UMVA has learned that Pixar's latest film, Toy Story 5, has captured the magic of the original, delivering a genuinely moving experience that will leave audiences nostalgic and emotional.
This latest installment in the beloved franchise, which has been a staple of millennials' childhoods over the past 31 years, promises to quietly ruin viewers with its wistful and sentimental storytelling. The film's power remains undimmed, entertaining and enchanting both kids and adults alike with its remarkable consistency.
Directed by Andrew Stanton, who co-directed and wrote the film with Kenna Harris, Toy Story 5 tackles the threat of technology after the arrival of a new tablet named Lilypad. This adversary makes perfect sense given how much our lives have been taken over by phones, social media, and wi-fi connectivity in recent years.
The film follows Bonnie, an eight-year-old girl who inherits a group of toys from Andy, and her adventures with Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and the gang as they navigate the challenges of modern technology. Jessie steps into the spotlight as the new sheriff of Bonnie's toys in Woody's absence, and the film aims to tug at heartstrings with the return of one of cinema's saddest songs, When She Loved Me.
As Bonnie struggles to make friends, her parents buy her a Lilypad, leading to panic in the playroom when the tablet's talents appear endless while Woody's gang of abandoned toys sombrely warn Buzz, Hamm, Slinky Dog, Mr Potato Head, and the like that 'the age of toys is over.' The toys face existential crises over being useless, but Lilypad's efficiency is scary, as she can distractedly scroll while you're talking, play back your full conversation, translate it into Spanish, or even turn it into a rap.
The clash between Lilypad and the old-fashioned toys powers the movie, as well as Bonnie's tentative first steps online. Jessie gets diverted onto an adventure at the home of nine-and-a-half-year-old Blaze, where she meets a trio of more dated tech toys, led by sassy toilet trainer Smarty Pants.
Meanwhile, a retired Woody, embracing his dadbod and bald spot, is roped in to come to the rescue with Buzz, leading to some reliably madcap scenes. The film also follows the Multi-Buzz, a group of 50 high-tech Buzz Lightyear units stuck in demo mode after their cargo container washes ashore.
The Toy Story universe is so stacked that Keanu Reeves makes a short reappearance as Duke Caboom, while Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift also make cameo appearances. And before you ask, you should absolutely stay for the credits – if inspiration continues to strike, it's likely we'll be enjoying more Toy Story films to infinity and beyond.
Verdict: Toy Story 5 is an impressively strong sequel, one of the best seen this far into a franchise. While it earns its existence with smart storytelling around tech, it's the movie's emotional resonance that truly lands. And plenty of its jokes make it a must-watch for both kids and adults.
