ideas. IP exhaustion is a real concern, and TS5’s reliance on familiar tropes suggests that the filmmakers are prioritizing safe storytelling over bold experimentation.
Despite its flaws, Toy Story 5 is a competent entry in the series. The animation is stunning, the voice performances are strong, and the film’s aesthetic is a masterclass in technical execution. However, these elements are not enough to compensate for the absence of a strong narrative core. The film’s attempt to tackle contemporary issues like tech addiction is admirable, but it falters in delivering a satisfying resolution. The climax, which sees Lilypad sacrificing itself for Bonnie’s mental health, feels like a last-minute effort to add emotional weight rather than a natural culmination of the story’s themes.
As the film concludes, it leaves viewers with a sense of closure but also a lingering question: where does the Toy Story franchise go from here? The series has always been a reflection of its time, from the 1990s’ fascination with space exploration to the 2000s’ nostalgia for childhood. Now, it must navigate a world where the lines between toys and technology are blurring. While TS5 succeeds in maintaining its visual and auditory appeal, it struggles to capture the essence of what made the franchise great in the first place. The journey of the toys may be more about survival than transformation, and that is a subtle but significant change in tone.
With Toy Story 5 now in theaters on 18 June in Australia and 19 June in the UK and US, the film invites both reflection and critique. It is a product of its time, a blend of nostalgia and modern sensibilities that feels both comforting and formulaic. As the series moves forward, it will be interesting to see whether the creative team can reignite the passion and ingenuity that once defined it. For now, Toy Story 5 stands as a polished but uninspired chapter in a franchise that has long been a cultural touchstone.