Toy Story 5

Synopsis: When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime. 

Movie Review: 

"Toy Story 5" is directed by Andrew Stanton, marking the fifth installment in the Toy Story series. After 31 years, this animated franchise continues to deliver on emotion, character depth, and heartfelt messages that can easily bring a tear to anyone's eye. It was definitely one of my favorite films this year. What I appreciated most about this movie is its relatable storyline that reflects the everyday challenges parents face, especially with how technology is increasingly dominating the lives of young children, making it super relevant today.

I also loved that this time around, the focus is on Jessie, whose story is emotional, heartfelt, and creative, making it one of the best story arcs in animated films in quite a while. Joan Cusack reprises her role as Jessie, and this might just be her finest performance yet, as her story is so touching and poignant that it really tugs at your heartstrings.

Both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return as Woody and Buzz, the iconic duo who are fantastic in this film. Woody's character is portrayed as older, and he has some hilarious jokes about getting fat and balding that had me laughing out loud. There’s also a fun subplot involving multiple Buzz Lightyears that adds a humorous twist and keeps the story engaging.

Greta Lee plays Lilypad, the villainous I-Pad trying to take over little Bonnie's life, and she delivers a great performance as this relatable antagonist, possibly one of the best in the franchise. New characters are introduced, including Smarty Pants, voiced by the hilarious Conan O’Brien, who steals the show as an outdated toy that’s both funny and delightful.

However, with the introduction of these new characters, some of the older fan favorites like Rex, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky, Ham, and Forky were sidelined and didn’t have much to do. Despite some messy storylines at the beginning, everything comes together in the end, presenting a compelling and emotional narrative about friendship and the idea that technology isn’t bad if used wisely. I’m giving "Toy Story 5" a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Director: Andrew Stanton 

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, Conan O”Brien, Craig Robinson, Shelby Rabara, Tony Hall, Scarlett Spears, Jay Hernandez, Lori Alan, Bonnie Hunt, Kristen Schaal, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Blake Clark, Jeff Bergman, Anna Vocino, Annie Potts, Mykal-Michelle Harris with Ernie Hudson and Keanu Reeves 

Runtime: 102 Minutes