Our Review

                   Movie: TOY STORY 5

   Rating: PG, action/violence, some bloody                     images and strong language

                          Length: 1:42

             Release Date: June 19, 2026

Jeanne: Well, partner, Disney and Pixar have done it --- again! TOY STORY 5 is a genuine masterpiece focusing on the importance of true friendship --- and the power of imaginative playtime. Billed as “Toy meets Tech”, co-directors Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris also penned the screenplay based on the story by Stanton.

The gang is all here, led by Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) and Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack). Only now, our heroes are faced with a new tablet device named Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee), given to Bonnie (voiced by Scarlett Spears) by her parents (voiced by Lori Alan and Jay Hernandez) to help her fit in with other children. Lilypad is very sure of herself and what is best for Bonnie.

Bonnie still likes to play with all her toys, including old standbys like Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head (voiced by Jeff Bergman and Anna Vocino), Rex (voiced by Wallace Shawn) and of course, Forky (voiced by Tony Hale). But all the other kids are glued to their tech devices, including the mean girls in Bonnie’s dance class, and Bonnie is very aware that she has fallen behind with all the new tech stuff.

In true Pixar fashion, there is a mix-up with the toys and Jessie, along with her trusty steed Bullseye, ends up at the home of a 9-and-a-half-year-old Blaze (voiced by Mykal-Michelle Harris). There Jessie encounters Blaze’s outdated tech toys, Smarty Pants (voiced by Conan O’Brien), a toilet training device, Atlas (voiced by Craig Robinson), a talking hippo who has GPS capabilities, and Snappy (voiced by Shelby Rabara), an energetic toy camera. After some ‘wrangling’ on Jessie’s part, these new toys work together with Bonnie’s old toys to help Bonnie and Blaze become friends.

Two-time Academy Award-winner Stanton (WALL-E, 2008, FINDING NEMO, 2003), who is well aware of the TOY STORY legacy, also added a remarkable --- and hilarious --- subplot about 50 new Hi-Tech Edition Buzz Lightyear action figures stranded on a desert island after their sea-going container is shipwrecked. Honestly, this supplemental storyline alone is worth seeing TOY STORY 5.

But trust me, the entirety of this new chapter is so worth the wait. With the additions of a couple of rather entertaining cameos such as Bad Bunny voicing Pizza with Sunglasses and Alan Cumming voicing Evil Bullseye, Bullseye’s alter-ego, in a playtime imagination sequence, TOY STORY 5 should be required viewing for the whole family. The life lesson regarding friendship is simply too good to miss.

Plus, there is the ongoing participation of Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman returning to score this fifth TOY STORY. It would be sacrilegious to even think of anyone else writing the music for TOY STORY 5. But there is another well-known musician on board --- Taylor Swift, who wrote and performs a brand-spanking new original song, “I Knew It, I Knew You”, inspired by Jessie, our beloved cowgirl, who began her journey in TOY

STORY 2.

Something very unusual happened at our screening. One of the very last scenes was so moving --- and so special --- that the audience began applauding then, and the film wasn’t even finished. TOY STORY 5 is that good! And make sure you stick around during the closing credits --- you won’t be disappointed.

                In Theaters June 19, 2026

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

David: The TOY STORY franchise began way back in 1995. Thirty years later, Disney and Pixar have given the world another superior chapter --- TOY STORY 5. The primary voice cast is back --- Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack as Jessie.

This brilliantly creative story has so many clever, hilarious and poignant moments it’s impossible to catch them all as an audience member. Therefore, a second viewing --- at minimum --- is essential.

The theme of TOY STORY 5 is the emergence of tech devices in the lives of young kids as opposed to the toys that were the staple of their earlier years. We’ve all seen images of school-age children on their phones, completely engrossed in their focus on a cell phone, and barely speaking to one another.

So when eight-year-old Bonnie (voiced by Scarlett Spears) struggles with the fact she has no friends, she joins the tech revolution by attaching herself to a smart tablet called Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee). Meanwhile, in another part of town, Blaze, a nine-and-a-half year old little beauty (voiced by Mykal-Michelle Harris), is tech savvy herself, but devoid of friends for the most part. It’s obvious that Bonnie and Blaze will eventually connect, but getting to that point is part of the fun and excitement of TOY STORY 5.

This film, co-directed by Academy Award winner Andrew Stanton (WALL-E, FINDING NEMO) and Kenna Harris, (the duo co-wrote the screenplay based on Stanton’s story), is filled with touching scenarios and subtle, albeit brief moments. I am not embarrassed to admit that TOY STORY 5 had me shedding more than a tear towards the end.

The supporting voice cast has some familiar names; Wallace Shawn as Rex, Tony Hale as Forky, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, Alan Cumming as Evil Bullseye, Bonnie Hunt as Dolly and Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants. Even Bad Bunny appears as Pizza with Sunglasses. Randy Newman shares his original score again, and Taylor Swift performs her original song “I Knew It, I Knew You”.  

TOY STORY 5 is sheer delight from beginning to end. See it with someone you love.

In Theaters June 19, 2026

Opinion:  Strong See It Now!