Another Toy Story! Having seen the first one at release when I was ten, I can feel myself ageing. But I don’t think there’s any point discussing why there is a fifth entry in this series. Toy Story makes money so there will always be more.
So rather than cry about the how or why, let’s focus on its quality. Is it any good?
Yes? Sort of? Mainly?
Set several years after the fourth film, the story focuses on Jessie as she combats the encroaching and ominous presence of technology. Some genuinely sad scenes show just how dependent we’ve become on devices. That focus on Jessie makes for a refreshing change. Looking into her backstory, and relationship with Buzz, does give the story a different dynamic. Woody returns too, though to be honest bar some amusing age-based jokes I don’t think he was needed.
It feels a bit pointless to say “it looks good”, but it does! I particularly like the different style given to the scenes where the toys are being played with. Imagination in full effect. Pixar have received criticism for their style in recent years, and despite Toy Story having a clear feel, these scenes change it up nicely.
The story does feel quite uneven, as it can’t possibly give enough time to all the characters it introduces, let alone the old favourites. A Buzz-centred secondary plot works well, but there isn’t much time with the OGs. Maybe if they’d been braver with who to concentrate on we could have had a more focused film.
These films can be emotionally devastating. Though this entry is sad in how it displays our dependence on displays, I left the cinema feeling more hopeful than anything. It’s all about balance. We can’t avoid electronics nowadays, but there’s always space for imagination and whimsy.
Toy Story 5 might not be at the height of 2 or 3, but it’s still a good film. At this point that’s perhaps the best we can hope for.
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