Toy Story 5 Review: Toy Story Has Reached Its Ending Point!

Toy Story has not only been one of the most beloved Disney film series for children and parents alike, but it is one of the most prominently popular film franchises to date. Viewers watched Andy grow up with his favorite toys since 1995, with Andy’s emotional send off in 2010 with Toy Story 3. Where many saw this film as a goodbye to Andy, Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang, Disney decided to continue the franchise almost ten years later with Toy Story 4. Where Andy was given a book end to his story, it was now Woody’s turn to finish his tale through a story of identity and self-discovery for a toy whose life had always been in service to his favorite human.

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Having gone on an unforgettable adventure and finding peace in a life with his love Bo Peep, Woody was given a special send-off that would give both him and Andy a new path in their lives to lead. However, many of us know that the end of a story does not mean the end of a company creating films for financial profit. Enter in Toy Story 5, a film that certainly did not need to exist but this critic was open to the possibility and trust in the creators to make another film in the franchise that would be a pleasant surprise (like Toy Story 4).

Here, Bonnie is a little older than where we left her in the previous film, entering into a stage of childhood where making friends is of the utmost importance and fitting in is the key. When her dance friends discover that Bonnie still plays with toys rather than using tablets and devices for fun, Bonnie’s parents decide to get her the latest piece of technology, LilyPad, to help her connect with and meet new friends. As one would suspect, Jessie, Buzz, and the gang are not thrilled by Bonnie’s new obsession, taking her away from a world of play and imagination in service of screens and staying indoors. Thus, begins the journey of Toy Story 5 where the gang must find a way to get Bonnie to realize her love of imagination in toys when the world of technology is taking over.

The most crucial issue with Toy Story 5 is the imagination and innovation that often comes with a Toy Story journey is abysmal. Where the toys are often seen formulating plans to escape, fight giant pink teddy bears, or find their way back home, this film opts for a surface level plot line that includes the toys wanting Bonnie to play with them more. Where Toy Story 3, for example, used this concept with regard to feeling tossed aside by a college-aged Andy, it also dove into re-finding a purpose in life with other children. To make up for little imagination, Toy Story 5 introduces the “evil” Lilypad who is taking all of Bonnie’s attention away from the toys.

For the rest of the film Jessie is split up from Buzz and Woody, with the rest of the characters feeling nonexistent. Woody feels shoehorned into the plot to maintain a sense of nostalgia even though his story was fantastically wrapped up in Toy Story 4 with Bo Peep. The implementation of technology’s takeover in the film is extremely under discussed, opting for a message towards the end about how it can be used as a tool for more imaginative endeavors. A concept that is eye-roll worthy coming from a company that banks on everything in their theme parks experimenting in AI rather than maintain a sense of human creativity in their future.

Toy Story 5 also struggles to maintain a sense of identity in itself, attempting to cater to millennials who grew up with the previous films and a new generation of children seeing the films for the first time. By trying to adhere to both sides, the results are a failure to impress either millennials or younger audiences. The film decides to reintroduce Woody for little to no reason other than to make sure toxic fans aren’t upset that a major character in the franchise was absent.

Instead of going full force in its endeavors to create a new story with Bonnie and Jessie at the forefront, passing on the franchise baton to a new generation, Toy Story 5 refuses to let go of its past to create an exciting future. The new generation of watchers do not have the emotional attachment to Woody as millennials may have had, making his use in the film feel unneeded. The new generation of watchers do not have the emotional attachment to Woody as millennials may have had, making his use in the film feel unneeded. Meanwhile the lazy script leaves little to expand on for future films (which this critic is sure is coming as long as money follows).

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Toy Story 5 feels like a franchise that has overstayed its welcome. Where Toy Story 4 was already an addition that was a risk, it succeeded and felt like a real book end to every story. It is obvious that Disney doesn’t know (or care) when to let a story end and Toy Story 5 is a reminder that when a film is trying to make everyone happy, it oftentimes makes nobody happy. As reviews are rolling in that are generally positive for the film, it seems like maybe this critic has her own outlook on how the film presented itself. However, it feels like nostalgia and childhood memories are coloring some audience’s feelings a little too brightly.

‘Toy Story’ Rating – 1.5/5

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