MOVIE REVIEW: TOY STORY 5

 

Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs get exponentially harder when they go head-to-head with a new threat to playtime.

Director: Andrew Stanton

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Tony Hale, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Blake Clark, Annie Potts, Bonnie Hunt, Melissa Villaseñor, Kristen Schaal, Keanu Reeves, Ally Maki

Release Date: June 19, 2026

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy

Rated PG for some thematic elements and rude humor.

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

Toy Story 5 shows that Pixar’s flagship franchise still possesses the emotional resonance and charm that made the original so special with this entry dealing with the encroachment of technology into childhood.  Andrew Stanton takes the reins behind the camera for this entry, delivering a visually impressive film that makes the well-known characters and the world they inhabit pop onscreen like never before.  The level of detail on display with each shot is truly staggering as each character and scene offers up a feast of visual treats.  There’s a noticeable pop in this entry that makes sequences like a battalion of high tech, fluorescent, Buzz Lightyears marching in a dark forest instantly memorable.  Stanton utilizes a watercolor flourish for scenes that occur in the children’s imagination as they play with the toys which brings a certain vibrancy to those moments.  Visual wizardry aside, the story is still concerned with the original conceit of the meaning of childhood and how these toys help with the natural progression of growth.  The script deals with the modern incursion of technology into that sphere and how it accelerates children’s emotional growth at the expense of creativity and imagination.  Joan Cusack’s Jessie takes central stage here as she tries to fight off Greta Lee’s Lilypad who quickly takes over Bonnie’s life.  Cusack has always given Jessie an emotionally damaged energy which is further explored as the character is on the precipice of losing a third child, prematurely in this case.  It’s a spotlight for the character as we get a real sense of her deep drive and perseverance to help her child while also dealing with her own personal trauma, a reveal in the final act will have your eyes welling up and ultimately coming to terms with it.  She spends the lion’s share of her time with obsolete children’s tech played by Conan O'Brien’s Smarty Pants, Shelby Rabara’s Snappy and Craig Robinson’s Atlas.  The foursome share some wonderful chemistry together which makes it easier to overlook the fact that this entry has Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear take more of a secondary role story wise.  Hanks and Allen do get moments for their characters to get their due but those looking for a story focused on their core relationship will probably be left wanting for more.  The story itself does a solid job of working through the issues of tech in modern children’s growth however, much like Toy Story 4, this entry feels more like another epilogue to the original trilogy. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: TOY STORY 4

Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody's slight detour leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep. As Woody and Bo discuss the old days, they soon start to realize that they're worlds apart when it comes to what they want from life as a toy.Director: Dexter Fletcher

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Madeleine McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves

Release Date: June 20, 2019

Biography, Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated G

Runtime: 1 h 40 min

Review:

Toy Story 3 really felt like a proper and fitting send off for the venerable franchise while leaving fans an emotional wreck.  This fourth entry had some work to do to explain its reason for existing besides an obvious money grab.  Thankful this fourth entry is a fitting epilogue to the franchise that ties up storylines while maintaining the high level of layered storytelling that’s always been a calling card of the franchise.  The story isn’t going to level your emotions the way part 3 did but it’s still got a solid bit of bite in spots particularly in the final frames.  Thematically it’s got some heady issues at play, particularly finding your personal worth and self actualization which is hefty stuff for a kid’s movie.  That’s not to say kids won’t enjoy it because they will, it’s probably one of the most vibrantly animated entries in the series.  The setting like the antique shop and carnival are visual cornucopias of colors and details that you’re liable to need a few views to see everything they put in.  The cast delivers across the board like they always do even though some of the characters are regulated to the 2^nd or 3^rd tier.  The new additions of Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele make that easier to deal with but I would have liked a bit more of a spotlight on some of the established characters. Tom Hanks’ Woody is the primary focus here with most of the story serving his character arch.  Adding Annie Pott’s Bo Peep back into the mix as a strong self realized female character makes for an interesting dynamic that really adds to the overall impact of the story.  If this truly is the end of the series, it’s a fitting bittersweet send off. 


A-

MOVIE REVIEW: TOY STORY 3 3D

IN THEATERS

TOY STORY 3 3D



The creators of the beloved “Toy Story” films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in TOY STORY 3. Woody and Buzz had accepted that their owner Andy would grow up someday, but what happens when that day arrives? In the third installment, Andy is preparing to depart for college, leaving his loyal toys troubled about their uncertain future. Lee Unkrich (co-director of “Toy Story 2” and “Finding Nemo”) directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of “Little Miss Sunshine,” brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings. TOY STORY 3 will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Director: Lee Unkrich

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles.

Release Date: Jun 18, 2010

Rated G

Runtime: 103 mins

Genres: Animated, Animated, Family, Family

Review:

The original Toy Story started one of the greatest runs from a movie studio I’ve ever seen with only one slight misstep, Cars just felt up to Pixar’s standards. Toy Story 3 continues what has been an insane game of can you top with story and emotional weight that transcends the animated genre. The final entry in the Toy Story trilogy has all the hallmarks of the first two films and is a stellar send off to a fantastic series. A slightly more streamlined cast of original characters all have plenty of time to shine. Tom Hanks continues to give Woody his endless amount of heart and soul. The new characters all blend seamlessly into the fold with Ned Betty’s Lotso making for an incredibly worthy adversary. Michael Keaton is an endless amount of fun as the metro sexual Ken who has a taste for clothes. Lee Unkrick directs the film with a fluid hand and the larger set pieces are engaging, thrilling and incredibly tense at time. Needless to say there are endless moments of fun, adventure and drama throughout. Once the finale hit, in the purest testament to the overall strength of the story telling at play, I’d be hard pressed to find a person who hasn’t become invested in these characters and it’s theme’s and not be moved thoroughly.

A

The 3D is used mostly for effect but there are a few scenes where it’s fairly impressive but hardly necessary.