If you can, try to put aside the Lightyear nonsense. This is a movie. Is it compatible with Toy Story? That doesn't matter All that is clear in the first three frames of the movie. Andy received a Buzz Lightyear toy. He liked it from his favorite movie. That movie is this one. Lightyear is an awesome movie and Andy liked it. Pixar makes big, family-friendly entertainment that anyone can enjoy. Lightyear is much simpler than some of Pixar's best-known films. It is a standard time- travel adventure story. The film is intended to take you on a ride. The ride has a few bumps but they don't detract from its overall excellence. Lightyear is a comedy about a space Ranger named Buzz Lightyear who makes a mistake on a mission. The Space Ranger and his team are stuck on an alien planet. Buzz fails at fixing the problem through some really surprising and sad events. He fails so badly that he ends up travelling into a future where he meets Hawthorne's granddaughter. He has to team up with her and a few other people to stop an evil robot named Zurg. Lightyear lays out all its conflicts very clearly when you type it out. MacLane is able to show a lot of complex human emotions because of that simplicity. Other characters have to grow and change even in difficult circumstances. There are some trademark heartbreaking moments that Pixar is so good at.
Light year's second act is not as strong as the first. Buzz gets pushed a bit to the background as the plot takes over when Buzz is forced to work with the crew to solve the many problems that come with a killer robot. The development of the other characters and the increased stakes in this act pay off big, but in the moment, they slow the film down just enough that it's noticeable.
Lightyear takes a huge leap in the third act with some big revelations. There is more to this than just Buzz's robot cat. Peter Sohn is the voice of "Sox" He is an incredibly useful character that endsears himself to the crowd. He becomes more and more important to the plot, to the characters, and to us as the film progresses. Lightyear is taken up another level by him.
Fans of Toy Story will notice a lot of subtle winks to that movie, via some of the ships, props, and shot compositions, and sci-fi fans will find more to love. I picked up on references to Aliens, The Empire Strikes Back, 2001, Nintendo, Star Trek, and others, but they are not important to the plot or excessive, but are examples of Pixar making a movie that works on multiple levels. The core blockbuster is a sci fi adventure. There are a lot of easter eggs. Along the way, there are a lot of important messages. The importance of family is one of the most prevalent themes. It is the kind of movie that will reward multiple viewings.
Lightyear isn't as good as any of the Toy Story movies, but it doesn't have to be It is on its own, delivering the kind of thrills and visuals that Pixar never thought possible. Ultimately, it does exactly what it set out to do, showing us a movie that a young kid, maybe even yours, will one day call their favorite.
Lightyear opens.
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