A tablet causes turmoil among the old toy crew, who are afraid that the children will forget how to play properly.
Life has never been child’s play for them, even though they were made for children’s hands: Cowboy Woody, Buzz Lightyear and her friends regularly threatened to end up in the storage closet or in the trashbut have somehow always managed to stay in the game. Whether they also like that Part 5 of “Toy Story” will succeed? After all, they now have to assert themselves against new, overwhelming competition in the form of a frog-like tablet called Lilypad (with the original voice of Greta Lee) appears and the child Bonnie has all sorts of unexpected ideas.
Scene from “Toy Story 5”
Woody changed a lot
AAll Woody fans need to pull themselves together and be very strong – the little cowboy is showing clear signs of age and is beginning to bald and has a beer belly (even though there can only be wood shavings under his artificial skin). Jessie with the sheriff’s star now appears as the actual leader of the large toy troupe.
Woody, on the other hand, has become more of a supporting character since he separated from his toy friends and lives in freedom on a fairground with the beautiful shepherdess Porzellinchen, as we know since the end of “Toy Story 4”. However, should he be needed, or at least imagine that he is, he is always available for Jessie and will immediately make his way to her. The tough cowgirl is anyway has long been on a collision course with Lilypad because she doesn’t believe in deceptive likes and wants to find a real friend for Bonnie. Soon events begin to unfold because there is also a whole squadron of high-tech Lightyears who are relentlessly heading towards a specific goal.
Scene from “Toy Story 5”
How to play correctly?
Technological advances have apparently turned children into couch-squatting zombies who no longer know how to play properly. “Toy Story 5” now wants to initiate a reconciliation mission and bring about a balance between old and new toy joys, according to the motto: It’s best when everyone helps together. This is partly convincing, but partly this intention shines through in an overly intrusive manner and the message is very striking, using all sorts of stereotypes. The plot is also excessive, which is evident from the fact that up to four parallel narrative threads often run side by side. On top of that, the script relies far too much on an all-too-familiar pattern of constantly separating our toy heroes from each other. After all, it is only then that they truly appreciate how helpful the maligned new technologies can be in bringing about a reunion.
Scene from “Toy Story 5”
Toy rain and slight disappointment
One thing you have to admit to the “Toy Story” makers: They manage to make each of their characters seem likeable. Regardless of whether it’s an old doll or a brand new tablet – the toys are always concerned about the children “entrusted” to them and sometimes make almost selfless decisions for their well-being, which they may later regret as hasty misjudgments.
When toys rain from the sky in the mid-credits scene, even adults become happy and grab them with enthusiasm. But that cannot hide the fact that part 5 of the Pixar series, which has so far been so heartwarming and thrilling, turned out to be a little less convincing. (And now I’ll ask the AI if it agrees with me.)
3 ½ of 5 particularly moist domestic pig snouts