Like every Gen Z, this critic grew up on the adventures of Andy’s toys in Toy Story. The first is heralded as an “Animated Marvel”, paving the way for Pixar’s revolutionary team to create other alike masterpieces. The second is considered to be “one of the very few sequels superior to the original.” Pixar’s newfound partnership with Disney was proving slightly difficult, but nothing that half a billion success can’t solve!
The third ties off the trilogy beautifully. Adult themes are introduced, allowing those who literally grew up alongside Andy, to feel a strong emotional connection. Even Quentin Tarantino has coined this “The Perfect Trilogy”. Tarantino refuses to watch Toy Story 4 (2019), this critic wishes he hadn’t…
Toy Story 5 continues the stories of our loveable characters, now in the care of Bonnie (all except Woody, who left the group in the previous installment). Bonnie finds it terribly hard to make friends; with the toys being instrumental to Bonnie’s life, Jessie makes it the gang’s mission to help her out.
Bonnie’s parents believe this to be a fairly regular part of a modern day, child’s life. Her peers at school (and other events) seem to have social interactions entirely through the medium of technology (VERY topical for UK kids and teenagers right now), so they decide to gift her an in-universe iPad, LilyPad.
And that there is the crux of this film. Toy vs Tech. Is the brutal reality of technology entirely purposeful? Especially for children? Is there a middle ground? Can it be propagated in a useful way?
LilyPad is the antagonist of Toy Story 5. She embodies technology as a whole. A sentient device used for playing, isn’t as different as the Toy Story toys make her out to be. LilyPad believes what she does, her function, is the way Bonnie needs to grow. This is how all “toys” idealise themselves in this world.
A Personal issue with this approach, is that it feels so “safe”. Reactions to technology being involved in this installment were overwhelming positive. But, the proverbial dice had already been rolled. Toy Story 4 (2019) had a toy antagonist seemingly “misunderstood”. These villians no longer believe their own disruption in a narrative structure, Toy Story 5 is sadly no different. The first three films all have their separate adventures; journeys involving someone genuinely opposing our characters. This just doesn’t happen anymore in kids films. God forbid a gigantic conglomerate actually suggest their foundations were built on evil technology!
I have to make the complaint given it’s a fairly important part of the film, however this whole film was certainly a lot of fun that feels like a giant sigh of relief after Toy Story 4 (2019).
Refreshingly in tune with the films of old, Jessie controls this story from moment one. With Woody out of the picture (returning for limited screen time because Disney/Pixar know how important he truly is to the franchise), Jessie takes the reigns of this wonderful new outing. “When She Loved Me” plays out as if I’m once more an infant, sat in my pyjamas, watching the big boxed telly.
I hearken to old memories, as many parents would, watching this with their own children now. A few little details in there that never feel forced; nor gratuitous. The emotional beats of Toy Story films have always been some of the very best, with no exception here. Though I am not a fan of the eventuality of the technology plot line, Bonnie and her Mother have a grippy conversation about relationships through the screen, meaning nothing compared to what’s in front of you. Nothing hits as much as particular toys reminiscing also.
Although I do believe the technology message faults, the earnestness is there. The outcome may not be that of what it was once, but it was always going to be different. Shenanigans had by the best friends Andy “could have wished for” still holds true. Even some new toys in there already feel like part of the gang, as they bridging the possibility of tech and toy.
Pixar has had a tough run for a number of years. Hoppers was a massive shock with how great an original approach could be in todays climate, and it’s brilliant to report that Toy Story 5 feels like a course correction. Andy’s bedroom certainly gets bigger at every turn.
