Lightyear

The movie Lightyear is a lot like The Far Side tattoo I got on the small of my back. It’s fun to look at, but was it a good idea? There was something so heartwarming and endearing about the Toy Story movies and this felt more like an action movie suitable for kids.

I’ll start by saying the production value is spectacular. The animation, the sound, everything is top notch on the technical level. However, I felt very detached from the story. The movie opens by saying “In 1995 Andy got a toy. That toy was based on a movie. This is that movie.” Color me crazy, but I don’t like being told “this is a movie” right before a film starts.

I clearly know I’m at the movies because I have a popcorn bucket the size of a wine barrel and a Coke big enough it could double as a gas canister, and seeing the words “this is a movie” just instantly severs any suspension of disbelief I walked into the theater with. I know this is probably a lame complaint, but it’s my complaint nonetheless.

Because of the film’s lack of heart that we know from the original Toy Story movies, and the end villain reveal (you’ll see when you watch it), this is getting our wait for streaming rating. I did appreciate the film’s Ferris Bueller theme of “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” However, I don’t think this film will be something that will be permanently etched in our minds forever…unlike my Gary Larson tattoo.

My rating:

🛶= wait for streaming