At the end of Toy Story 4, it seemed that everything was right with the toy world. Woody (Tom Hanks) found his place in the world, and the other toys knew that they had to stay for Bonnie (Scarlett Spears). Was it a happy ending? That depends on which character you connected to and if you were ready for the story to be over.

When Toy Story 5 was announced you could hear the moans from fans that thought it was over. “Why is another one being made?” “This is a money grab!” “Do we need another Toy Story?” After watching Toy Story 5, I can positively say that this new chapter of the gang fits perfectly with the world. I am glad that it was made and I think most people will feel the same way.

So What’s This One All About?

Toy Story 5 has multiple story lines going through it. One storyline is Bonnie not being able to make friends. Bonnie uses her imagination and plays with the toys every chance she gets. As the movie progresses, we see that other kids are more focused on playing with tablets and staying indoors. This is a bit reminiscent to Toy Story That Time Forgot. Where in that short, video games took the kids away from their toys, Toy Story 5 deals with the bigger issue of all kids having access to some type of tablet.

Along with Bonnie’s story, we see how technology has changed the way children play with toys. Kids are more focused on a screen that their toys are no longer played with. Jessie (Joan Cusack) sees this firsthand when trying to see why the kids across the street don’t play with Bonnie. Once Lilypad (Greta Lee) enters the picture, Jessie makes it her mission to find Bonnie a friend and have her not simply play with Lilypad.

The final story deals with Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) trying to get closer to Jessie. There is also an army of Buzz Figures that are on their way to their location. The Buzz and Jessie story is cute, but it only has an impact in the third act of the movie. The new versions of Buzz come with more than a new utility belt like the ones shown in Toy Story 2, and seeing them in action is pretty cool.

Toys vs Tech

The big bad this time around is tech. Bonnie’s parents feel that getting her a Lilypad will help her make friends. While it does connect her to other girls in her class, that connection comes with a price. Mirroring today’s children, we see how the kids who have tech have their own language in group chats and use memes to communicate with each other. Bonnie is behind with the tech, but we see how wanting to be part of the group causes her to lose a little of what makes her Bonnie.

The message of tech taking over is very relatable to parents. Children nowadays have trouble interacting with others and only feel comfortable in front of a screen. While we know that screens are inevitable, parents must find a way to balance screen time vs. playtime. Here is where we get to the heart of the story: we see Jessie trying to protect Bonnie from tech, but also working with old tech toys. These new characters are a breath of fresh air and add a lot of humor to the movie.

Is Toy Story 5 Needed?

We have seen Woody’s story come to an end, and Buzz stayed behind to help Jessie with Bonnie. This time, Jessie is the main character of the movie. Through Jessie, we see how Bonnie leaving her for Lilypad is similar to the way Emily left her as she got older. Jessie is the surrogate for parents who see their children leave us as they grow. Jessie knows that she only has a certain amount of time with Bonnie and must make the best of it while she can. This is a lesson that all parents can learn from.

Final Thoughts: Toy Story 5 is a perfect fit in the Toy Story series. The film grows with the audience and today’s kids. The “Toys vs Tech” storyline is on par with the world today. Having Jessie as the main character is a great choice for parents and gives the audience a new perspective on childhood. You will laugh, cry, and maybe rethink screentime at home.

Violence: There is no violence in the movie.

Kid-Friendly: Toy Story 5 is very kid-friendly. There is a good amount of toilet humor due to one of the new characters. The other movies had scary moments; there is nothing like that in this movie.

The toys are back in Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” and this time it’s Toy meets Tech. Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen), Jessie (voice of Joan Cusack), and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they come face-to-face with Lilypad (voice of Greta Lee), a brand-new tablet device that arrives with her own disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same? “Toy Story 5” is directed by Academy Award® winner Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Kenna Harris, produced by Lindsey Collins, and features an original score by Oscar® winner Randy Newman, who returns to score his fifth “Toy Story” feature.