MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Lightyear’ isn’t God-tier Pixar, but it’s still damn good
Pixar has given us prestige animation off and on for decades. The legendary animation studio is maddeningly good at validating and illuminating our humanity — often by vivifying inanimate objects. The animation giant’s latest effort, the Toy Story spin-off Lightyear, doesn’t quite make it into Pixar’s pantheon of animated masterworks, but it doesn’t want to. Instead, it leans hard into the self-contained feel of an old sci-fi serial and doesn’t once backpedal or subvert its approach.
On its barest bones, Lightyear is retro sci-fi masquerading as a Pixar movie. Director/co-writer Angus MacLane is a veteran Pixar animator whose credits include A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles…the list continues. His love for Pixar‘s storytelling is evident in how he sets up and executes payoffs. He imbues this rich, textured world with both a love for genre-specific conceits and a knack for giving fans moments they didn’t know they wanted. Leave it to Pixar to make a moment out of Buzz busting out the wings in his suit to save the day. It nails the kind of fleeting fan service that can remind us of its Toy Story connections without shoving Woody, Bo Peep, or even Andy cameos down our throats.
The fact remains that MacLane and company have made an irrefutably gorgeous film. Sure, Pixar favorites such as Inside Out, Monsters Inc., and Coco may boast unique visual identities, but Lightyear counters that offbeat aesthetic with a more traditional style that’s just as appealing. The filmmakers aren’t breaking any new ground here, but they make the familiar look and feel so damn good that innovation doesn’t really matter.
As fun and likable as it is, Lightyear could’ve strengthened some of its dynamics, namely the Buzz (Chris Evans)/Izzy (Keke Palmer) relationship. The story’s emotional stakes hinge on us caring about what happens to their connection. Both characters have reasons to come together and care about each other. Buzz has to ensure the safety of his dead best friend’s granddaughter (Izzy). Izzy sees in Buzz the same goodness and potential her grandmother saw and wants him to be proud of her, too.
Izzy’s character is especially relatable because she echoes insecurities we have all felt. She feels like she has failed her family. She feels like her grandmother is eternally disappointed in her. She feels inadequate and unseen. Her character payoffs are there and they’re tons of fun, but the script doesn’t permit these moments of personal growth and triumph to breathe. They don’t feel perfunctory but they don’t pack the punch they could have.
The surprise dynamic of Lightyear is the bond between Buzz and Sox (Peter Sohn). Sox, a cat-bot engineered to assist and accompany Buzz on his adventures, is so insistent on helping that he often becomes a hindrance. MacLane and co-writer Jason Headley recognize the comedic potential of an overly helpful “cat” grinding on every nerve Buzz has; Lightyear’s humor and heart shine brightest whenever the unlikely duo shares the screen.
It would be difficult to label Lightyear a masterpiece but it would be similarly tricky to call it a dud. MacLane’s solo directorial debut works its magic in the elusive space between greatness and perfection, letting its aspirations rest at delivering a simple, fun, and diverting experience worthy of countless rewatches.
Verdict: Lightyear is a fun, fast-paced, and good-hearted adventure that falls short of greatness but nevertheless secures its place among Pixar’s most likable stories.
Score: B+
