'Toy Story 5' film review: Beloved vintage toys take on smart devices, adolescence

Jessie, Woody, Buzz and the rest of Pixar's venerable toy collection return in 'Toy Story 5' (opening in theaters nationwide June 19), a story powered by heart and an enduring sweetness that feels like the 'Toy Story' franchise was never taken out of its box.

In short: Jessie and the gang of toys encounter a new threat to playtime: screentime. Stars Joan Cusack, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Greta Lee and Conan O'Brien.

Through four movies and multiple decades, the 'Toy Story' flicks have - to this point - been the Woody and Buzz show. Woody called the shots. Buzz was the x-factor - and at one point, it was the flashy Buzz Lightyear toy that threatened to usurp Woody and the rest of the aging analog toys from Andy's good graces. 'Toy Story 3' could have been the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy, but 'Toy Story 4' allowed fans to say good-bye to Woody, the toy who started it all.

All this background is kind of important, because once 'Toy Story 5' was announced, the first reaction was: "... but why?" And this review can assert that 'Toy Story 5' isn't the end for the franchise - if anything, it proves the series could theoretically go on and on ... just as long as Pixar's filmmakers find new dynamics between childhood, connection and having fun. While Woody and Buzz are still very much in this new sequel, a 'Toy Story' finally movie gets a new main protagonist: the excitable yoddeling cowgirl rag doll Jessie!

In its own way, 'Toy Story 5' is fundamentally very similar to the 1995 original - but is rooted in more heart. One of the most quietly powerful scenes in the entire series was the heartbreaking reveal of Jessie's history in 'Toy Story 2' as a once beloved toy who was outgrown ... and discarded. That heartache informed her seemingly selfish choices in way back 'Toy Story 2,' and this latest film returns to those themes: when a playful child grows into adolescence - and once loved play toys are stored away and forgotten.

If this is the end for the 'Toy Story' series, then so be it - the franchise finally allowed Jessie the chance to resolve the lingering fear of abandonment that was the undercurrent of her character. Through it all, Jessie has been fearless and infectiously enthusiatic - but there's always a simmering anxiety just below her surface.

As each new film has added a few fun new characters to the roster, it's genuinely heartwarming to reunite with Mr. Potato Head, Rex, as well as the more recent additions like Forky and Duke Caboom. Some of these moments are fleeting - but the series is about legacy and a connection between children and their toys - as well as the connection with the audiences who have loved these characters for more than 30 years. For their parts, Woody and Buzz are largely scaled back to supporting heroes backing up Jessie. Arguably Buzz's character arc was wrapped up several movies ago - arguably the first film. And this is indeed the same Woody from the previous films - and the script found a fun way of honoring Woody's decision in 'Toy Story 4,' as the draw-string doll ventured off to help toys in need.

Kids watching this film ... will feel very attacked. And any parent who has had to try to pry an iPad from their child's hands because screentime is over will feel the toy's pain. Greta Lee as 'Lily' the kid's smart device Lilypad strikes a perfect balance of helpful and sinister. (Lily obviously doesn't know what happens to old "favorite" iPads ... once the cool, shinier models are announed at Apple Events.) The film is gently laments end of toys, and the emergence of the domineering smart devices ... which hypnotically convince children to put their toys down and star at an LCD screen for way too many hours. The breakout new toy star is the potty training toy Smarty Pants (voiced by Conan O'Brien), as the scripts goes all in on the abjectly silly and over-the-top toy who helped his child poop in the potty, only to be forgotten.

And because the terminally online cannot resist ranking films in any movie series or comparing 'Toy Story 5' to its predecessors: no, this is not the best film in the series. This really just speaks to the overall quality of the franchise - we're five films into a 30-year-old series and all five films are impeccable. 'Toy Story 3' remains the franchise's zenith - but '4' and '5' have quietly been able to focus on lingering threads of the series. There will come a day when it’s time to put Woody, Buzz and Jessie on the display shelf saved for revered toys - but that day hasn’t come just yet.

Final verdict: The iconic Pixar franchise isn't ready for dustbin yet - it finds new energy in confronting 2026 modernity and rooting it all in one of the best characters in the series. And any movie that sends the kids home from the theater reconsidering their excessive screentime, while dropping toilet jokes and completing Jessie's moving character arc is enough to elevate 'Toy Story 5' as an essential film of 2026.

Score: 4/5

'Toy Story 5' opens in theaters nationwide June 19. This animated adventure comedy-drama has a runtime of 102 minutes and is rated PG for some thematic elements and rude humor.