Disney/Pixar
The toys that have embodied “Toy Story” for more than 30 years face the threat of obsolescence with children’s growing interest in digital screens.
• The film addresses screen addiction and cyberbullying, a unanimously acclaimed theme.
• Despite divided opinions, the Pixar saga remains a box office success.
In the middle of a busy week of releases in cinemas, Pixar unveils the fifth opus of the saga Toy Story. A film as anticipated as it was feared after a fourth part (2019), which was already pulling on the rope to bring its characters back to the big screen.
31 years after the first film, Toy Story 5Â arrives at the cinema this Wednesday, June 17. In this new opus from director Andrew Stanton, the toys will understand that in 2026, a figurine of a space adventurer or a cowgirl is no longer a match for modern technology, a new obsession for children, which is materialized in the film by a touchscreen tablet called Lilypad.
Despite the historic success of the saga, the return of Woody, Jessie and Buzz is far from unanimous in the press. The latest from the Pixar studio is even very divisive. Except for one aspect of the film which seems to be unanimous: the abandonment of old-fashioned toys in favor of digital tablets and, more broadly, screens.
« Tendresse irrésistible » or «Âmort» by Pixar
The cause of this lack of consensus around the film lies in a “Lack of hilarious gags and breathtaking action scenes » selon la BBC. The feature film is “weighed down by a profusion of characters and complex plots“, even dispensable like that surrounding Buzz Lightyear.
In France, The World is even more critical and believes that at a time when “artificial intelligence is galloping at exponential speed, the studio, once a formidable diplomat between humanity and digital technology, no longer has much to articulate or propose in the matter ”.
Although “correct », le film « does not develop any ambivalence, sequence or singular dramaturgy », estimates the newspaper, we hope to realize «Âthat a thread has broken, that an intelligence has gone» within the Hollywood studio. Convinced about the form, The Guardian states that “as family entertainment, the film shines brightly ”. «ÂBut deep down, he’s dead », assène-t-il ensuite. «ÂDespite the energy and creativity deployed in each image, the suspense, novelty, ideas and passion are lacking.».
À l’inverse, Screenrant leaves the film totally excited: “ Pixar’s oldest franchise brings us its funniest, most moving adventure yet ”. « Bold narrative choices», « touching story» and «écriture subtile“, lists the American media, also won over by the idea of ”put Jessie firstto the detriment of Woody and Buzz ”. Emballé au même titre que The Parisian by a film “lively and moving” The Hollywood Reporter judge difficile de résister à la tendresse irrésistible » of this fifth opus that “honors a cult franchise ”.
A basic message on the successful relationship with screens
If no one seems to agree after viewing the 31st film in the Pixar universe, it is clear that the central theme of the film emerges as the great strength of this new Toy Story. To understand why, we must remember that Bonnie inherited the cult toys from the saga (except Woody), but her love for them isolates her and makes her incapable of making friends, the other children being obsessed with screens.
To help her integrate, she receives a smart, child-friendly tablet from her parents, which finally allows her to create bonds with the other children. “But then she is drawn into a world of cruelty and cyberbullying », resume The Guardian. Enough to relegate Jessie and her friends to the background.
Disney/Pixar
In Toy Story 5, technology is not necessarily Machiavellian, as illustrated by the character of Rouleau Pote, voiced by Jonathan Cohen in France.
Le film « addresses the dangers of social media and digital devices, and depicts loneliness and hopelessness among children and adults », souligne la BBCto the point of asserting that Toy Story 5 would have deserved a “classification spéciale : Déconseillé aux parents ». The newspaper even goes so far as to describe this Pixar as “most traumatic horror film of the year – at least for parents ”.
Pour The Hollywood Reporterthe film has the good idea of insisting “that children need physical interaction and communication with their peers to develop and grow, an important and easy to share message. The moral of the film, however, avoids being Manichean since “the film reminds with optimism and a touch of nostalgic emotion that technology can also be a source of fun and connection with others », in abundance Le Figaro. A quality which is illustrated in the film by the appearance of a new character, a certain Rouleau Pote, voiced by Jonathan Cohen in the French version of the film.
Despite a divided review, the franchise Toy Story remains a safe bet in terms of box office. The last part, released in 2019, had the merit of bringing together nearly 4.5 million French spectators (and a billion dollars in revenue around the world) around a film which had already had difficulty getting everyone to agree.
