Toy Story 5 Review
When Toy Story 4 was released a few years ago, I couldn’t help but feel hesitant about going into Toy Story 5. The previous film felt somewhat lackluster: even though it was about neglect and making your own “play,” it had a sense that it wanted to do more. Fortunately, Toy Story 5’s focus on Jessie, who’s been one of the cornerstones of this franchise for nearly three decades, offers a much more poignant story about building connections, finding empathy, and moving on.
Toy Story 5 still follows Buzz (Tim Allen) and Woody’s (Tom Hanks) misadventures, but this time, the focus is placed on Jessie (Joan Cusack). When Bonnie fails to make new friends because of her old toys, she finds herself hooked to Lilypad (Greta Lee), a tablet that takes over Bonnie’s playtime. With Jessie in charge, and Buzz as her deputy, Jessie must put a stop to Lilypad taking over before they’re put away for good.
It really felt like Jessie needed her own Toy Story film one day and this film doesn’t disappoint in that department. Although we were treated to some of her emotional turmoil back in Toy Story 2, this film accentuates her need to be loved because of her past. Just like how her old owner, Emily, phased Jessie out because of emerging tech, Jessie believes that Bonnie will phase her out when Lilypad comes into the picture. Yet, she believes that every kid has a need to make real connections, something that Lilypad forces onto Bonnie with her digital chats. This creates an intriguing conundrum to overcome given Jessie’s experience and how the narrative rotates back to her own history.
In fact, Toy Story 5 wraps itself around Jessie’s past in ways that not only honor Toy Story 2, but also build on its unseen future. The second act shows this, taking Jessie far away from Bonnie’s house and surprisingly ending back up at Emily’s farmstead. However, much like how Jessie’s owners have changed, so too has this old home that Jessie once lived in. Fortunately for her, Blaze, the new girl on the block, and her family appreciate the old, which Jessie comes around to. It’s representative of how change can take shape and the acceptance that comes with it, which seemingly fills the open gap that Emily left behind. Although she eventually moved on, the film does pay its respective homage to Emily and Jessie’s relationship that will certainly make viewers shed a tear.
That said, Toy Story 5 shows that even tech can be outdated and replaced, which shows through Smartypants (Conan O’Brien) and his friends. As always, O’Brien brings his comedic chops quite wonderfully as the snarky potty-training toy, going from a hilariously “drunken” annoyance to this poppy joy that offers to help. Although Jessie initially doesn’t see their use at the start because of Lilypad, watching Jessie slowly come around is a heartfelt reminder that there’s value in everything, even with technology. The ways that Jessie starts to understand why her worlds eventually change lend themselves to create this touching narrative akin to the first three films.
Toy Story 5 also gradually switches routes with Lilypad over time. Initially, we’re meant to believe that this tablet is the “end all, be all.” It even has this cartoonish smarminess, which is captured to the tooth with Lee’s energetic performance. However, when things take a more grim turn for Bonnie’s connection with her “friends”, the film takes a more sympathetic route where you try to understand where Lily’s coming from. Much like real life, we try to find connections that aren’t compatible through digital means, leaving us more isolated than we were before. It’s almost prescient for the world today, but it’s an interesting perspective to take for a lighthearted franchise as this one.
Despite the general concept, there are so many elements to Toy Story 5 that try to round out the story. For example, there’s this army of Buzzes that try to find their “Star Command”, getting into so much chaos during their journey through thick and thin. This element mostly serves to create some comic relief and that sense of adventurism, which can somewhat take away from the main story. There’s another storyline where Buzz is trying to share his love for Jessie, which always gets cut off at every attempt. This is more of a playful element that also exists for more comedic purposes, but it eventually finds its answer in perhaps the sweetest way possible.
Toy Story 5 recaptures the magic and excitement of the 1990s Pixar classics, using its focus on Jessie to create a heartfelt and prescient story about connection, empathy, and release. Although I was hesitant to believe another Toy Story film could find its footing given recent entries, I’m absolutely happy with what Andrew Stanton and his team brought to this sequel.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Toy Story 5 releases in theaters on June 19.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.