Toy Story has cemented itself in movie history by being the first 3D animated feature length film, as well as being especially imaginative and creating a consistently great movie series. Because of this, there was a lot that the newest installment, Toy Story 5, had a lot to live up to. Because of this, let’s explore how much it met those expectations. Did it reach new heights for the franchise or fall with style?

The Good

Toy Story 5 is Jessie’s story. She’s the protagonist here, rather than Buzz or Woody, and it was needed. She’s the main character whose arc wasn’t completed and still had things to work on. This movie focuses on her development and her growth, and it’s extremely satisfying to see, especially for folks who grew up with these movies. This story finally put her in the place she needed to be in.

At first glance at the advertising for the film, it seemed like the theme would be more along the lines of being anti-tech. Instead, the movie is much, much deeper than that, with a handful of subtle, important, and emotional themes. Rather than being “anti-new” and “pro-old,” the movie dives into the idea that both old and new have their place and important elements, and should be handled in tandem, which is a really interesting thought process. It also discusses being careful with tech and how it’s used, like how we may put ourselves in toxic situations or even change ourselves for the sake of social media or the Internet, which works as a solid warning. 

Perhaps the film’s most powerful message, though, is regarding the connections we make with other people. Instead of focusing on fake or toxic connections, we need to embrace the positive relationships we have in our lives. We also need to recognize and celebrate the positive impact these connections have on ourselves and each other. Regardless of how little time those connections were made for, they still have an important impact. This is the message in the movie that will have folks sobbing.

This is an incredibly emotional movie. Outside of those heartfelt themes, there are a lot of touching moments between characters, as well as heartwarming scenes in which characters grow. This is a movie worth crying over, but it’s a nice, happy cry.

The film is also incredibly funny. Between the witty dialogue and slapstick, there’s a lot to laugh at. The characters and their shenanigans are just as hilarious as ever, and it’ll have the audiences laughing out loud.

The animation in this movie is top notch. The toys and environments are still stylized, but even the most minute details have intricacies, and some elements even look borderline live action. This is some of the best 3D animation ever put to the big screen. It looks life-like while still having personality.

The voice acting throughout the movie is phenomenal. The usual Toy Story crew of Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, and the rest all do a great job. Joan Cusack especially shines, though. Jessie is front and center, and Cusack leans fully into bringing this yodeling cowgirl to life more than ever. She’s funny, she’s emotional, and she ultimately feels very real and human despite being a toy. One other voice actor who stands out in particular is Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants. He’s clearly having a blast in the role, which makes the character even more fun to watch. He’s over-the-top, hilarious, emotional, and steals the spotlight in several scenes. Conan full-sent into this role and it paid off.

 Every Toy Story movie adds new characters, and Toy Story 5 is no different. Each of the new characters are welcome additions, like Smarty Pants. The tech toys are super charming, relatable, and funny. They keep the series feeling fresh and new without overtaking the story from the protagonists.

There are lots of callbacks to the classic Toy Story films, but they never distract from the central plot. Eagle-eyed fans will enjoy the background elements, musical references, and quotes from the previous movies. Some of these callbacks will make the audience laugh, while others will genuinely make them tear up. Either way, they’re fun without being distracting.

The Bad

The first half of Toy Story 5 is incredibly disjointed. It jumps around between a few different plotlines with overlapping conflicts. It feels a bit too unfocused, so much so that there are moments when it suddenly switches which plot is on screen that feel unintentionally laughable. It all comes together quite well in the end, and the second half doesn’t suffer as much from this, though.

This isn’t something that necessarily hurts Toy Story 5 as a whole, but it’s still bothersome. Jessie, Buzz, Woody, and Bullseye are on another grand adventure, but Rex, Slinky Dog, Mr. Potatohead, Ham, and the rest of the toys get almost no time at all. As a long-time fan of the series, it’s genuinely disappointing to see these previously-major characters sidelined so much in the latest installment.

It’s hard to put my finger on it, but there doesn’t seem to be as much whimsy as the previous movies in the series. It’s hard to tell if it’s the early disconnected plot early on affecting the pacing or what, but some of the magic isn’t quite there. It’s still as creative and emotional as one would hope, though.

Conclusion

Toy Story 5 is a perfect movie for the times we’re in. It touches on important topics while being emotional, funny, and relatable. It gives a main character her long-awaited arc, which is absolutely deserved. It’s extremely well animated and endlessly entertaining. It may not be the best Toy Story movie, but it’s absolutely a welcome addition to the franchise. It’s fantastic for fans both new and old.

Rating: 9/10

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