LIGHTYEAR

In 1995 a boy named Andy was bought a toy.

It was based on his favourite movie.

This is that movie.

When I first heard that they were making a film about the character of Buzz Lightyear, I couldn’t wrap my head around the premise. Would it be separate from Toy Story? Was it an origin story? A future adventure?

Thankfully Lightyear clears this up almost instantaneously, with a title card explaining that this is the movie that the toy from Toy Story was based on, and this is Lightyears biggest strength.

For someone such as myself, who was confused from the moment it was announced, the fact that it very quickly made total sense is a credit to the filmmakers.

Lightyear feels like a film that could have been released in 1995, and I mean that as a compliment. The Buzz Lightyear we know from Toy Story makes sense as a piece of merchandise based on the Lightyear we meet here - although, clearly, in reality, Sox would be the best selling toy from this franchise - , and the attention to detail, in the design of the space suits, and the ships, is commendable.

The fact that the film feels so at home in the Universe, almost 30 years after we were first introduced to the character is no mean feat.

Michael Giacchino’s score is also deserving of praise. It manages to subtly blend elements from the characters Toy Story theme into something more genre specific. It has the bombastic overtures of the family sci-fi film, but with small hints that hark back to the original series.

When you compare this to Giacchino’s work on Jurassic World Dominion, which shoehorns in whole segments of the original theme with all the subtlety of a T-Rex attempting to put on ballet shoes, it was a welcome surprise to hear a far more memorable original score, which manages to link old and new, in Lightyear.

Where Lightyear falls down, in my opinion at least, is it’s lack of the kind of emotional heft which has become synonymous with Disney and Pixar productions. I should point out that for some people this has worked, and that they did reach that emotional connection with Lightyear. For me, however, the absence of it was somewhat jarring. It felt like a much less personal story than I was expecting it to be, and while not every film has to reduce you to tears, it did make Lightyear feel a little more slight in comparison to the Toy Story series.

One element of Lightyear which does not feel conspicuous by its absence, however, is Tim Allen. In Lightyear Chris Evans has taken over the voice role and he fits perfectly into the character. He manages to put his own stamp on the character, whilst keeping just enough of Allens legacy to make it seem natural. Honestly, had I not known going in that the voice actor had changed, I don’t think I would have even noticed it.

In fact the voice acting on the whole is excellent. Lightyears rag tag group of wannabe cadets is rounded off by Keke Palmer as Izzy, Taika Waititi as Mo, Dale Soules is Darby, and Peter Sohn as Sox. The film is generally at it’s strongest when this group is allowed to develop. The interplay between them is genuinely funny, and I would have liked to see the relationships grow more.

And finally, before wrapping up, we should talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to Lightyear.

Lightyear has been review bombed online by people claiming to be offended by a lesbian relationship which forms part of the early scenes.

If you have a problem with this, if you were - or claim to be - offended, if you think it is a bad example to children, if you won’t even watch the film on principle because of this… don’t read any more of my reviews. Don’t read anything on this site. I don’t want you.

Fuck off and take your backwards, antiquated viewpoints with you

Lightyear is good. In places it is very good. It is a satisfying entry into the Toy Story cannon, but doesn’t have the emotional weight of its predecessors which sadly means it may not have the kind of longevity of what came before it.