LIGHTYEAR
2022 | Dir. Angus MacLane | 105 Minutes
2022 | Dir. Angus MacLane | 105 Minutes
"You don’t need to save us, you need to join us."
Star Command Galactic Ranger Buzz Lightyear commits a series of reckless mistakes that stand his crew of hundreds on a hostile alien world. Determined to rectify his errors by any means necessary, Buzz's desperation eventually leads him to team up with a trio of unlikely comrades. Together, they learn the value of teamwork and come to terms with each of their unique shortcomings.
Lightyear is a charming, competently constructed sci-fi feature but aside from its surprisingly mature story about regret, blind determination, and owning up to ones mistakes in a healthy way, the film is ultimately somewhat unremarkable. Pixar's extreme attention to detail and technical prowess are as impressive as ever, but neither its craftsmanship nor the narrative of the film are particularly groundbreaking. Its metatextual conceit as a film within the world of Toy Story is honestly more distracting than clever, recontextualizing the Buzz action figure's dialogue in ways that only serve no other purpose than to elicit knowing head nods from diehard fans. Fortunately, Lightyear very much functions as a perfectly enjoyable standalone film, though it isn't quite one of Pixar's best.
As Buzz, Chris Evans puts on the perfect heroic voice while also more than capable of expressing the flawed protagonist's vulnerability. Playing Izzy, Keke Palmer exudes all of the energy and optimism of the plucky aspiring space ranger. Peter Sohn's deadpan performance as the resourceful robotic cat Sox, completely stealing the show. Strong, warm, and a bit heartbreaking, Uzo Aduba is perfectly cast as Buzz's best friend and commanding officer Alisha. James Brolin convincingly plays the antagonist Zurg in a role that is unexpectedly nuanced. The supporting cast also features Taika Waititi as the bumbling Mo, Dale Soules as the destructive Darby, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside.
While Lightyear doesn't quite go to infinity, much less beyond, the film is a serviceable space adventure with plenty of action and humor, carrying all of the emotional resonance that comes standard with Pixar productions. The picture's central lesson of moving on from mistakes big and small is an important one, presented in a way that's accessible to children, though older audiences with more life experience are sure to get more mileage out of it.
MID-CREDITS STINGER
Burnside enjoys his laser shield.
MID-CREDITS STINGER
Burnside enjoys his laser shield.
POST-CREDITS STINGER
DERIC finally completes is mission briefing.
DERIC finally completes is mission briefing.
FINAL STINGER
Meanwhile, adrift in space, Zurg returns to life.
Meanwhile, adrift in space, Zurg returns to life.
FRAGMENTS
- Despite the opening blurb explaining that Andy from Toy Story watched this film in 1995, Lightyear thematically and technically doesn't feel like a film from 1995, much less the favorite film of a typical six-year-old boy
- Despite the opening blurb explaining that Andy from Toy Story watched this film in 1995, Lightyear thematically and technically doesn't feel like a film from 1995, much less the favorite film of a typical six-year-old boy
- Uzo Aduba and Dale Soules starred in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Chris Evans (Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avengers, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame)
