Toy Story 5 Review:
There are some film franchises which simply should not be meddled with. And Toy Story is certainly one of those.
Thus, naturally, the question comes up — do we really need another one of these films?
Luckily, after watching Toy Story 5, I can say that this is not an unnecessary sequel. While the story puts the well-known characters such as Woody, Buzz and the rest back into action, the film manages to offer something new in terms of these long-standing characters.
Directed by Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris, Toy Story 5 features many voices which we have heard before such as the voice of Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie and Annie Potts as Bo Peep. The cast, however, features some new faces such as Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Tony Hale, Craig Robinson, Keanu Reeves and Bad Bunny.
And there’s no denying the charm of this franchise.
The biggest question: Does it still feel like Toy Story?
Thankfully, yes.
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The movie has the familiar mix of comedy, adventure and those surprisingly emotional moments that Pixar has always been good at. One minute you’re laughing at something completely silly, and the next you’re watching a character deal with change, friendship or the uncomfortable feeling of being left behind.
That’s kind of what makes these movies work.
Toy Story 5 isn’t simply trying to recreate the first movie. Instead, it plays around with the idea of toys having to figure out where they belong in a world that’s changing pretty quickly.
And honestly, that’s a pretty relatable idea.
Woody and Buzz still have it
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen slip back into Woody and Buzz so naturally that it almost feels like they never left.
Woody remains the emotional centre of the franchise, while Buzz brings the comedy and that wonderfully serious attitude he has about pretty much everything.
Their dynamic is still one of the best things about the series.
Even after all these years, watching Woody and Buzz argue, help each other and eventually get themselves into trouble is still fun.
The new faces add some fresh energy
New faces bring some freshness to the story
One of the things I loved in Toy Story 5 is the fact that it does not only depend on nostalgia.
Newer characters bring another flavor to the movie, whereas the older ones bring emotional involvement.
There are also lots of recognizable voices in this movie — Joan Cusack, Annie Potts, Wallace Shawn and John Ratzenberger among them. Fans of the franchise will definitely enjoy recognizing all the beloved ones.
The new faces like Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Tony Hale and Keanu Reeves also perfectly fit into the universe.
Is it as emotional as the previous movies?
This is probably the place where one should not put any high expectations.
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The previous movies in the franchise managed to create the absolutely insane standards of emotional storytelling. Many of the scenes became movie history.
Yes, Toy Story 5 is emotional, but not to that extent as the previous ones.
And this is fine.
It does not spend all the time making you cry, but rather enjoys playing with its characters and universe.
The animation is, as expected, fantastic
There really isn’t much to nitpick here.
The animation looks fantastic, the colors pop, and all those small details from the toy world look exactly like you’d expect them to from a Pixar film.
Not even the slight chaos from the story takes away from that.
So, should you see it?
Well, if you have grown up on the Toy Story franchise, there is no reason to not check out this one.
Even if you are coming at it for the first time, I would advise you to see the other films first, since the emotional background of these characters comes from their journey.
For longtime fans, Toy Story 5 feels like a comfortable reunion — familiar, funny and occasionally touching, while still trying to move the story forward.
It may not completely recapture the magic of the first few movies, but it doesn’t embarrass the franchise either.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what you want from a fifth movie.
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Final Verdict
Toy Story 5 is an entertaining and touching sequel for Woody, Buzz, and friends. While far from perfect and perhaps not quite as effective as its predecessors, the beloved personalities provide enough charm to pull off another installment.
For those interested in a light-hearted, nostalgic animated film filled with laughter and a couple of tear-jerking scenes, this is an easy watch on the weekends.
Rating: 3.5/5
Toy Story 5 is currently available for streaming on Disney+ and JioHotstar.
