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Toy Story 5

There aren’t many films that have packed an emotional wallop like the closing minutes of TOY STORY 3. At the time, when Andy handed over his pals to little Bonnie, there was every reason to believe that the series had run its natural course. It was, and remains, cinematic perfection.

As we know, the franchise wasn’t done yet. Despite this flawless finale, here we are, discussing TOY STORY 5, which has already raked in nearly $200 million at the box office, less than a full week after its release.

Quention Tarantino has said that he refuses to watch any TOY STORY installment after the third, because nothing can possibly compare, and therefore, there’s no point. I absolutely understand these sentiments. I wasn’t exactly eager to take in the fourth film, but ended up loving it. Forky (Tony Hale) was a phenomenal addition to the crew, and provided a number of laugh-out-loud moments. I had these same conflicted feelings when I sat down to watch number five. Yet, as the movie ended and my 14-year-old looked over and immediately said “How do they keep making these TOY STORY movies so entertaining?!” (this is the same kid who loved BACKROOMS just a few weeks before) I couldn’t help but agree.

Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) have always been the driving force of the franchise, but this time around, it’s Jessie’s (Joan Cusack) turn. Though she remains devastated after being abandoned by her beloved Emily (yes, we get another look at the tear-inducing sequence from TOY STORY 2…curse you, Sarah McLachlan!) she loves life with Bonnie (Scarlett Spears). She has once again found her place and truly belongs.

While Bonnie loves her toys and imaginative play, those around her are enamored with tech and a tablet called Lilypad (Greta Lee) in particular. When Bonnie asks her parents why no one wants to be her friend, their hearts break, and they pick up a Lilypad in hopes that she will make social connections. It is a scenario playing out in households across the world at this very moment.

The toys, led by Jessie, are skeptical of the new device. When they see how quickly Bonnie is drawn into the lights and sounds emanating from the screen, they know their days are numbered. Lilypad instantly helps Bonnie get invited over to her first sleepover, but her newfound friends instantly shame her for wanting to play with Jessie and Bullseye when she brings them along. This leads to a cataclysmic chain of events that may not only threaten the toys, but leave Jessie struggling with the trauma of abandonment all over again.

TOY STORY 5 may not project the same type of magic that made the original trilogy so great, but it is another delightful chapter in a series that has been entertaining families for generations. It boggles my mind to write a line like that, but the original was released over 30 years ago. Though a few of the voices have changed, the majority of the characters are still here. As has been the case with each subsequent sequel, the cast of characters continues to grow, and aside from Lilypad who provides laughs and concern in equal measure (“I’m always listening”), the standout here is Smarty Pants, voiced by Conan O’Brien. O’Brien is very much on brand here (including a sequence in which Smarty Pants is adorned with Conan’s trademark locks) and may not approach the same comedic heights as Forky, but a riot none-the-less.

The endearing nature of the core group of characters, and its innate ability to seamlessly introduce new ones has been the genius of the franchise. While they may not be physical entities, we view them as ours. Each and every time, it unlocks core memories of your beloved toys, and it tugs at the heart strings in a way that’s almost primal. We have become protective of these characters as if they were physical entities, and have made emotional connections that is unlike anything we’ve experienced in cinema before.