Review: Toy Story 5 shows there’s plenty of life in the old toys ★★★★

Toy Story 5 is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud triumph that stands as one of Pixar’s absolute best sequels. It’s playing in cinemas now. Book via the MyVUE app to collect rewards.

• A Modern Masterpiece: Seamlessly blends classic Pixar nostalgia with a highly relatable, modern parental dilemma.
• Jessie Steals the Show: Spotlights Jessie in a refreshing central role that breathes entirely new life into the franchise.
• The Perfect Finale: Delivers a profoundly emotional and beautiful conclusion to a beloved 30-year-old saga.

For parents, Toy Story 5 hits a deeply resonant chord. It zeroes in on that bittersweet, emotionally challenging milestone every mom and dad faces: the moment your child grows out of their physical toys and pivots entirely to tech screens. It captures that transition with raw honesty, making you laugh through your tears.

The Plot: Toy Meets Tech

The story follows eight-year-old Bonnie, who receives a sleek, frog-themed tablet named Lilypad. Bonnie quickly becomes addicted to the digital screen, neglecting her old friends. With Woody living out in the world as a “lost toy,” it falls on Jessie—now the official leader of the room—to save playtime.

Terrified of losing another child to the passage of time, an anxious Jessie takes charge to show Lilypad what real friendship means. What follows is a brilliant, farcical adventure that splits our favorite characters across a high-tech battlefield. While Jessie tries to navigate the digital age, Buzz Lightyear finds himself dealing with a hilarious glitch involving an army of 50 rogue, commemorative Buzz action figures stuck in demo mode.

A First-Class Cast

The voice acting is absolutely stellar across the board, balancing legendary returning favorites with brilliant new additions:

• Joan Cusack as Jessie: Truly the emotional anchor of the film. Cusack gives a masterful, vulnerable performance as Jessie steps into the spotlight.
• Tom Hanks & Tim Allen (Woody & Buzz): The iconic duo returns, with Allen pulling double duty voicing the hysterical fleet of “Multi-Buzz” clones.
• Greta Lee as Lilypad: Lee voices Bonnie’s new tablet with a perfect blend of sly, overconfident warmth.
• Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants: O’Brien steals his scenes as a hilariously cynical, tech-driven potty-training toy.

Putting Jessie right at the center of the action is a refreshing creative choice by director Andrew Stanton, preventing this fifth installment from ever feeling like a rehash of old storylines.

Rumour has it that this is the final ever Toy Story film. If this is truly the end, the franchise goes out with massive heart and a beautiful, satisfying ending. That said, the sheer energy of this movie proves there is definitely life in the old toys yet. Visually it’s stunning to look at, and with funny sub-plots and a sharp script, it romps along without any risk of the audience getting bored.

Ready to experience the magic? Get your tickets and see the movie at your nearest VUE cinema. Make sure to book via the free MyVue app to start collecting your rewards today! ★★★★