Lightyear

We have rated Lightyear (2022) 7 out of 10 on Comic Movie DB, and that score reflects how well this entry works within the wider Toy Story franchise. Lightyear is an ambitious spin-off because it chooses to be a straight sci-fi adventure rather than a cosy toy-box comedy. What makes Lightyear (2022) interesting is that it understands the emotional rule that has always made Toy Story work: the toys may be small, silly and plastic, but their fears feel completely real. The direction from Angus MacLane keeps the story focused, while the voice cast, including Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, James Brolin, Uzo Aduba, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., gives the characters enough warmth and personality to make even the smallest gag feel connected to the bigger world. The film looks fantastic, Sox is an instant scene-stealer, and the space mission structure gives Pixar room to play with time, regret and heroic obsession. It is also worth remembering how difficult it is for a franchise this beloved to keep returning without feeling empty. Toy Story has always walked a fine line between nostalgia and new ideas, and Lightyear (2022) is at its best when it uses familiar characters to say something sincere about change, loyalty, growing up or finding purpose. It does not have the same emotional simplicity as the main Toy Story films, and some viewers missed Tim Allen’s toy version of Buzz, but as a franchise expansion it is far more interesting than it often gets credit for. As a piece of family entertainment, it is easy to enjoy, but as part of the Pixar and Disney legacy it carries extra weight. Fans who love Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang will find plenty to appreciate, and even when this entry is lighter or smaller than the main films, it still adds texture to one of animation’s most loved universes.