To Infinity and Beyond – Again: Toy Story 5 Is The Sequel That Your Inner Child Didn’t Know It Needed

I honestly had very low expectations for Toy Story 5. Like many other critics, I really like the first three Toy Story films. They tell a complete story with memorable characters, emotional moments, and a satisfying ending. However, the fourth film is much more divisive. I believe the movie is good but heavily flawed. My biggest issue with it was that it undoes the ending of Toy Story 3, which many people considered the perfect conclusion to the franchise. While I still enjoyed it, I understand why so many people think another film was unnecessary.

All that to say, I was very skeptical when Toy Story 5 was announced. I mistakenly assumed it would be another unnecessary sequel made primarily because the Toy Story name virtually guarantees a huge audience and therefore profits for movie producers. This phenomenon has become more popular with modern movies such Disney's latest films like “Mandalorian and Grogu.” It is continually frustrating to see films that feel like they were made more for brand recognition and profit rather than because someone actually had an original, unique story worth telling. That is exactly the issue that I expected Toy Story 5 to suffer from. However, after seeing the movie, I confess that I could not have been more wrong. This is truly a must-see film for all ages. It is an outstanding addition to the series and stands on its own right alongside the other films.

The film stars the usual cast of toys, including Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and Jessie (Joan Cusack) and brings it into the 2020s as they deal with Bonnie becoming increasingly attached to her iPad. In a post-COVID world, this feels especially relevant as technology has become an even bigger part of children's lives, often replacing their desire to play with physical toys. 

Jessie, the cowgirl ragdoll who has been a part of the series since Toy Story 2, is the standout character this time around. It is nice to finally see Jessie get more development after not having a major role for a while. Another standout is newcomer Conan O'Brien as Smartypants, a motion-activated toddler potty-training gadget voiced. The role allows Conan’s humor and energy to really shine through and he provides some of the funniest moments in the film. 

While the movie is very funny, it also has some genuinely emotional moments. Much of these moments come from the little girl, Bonnie, who receives more development and screen time than any human character has in previous Toy Story films. I found this refreshing because it gives the story a different perspective. The film explores ideas about childhood, growing up, and family relationships. It also raises an interesting point about how technology can lead kids to grow up faster, which I think is one of the film's strongest themes and raises an interesting question for audiences to ponder. 

However, as much as I like this film, I do have a few criticisms. The biggest one is the subplot involving Buzz Lightyear, which felt very similar to things we had already seen him go through in previous films. It came across as repetitive and somewhat unnecessary. My only other complaint is that, like the previous film, many of the classic toys are pushed into the background and only get a few lines each. However, this did not bother me too much because the franchise now has such a large cast of characters, and sadly several of the original voice actors have passed away, such as Jim Varney who voices Slinky Dog, and Joe Ranft who voices Wheezy the Penguin, and of course, the original Mr. Potato Head, Don Rickles.