Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is finally out in theaters everywhere, and my family and I just got back from seeing it! Now, if you are a long-time viewer of the channel, you know that we normally stick strictly to talking about video game news, hardware updates, and gaming discussions. But, pop culture is universal, and we are going to start talking about major movie releases from time to time as well! Going into the theater today, I have to admit that I was incredibly torn. I had heard some early rumors that had me very concerned about the direction of this franchise, but I had also heard some behind-the-scenes rumblings that had me genuinely excited. Today, I am giving you my mostly spoiler-free review, though we will touch on a few thematic spoilers regarding character arcs. Let's dive right into it!
First and foremost, the biggest takeaway I have from this cinema experience is that I enjoyed Toy Story 5 significantly more than I enjoyed Toy Story 4. I genuinely believe that this film offers a much better overall story and a far more cohesive narrative structure. Like many of you out there, I was scratching my head when this sequel was first announced. I went into this thinking that we had an absolutely perfect, emotionally resonant ending at the conclusion of Toy Story 3. Why on earth did we need a fourth or a fifth installment? Was this just going to be a soulless corporate cash grab? Thankfully, to me at least, this is definitely a much better and more justifiable installment than the fourth movie ever was. It has a fantastic, grounded message and a tremendous amount of signature Pixar heart to it.
As someone who is a massive techno-geek and surrounds himself with screens, I thought the underlying message of this film was brilliantly executed. It tells an incredibly important story about child development, illustrating just how crucial it is for young kids to be able to use their own boundless imagination to play with physical toys. It beautifully highlights how traditional play helps children communicate, develop empathy, and grow. Furthermore, the narrative does a phenomenal job subtly addressing modern issues like social anxiety and the awkwardness of growing up in a hyper-connected era. While the movie does lean a little bit into some modern social messaging—what some might call a slightly gender-swapped or woke direction—it wasn't terribly overbearing, though it is definitely something I noticed during the runtime.
One of the most fascinating structural choices about Toy Story 5 is that it essentially mirrors the plot of the very first 1995 movie. But instead of the classic rivalry between Woody and Buzz Lightyear, we are looking at a dynamic between Jessie the Cowgirl and a brand new character named Lily. Lily represents the modern era; she is the new tablet-type, screen-based character that threatens the existence of traditional toys.
However, Pixar doesn't pull its emotional punches. There are some incredibly deep, dark, and melancholic themes explored in this sequel, particularly regarding Jessie’s backstory and where she originally came from. In a very emotional arc, Jessie basically gets to go home to where she originally started with her first owner, Emily. Through some heavy environmental storytelling, we find out that Emily grew up and eventually had a family of her own. The very strong insinuation that I got from the film is that Emily’s daughter actually passed away at some point. I could be slightly off base here, but the tone was remarkably deep and heavy for an animated family film.
While it wasn't quite as laugh-out-loud funny as some of the earlier movies in the franchise, it was still a great time. I am so glad I got to unplug for a couple of hours and experience this with my wife and two daughters. Could it have been better? Sure. I would have absolutely loved to see more of Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom! But overall, the message of how important it is to unplug and actually "touch grass" was delivered beautifully. Have you seen it yet, or are you waiting? Let me know your thoughts down below!
#ToyStory5 #DisneyPixar #PixarReview #ToyStory #MovieReview #JessieAndLily #PixarAnimation #DisneyMovies #ToyStory5Review #Cinema #PopCulture #FamilyMovie #TechVsToys #DisneyMagic #FilmCritique #Nostalgia
Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is finally out in theaters everywhere, and my family and I just got back from seeing it! Now, if you are a long-time viewer of the channel, you know that we normally stick strictly to talking about video game news, hardware updates, and gaming discussions. But, pop culture is universal, and we are going to start talking about major movie releases from time to time as well! Going into the theater today, I have to admit that I was incredibly torn. I had heard some early rumors that had me very concerned about the direction of this franchise, but I had also heard some behind-the-scenes rumblings that had me genuinely excited. Today, I am giving you my mostly spoiler-free review, though we will touch on a few thematic spoilers regarding character arcs. Let's dive right into it!
First and foremost, the biggest takeaway I have from this cinema experience is that I enjoyed Toy Story 5 significantly more than I enjoyed Toy Story 4. I genuinely believe that this film offers a much better overall story and a far more cohesive narrative structure. Like many of you out there, I was scratching my head when this sequel was first announced. I went into this thinking that we had an absolutely perfect, emotionally resonant ending at the conclusion of Toy Story 3. Why on earth did we need a fourth or a fifth installment? Was this just going to be a soulless corporate cash grab? Thankfully, to me at least, this is definitely a much better and more justifiable installment than the fourth movie ever was. It has a fantastic, grounded message and a tremendous amount of signature Pixar heart to it.
As someone who is a massive techno-geek and surrounds himself with screens, I thought the underlying message of this film was brilliantly executed. It tells an incredibly important story about child development, illustrating just how crucial it is for young kids to be able to use their own boundless imagination to play with physical toys. It beautifully highlights how traditional play helps children communicate, develop empathy, and grow. Furthermore, the narrative does a phenomenal job subtly addressing modern issues like social anxiety and the awkwardness of growing up in a hyper-connected era. While the movie does lean a little bit into some modern social messaging—what some might call a slightly gender-swapped or woke direction—it wasn't terribly overbearing, though it is definitely something I noticed during the runtime.
One of the most fascinating structural choices about Toy Story 5 is that it essentially mirrors the plot of the very first 1995 movie. But instead of the classic rivalry between Woody and Buzz Lightyear, we are looking at a dynamic between Jessie the Cowgirl and a brand new character named Lily. Lily represents the modern era; she is the new tablet-type, screen-based character that threatens the existence of traditional toys.
However, Pixar doesn't pull its emotional punches. There are some incredibly deep, dark, and melancholic themes explored in this sequel, particularly regarding Jessie’s backstory and where she originally came from. In a very emotional arc, Jessie basically gets to go home to where she originally started with her first owner, Emily. Through some heavy environmental storytelling, we find out that Emily grew up and eventually had a family of her own. The very strong insinuation that I got from the film is that Emily’s daughter actually passed away at some point. I could be slightly off base here, but the tone was remarkably deep and heavy for an animated family film.
While it wasn't quite as laugh-out-loud funny as some of the earlier movies in the franchise, it was still a great time. I am so glad I got to unplug for a couple of hours and experience this with my wife and two daughters. Could it have been better? Sure. I would have absolutely loved to see more of Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom! But overall, the message of how important it is to unplug and actually "touch grass" was delivered beautifully. Have you seen it yet, or are you waiting? Let me know your thoughts down below!
#ToyStory5 #DisneyPixar #PixarReview #ToyStory #MovieReview #JessieAndLily #PixarAnimation #DisneyMovies #ToyStory5Review #Cinema #PopCulture #FamilyMovie #TechVsToys #DisneyMagic #FilmCritique #Nostalgia
