Shadows on the Wall | Toy Story 5

Toy Story 5

dir Andrew Stanton
scr Andrew Stanton, McKenna Harris
prd Jessica Choi, Lindsey Collins
voices Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, Scarlett Spears, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Conan O'Brien, Craig Robinson, Shelby Rabara, Annie Potts, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Tony Hale, Keanu Reeves, Ernie Hudson, Alan Cumming, Bad Bunny
release US/UK 18.Jun.26
26/US Pixar 1h42

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With a cast that's expanding to Avengers proportions, the gang is back for a fifth adventure that's hilarious, engaging and occasionally thrilling. It's also once again packed with Pixar's entertaining attention to detail, investing big personalities into the characters and razor-sharp wit into the dialog. Best of all is the way the story quietly unpicks the thorny themes about children and technology, while stressing the importance of playfulness.

Led by Jessie (Cusack), the toys are trying help their imaginative little girl Bonnie (Spears) make friends when their existence is upended by a Lilypad tablet (Lee) that coaxes Bonnie to chase friendship from screen-obsessed classmates. Heading to the rescue with her faithful steed Bukllseye, Jessie gets lost and is returned to her first home, now inhabited by 9-year-old Blaze (Harris), another creative child who would be a perfect friend for Bonnie. Meanwhile, both Woody (Hanks) and Buzz (Allen) kick into action. And an army of lost Buzzes turns up in search of a mission.

Along the way, Jessie meets a trio of discarded old-tech toys: potty-trainer Smarty Pants (O'Brien), play phone Atlas (Robinson) and digital camera Snappy (Rabara). And it takes awhile to realise that these electronic gadgets might actually be helpful both in saving the day and in guiding children to truly play. This gives the film an unusually balanced approach to an important topic, recognising potential problems while remaining open to possibilities.

Visually, Pixar continues to refine the capabilities of animation with extraordinary subtlety and textures, finding humour in every possible place. Throwaway gags fill the dialog and imagery, while the characters also deploy their distinctive personalities into resonant connections. It's great to see the plucky, stubborn Jessie as the hero of the piece this time, confronting her history in a meaningful way. Allen shines as multiple Buzzes. Hudson gets the film's boldest joke as Combat Carl. And the filmmakers (and Hanks) have fun with the ageing, balding Woody.

While the tone is generally comical, with some emotional and action-based flourishes, the filmmakers also carefully weave a depiction of cyberbullying into the narrative, offering a gently pointed note on an urgent issue. Grown-ups will also be captured by nostalgia that is expressed through feelings of looking back and moving on. But it's likely that kids will mostly enjoy the chaos of an army of technologically upgraded Buzz Lightyears soaring to the rescue. And their story gets a lovely final moment in the middle of the closing credits.

themes, language, violence 15.Jun.26

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