‘Toy Story 5’ movie review: Woody and Buzz’s enchanting return to joy grapples with screen-age anxiety
The fifth installment of the Toy Story franchise explores themes of screen-age anxiety and the contrast between traditional play and digital engagement. The plot follows Jessie as she navigates the challenges of her owner Bonnie's increasing reliance on interactive tablets.
Why it matters
The film reflects contemporary societal concerns regarding childhood screen time and the evolution of entertainment media.
A new age Buzz Lightyear opens his eyes to find a few dozen others like him stationed inside a lorry after an accident. The tiny space rangers get connected to each other and enter the forest, navigating the wilderness with their furrowed eyebrows and squeaky laser beams. In its opening minutes, Toy Story 5 holds a strange anthropological sway. The swanky group of Buzz Lightyears get out of their packaging like early humans gaining consciousness. They start a fire at night and are struck by the glow of a star in the sky, discovering language in the process. Their first words, “star command”, gives them a direction to reach home beyond the galaxy. Their robotic artificiality gets a naturalist reckoning.
The review provides a descriptive analysis of the film's themes without political or social bias.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in