Lightyear (2022)
“We’re being pursued by a…just MASSIVE robot!” – Buzz Lightyear.
Lightyear (2022)
Directed by: Angus MacLane
Written by: Angus MacLane (story by), Matthew Aldrich (story by), Jason Headley (story by)
Starring: Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi
This is the Toy Story spin-off no one asked for. Much like Woody the toy was based on an in-universe TV show called ‘Woody’s Roundup,’ the Buzz Lightyear toy is based on the lead character from the movie ‘Lightyear’. Meaning that THIS is the movie Andy would have watched in the Toy Story universe. Which is a neat little concept; Pixar is able to put a new spin on a character we know and love, while having the freedom to dream up a brand new universe. Intellectual property, originality, and the world’s leading animation company – what could go wrong? Well, honestly, not that much.
Chris Evan’s Buzz is the determined, proactive Space Ranger the toy is based on, happily blasting into space, taking command, and zapping aliens at will. He records ‘mission logs’ out loud in long monologues – a habit his Space Ranger colleagues make fun of – and befriends a cuddly robot cat called Sox. It’s lighthearted and simple and cute, with a childlike innocence that will make you smile – particularly when you remember the adorable premise that Andy enjoyed this movie too. Complications arise when Buzz and his spaceship get marooned on a hostile planet. In order to get home they must find a special energy crystal, but evil forces soon descend on the planet in pursuit of the same thing. This is where we meet Zurg and his minions, with some phenomenal design work and animation feeding into the exciting world building of this alternate universe. Pixar is always incredible, but you’ll feel like you’ve been to infinity (and beyond!) after watching this, with worldbuilding and gorgeous aesthetics on the same level as The Incredibles 2. However, Lightyears direct association with Toy Story is perhaps its biggest flaw.
The Toy Story movies worked so well because the toys were a cohesive unit of interesting personalities. Woody, Buzz, Rex, Hamm, Bo Peep, Mr Potato Head – they feel like real people bouncing jokes and insults off one another, with a smattering of adult jokes included to satisfy older viewers. This has now become a Pixar staple – connecting with a younger demographic through meaningful messages, but also including a cheeky wink-wink to adult viewers. This concept culminated in the wildly entertaining Toy Story 4, with Pixar understanding that the originally young viewership had grown up with the franchise and were now ready for some mature themes.
But for some perplexing reason, Lightyear has taken a different route, dismissing an older audience (you know…the demographic who would get excited by a Toy Story spinoff…) and prioritising a simplistic, juvenile demographic. The story is fine, with an engaging but predictable space adventure for our hero. But when Buzz teams up with a misfit crew of Space Ranger cadets, the cracks start to show. Most of the film’s ‘humour’ revolves around one of the cadet’s clumsiness. He falls over – insert laugh track. He accidentally presses the wrong button – insert laugh track. Another cadet is a “convict on parole” – with this line repeated so many times that I assume it’s supposed to be funny too. Is the word ‘convict’ funny for kids these days? Maybe it’s funny because she’s doing the wrong thing? I honestly felt like I was on another planet for some of these scenes, as the jokes either didn’t land or went straight over my head. It was extremely disorienting that a lot of these jokes were almost identical to jokes I saw in the trailer for the new Minions movie. Pixar should not be trying to associate themselves with the franchise where the characters just scream “BANANA!” and run into a wall.
Having said this, I’m speaking from my 28-year-old high-horse here (28 year old Bullseye, even?). There were small kids in my theatre laughing at some of the slapstick moments, and I heard one little girl begging her dad to go and see it again. Therefore a younger audience will adore the bright colours and simple narrative, and this might end up being a gateway drug to further Toy Story sequels. However, after the heights of Turning Red, Luca, and Soul, this was missing some of the multigenerational Pixar magic we’ve come to expect.
Rating: 7/10