Toy Story 5 – Budget of $200 million – 1 hour and 42 minutes

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On a faraway island, a marooned cargo of hi-tech Buzz Lightyears activates. They set up camp until they see a star. They remember that they have to return to Star Command. They make a raft and sail to the star.

Bonnie plays with her toys, but she has a hard time making friends. She makes Jessie speak to the twins across the street, but they laugh and run inside their home. Jessie and the other toys are determined to help Bonnie make friends. So Jessie jets over to the twins’ home to see what they like. She finds them on devices and not interacting. The toys in the yard come to life and warn her that the ‘age of toys’ is over. Technology steals kids’ attention, and they fall into a world of tapping. Jessie doesn’t believe that will ever happen to her Bonnie. Inside, Bonnie’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, worry that Bonnie can’t make friends. They search the internet and discover the Lilypad is a way to help. They buy it for Bonnie.

When the Lilypad arrives, Bonnie can’t take her eyes off the screen. She puts it down for a moment to eat, and Jessie approaches the new device. The toys make their claim, but Lilypad laughs. She adds Bonnie to her dance classes chat room and sends them a friend request. When Bonnie sees three classmates accepted her request, Bonnie makes Lilypad her favorite. Jessie sneaks into the closet and pulls out a walkie-talkie. She contacts Woody.

Woody and Bo Peep are still at the carnival with Duke Caboom. Duke gets Jessie’s distress call and bolts to Woody. She asks if his toys have it as bad as hers. He confirms her fears. Toys are for play, but technology is for everything. Buzz enters the closet, and Jessie pulls him away to keep her conversation with Woody a secret. Woody hears every other word Jessie says to Buzz and assumes Jessie needs his help. He and Bo Peep are headed to Bonnie’s.

The girls from Bonnie’s dance class invite her to a sleepover. Jessie won’t let Bonnie go alone. So she and Bullseye hide in her suitcase. When Bonnie shows her new friends her toys, they laugh. She says they aren’t hers. Bonnie runs to her mother’s car, throws Jessie and Bullseye inside, and grabs her Lilypad. Before Mrs. Anderson can drive away, Jessie and Bullseye jump out of the car. When an elderly woman walks past, they lie still. She picks them up and sees the address written inside Jessie’s fringes with Emily’s name. They drop off Jessie and Bullseye in Emily’s old mailbox.

Woody returns to Bonnie’s home with a bold spot, gut, and poncho. He questions the toys about Jessie’s whereabouts when a sad Bonnie returns home. Lilypad tells them the girls played hide-and-seek but never found Bonnie on purpose. And Lilypad refuses to tell them where Jessie is. When they threaten Lilypad, she texts Mr. Anderson. She asks him to put Bonnie’s toys in the garage. Mr. Anderson enters her room, boxes her toys, and puts them in the garage while Bonnie is too preoccupied with Lilypad. Buzz and Woody will stop at nothing to find Jessie, but will Bonnie want her back? It will take old tech, an army of Buzzes, a friend, and a lunchbox to make play cool.

This fifth installment has callbacks to the first 4 movies while incorporating tech for younger fans (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The plot refuses to demonize technology by finding its useful aspects. The film addresses that children’s imaginations are shortened. They are more distracted and less connected. And it leaves them open to bullying, changing their personalities. Unlike the other films, this opener doesn’t start with a child’s imagination. It begins on the island. Diehard fans will wonder if it’s real. Then the plot jumps into Bonnie’s play. This leaves the story feeling a bit disjointed. Also, the film has three competing storylines that merge at the end. Normally, there are only two. Also, the adults play a larger role in this installment than in the previous ones. The film is funny, charming, and lighthearted. It gets the message across without being preachy. The animation invites new toys, brings back old favorites, and evolves others. And don’t be surprised when new toys hit the shelves. It’s realistic enough to feel plausible but wild enough to be adventurous. Pixar reminds fans that they know how to toe the line. The writers added some cheeky jokes and a Bambi moment for adults. This film isn’t as funny as the others, but it’s not the worst Toy Story film. It won’t be your favorite, but you won’t regret seeing it in theaters with your family.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Zerg is our dad – Buzz

So long, toys – Lilypad

Offense taken – Smarty Pants

She used the J word – Mr. Potato Head

That’s Sammy number two – Slinky Dog

But we didn’t solve my murder – Rex

That’s right, partner – Emily

I don’t play with toys – Bonnie

Well, Bo likes it – Woody

That, my friend, is playing – Jessie