I fully expected to be entertained by ‘Toy Story 5’. What I WASN’T anticipating was how jaw-droppingly poignant this sequel was going to be, complete with that trademark emotional gut punch….but then, considering this is the most consistent franchise in film history when it comes to a job well done, I shouldn’t have been so surprised.
Some moviegoers might question if ‘Toy Story 5’, the continuing adventure of Buzz, Woody and a heap of loveable toys, was necessary. Yes, you can’t argue with the track record of Pixar’s gold standard series, but still – luck does eventually run out for every concept, right?
Wrong. Big time wrong.
Some way, some how, the team behind the Toys just keeps finding a way to connect. For kids, it’s a connection of sheer joy…..but for grown ups, it’s a deeper relevance. Implementing nostalgia, sentimentality and topical struggles of parenting…that is, presenting the fears we have/have had in raising little ones, but viewing that anxiety and heartbreak through the innocent eyes of a toy – well that’s not only brilliant, but more than just a bit profound.
In ‘Toy Story 5’, the antagonist is something every Mom and Dad can (or at least, should) relate to; technology. Little Bonnie, who long ago inherited the toys from Andy, ditches playtime for a Lillypad tablet device to try to keep up with her friends, but ultimately leads to isolation, online bullying, etc. As usual, Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) jockey over which one will save the day (“It’s nice to see them fighting again!” says one fellow toy), but it’s actually Jessie (Joan Cusack) who steps up to lead the charge in rescuing Bonnie against tech. And, as part of the ‘Toy Story’ tradition, we get a handful of new characters too, including scene stealer Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants, an antiquated electronic potty training device. (“I can only count to two.” he admits).
Obviously ‘Toy Story 5’ has both its fair share of laughs and tender moments – it’s almost like I dare these films to make me cry and….yep….every time. Every. Time.
