CEBU, PHILIPPINES — Like many people, I thought Toy Story 3 was the perfect finale and that a sequel wasn’t necessary, let alone two. But alas, my favorite recently married pop star contributed a song to the soundtrack of “Toy Story 5,” so I had to accept defeat and check out what Andy’s toys were up to after they said goodbye to their former owner.
Catching up with the two recent films reminded me why “Toy Story” remains Pixar’s staple franchise, showcasing the animation studio at their storytelling best — even though I would have appreciated Toy Story 5 more if it had taken the kind of big swings the fourth movie did.
After being relegated to a supporting role in the previous film, Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) takes center stage in “Toy Story 5,” assuming sheriff duties with Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) serving as her deputy after Woody (Tom Hanks) decides to join the lost toys with his partner, Bo Peep (Annie Potts).
Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) feels left out as the other kids around her no longer play with toys and instead use a kid tablet called LilyPad. Hoping to help her feel less lonely, her parents buy her a LilyPad, which Bonnie instantly becomes addicted to.
Fearing that Bonnie has outgrown them too early, Jessie confronts LilyPad (Greta Lee), who passive-aggressively assures the toys that she is acting in their owner’s best interests by encouraging Bonnie to befriend other children who own LilyPads and have invited her to a sleepover.
During a transit in which they are knocked off course on their way to Bonnie, Jessie and Bullseye find themselves in the farmland where her original owner, Emily, once lived, now occupied by a new family. There, she encounters abandoned toys, including Smarty Pants (Conan O’Brien).
Meanwhile, Woody returns to Bonnie’s house after mistaking Jessie’s message over the walkie-talkie for an SOS signal, reuniting with Buzz Lightyear, who takes charge while Jessie is away. There, they had an icy relationship with LilyPad as they clashed over what’s best for Bonnie.
A subplot follows a group of high-tech Buzz Lightyear toys that make their way to the mainland after the cargo carrying them is stranded on an island. Defaulting to their programming, they embark on a mission to follow the stars, a journey that eventually leads them to the film’s main characters.
What makes Toy Story 5 frail compared with the other films in the franchise is how its story unfolds, particularly its reliance on the high-tech Buzz Lightyears to move the plot forward in a way that feels a convenient miracle. The way the previous films resolved their conflicts felt organic, making this solution come across as comparatively lazy writing.
Perhaps that’s why the film’s resolution feels too convenient, and why its ending lacks the same emotional depth that made the previous entries impactful to audiences to this day.
Still, the film makes up for this with its social commentary on technology, arguing that technology itself shouldn’t be treated as the enemy and that how we use it is what truly matters. While LilyPad may initially appear to be an antagonist, she is far less nefarious than Lotso from the third movie, and her sassiness lands thanks to Lee’s performance.
Aside from the obvious financial gains (the film has already grossed $764.8 million at the worldwide box office as of writing), it’s this social commentary that justifies why Pixar continues to tell stories about Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie. It will be interesting to see whether the inevitable sixth film will still have something meaningful to say a few years from now.
There’s no denying that the film also has enough crowd-pleasing moments to entertain kids and adults alike, with smart humor that does not makes the experience feel like a complete waste of time.
With the story spending most of its time from Jessie’s perspective, we get to witness emotionally grounded character development that may leave some viewers emotional, even if only for a moment.
It’s a no-brainer why Disney commissioned Taylor Swift to contribute her song “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the film, which she wrote and recorded after watching an early cut earlier this year. With its familiar country sound and Swift’s intimate lyrics, the song beautifully captures the bittersweet nostalgia Jessie feels for her original owner, making it a perfect fit that is played over the film’s end credits.
While many people make a valid point in questioning whether the “Toy Story” franchise still needs to continue, even with its glaring flaws, “Toy Story 5” proves that Pixar still has something to say about why toys should remain part of our childhood, even as technology continues to evolve. Besides, there’s no harm in watching Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie on the big screen again when “Toy Story 6” inevitably comes around. Three and a half stars out of five.
| Januar Junior Aguja / VAB
