Move Over, Woody: Jessie Anchors a Surprisingly Sharp, Bittersweet Toy Story 5

Rating:★★★★☆

When a franchise reaches its fifth installment, skepticism is not just natural; it is entirely justified. Toy Story 4 introduced some new characters, most notable Duke Kaboom (brilliantly voiced by Keanu Reeves). At the time I felt the series of movies had made one last stretch and had brought back the joy but that was that, time to close the story book. Toy Story 5* manages to justify its existence by tackling a modern, painfully relatable antagonist: the glowing, ubiquitous allure of screens. In an era where electronic tablets and interactive digital media dominate playtime, Pixar grounds this latest adventure in a highly relevant theme, exploring what happens to physical toys when their kids are mesmerized by the digital world.

The smartest narrative choice the filmmakers made was resisting the urge to retread familiar ground, instead allowing Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack) to step fully into the spotlight as the main protagonist. Woody’s arc has been beautifully concluded, and placing the emotional weight of this new, screen-dominated reality on Jessie’s shoulders gives the film a fresh, revitalized energy. She brings a fierce, anxious, and deeply compelling perspective to the struggle for a child's attention, proving she is more than capable of anchoring the franchise.

While Jessie handles the emotional heavy lifting, the film’s comedic engine is driven by a fantastic B-plot involving Buzz Lightyear. Our classic Space Ranger (voiced by Tim Allen) finds himself confronted with a newly released line of "updated" Buzz Lightyears. These hyper-modern, technologically advanced action figures are a brilliant satirical mirror of our own endless hardware upgrade cycles. The ensuing identity crisis and generational clash provide some of the film's absolute best material as they journey from an ocean idland to find "Star Command"

In fact, the humour throughout is exceptionally sharp. While there is plenty of slapstick for younger viewers, the genuine laugh-out-loud moments are aimed squarely at the adults in the audience. The script is loaded with clever, cynical jabs at tech-dependency, Wi-Fi connectivity issues, and the sheer exhaustion of modern parenting, ensuring the older crowd remains thoroughly entertained.

Vocal performances across the board are wonderful, bringing that essential warmth to the beautifully rendered animation. Tom Hanks is back as Woody and Conan O'Brien does a brilliant job with a new character "Smarty Pants". It is worth noting, however, that an undeniable patina of age has begun to colour some of the legacy voices. While the characters themselves are made of immortal plastic, the subtle, gravelly maturity in the actors' deliveries occasionally breaks the illusion. Rather than detracting from the experience, though, this actually lends a bittersweet, poignant layer of mortality to these characters we’ve known for decades.

Toy Story 5 may not reach the flawless, groundbreaking heights of the series' earliest days, but it is a remarkably strong, surprisingly resonant sequel. By passing the lasso to Jessie and directly confronting the realities of modern childhood, Pixar has crafted a touching and hilarious addition that earns its four stars.