Greetings again from the darkness. It’s been thirty-one years since I sat stunned in the movie theater after being first introduced to Woody, Buzz, and the entire gang of Pixar toys. It was the year BRAVEHEART won five Oscars and TOY STORY, which marked a shift in filmmaking, won none. That was Pixar’s first feature film and since there was no Animated Feature Film category at the time, the Academy didn’t really know what to do with it. Fortunately, John Lasseter (since fired) and Andrew Stanton certainly knew what to do, as this is the fifth film of the franchise, and they’ve managed to create cinematic magic with each one.
We’ve established that I’m a raving fan for the franchise. Yet with each entry, I still go in concerned that this will be the first dud. I’m relieved and happy to report that the fifth film is funny, colorful, filled with great characters, and maintains the emotional charge we’ve come to expect. Pixar’s Andrew Stanton has been involved with each of the TS films and he’s joined this time by co-director and co-writer McKenna Harris (her first feature). They have managed to uphold tradition, while making the film entirely contemporary and introducing the beloved characters to a new generation (it’s been seven years since TOY STORY 4).
The familiar characters are back, which means most of the familiar voices are as well: Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, Tony Hale as Forky, and Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboon. New to the scene are Scarlett Spears as Bonnie (she’s the third to voice the character), and of course, with the passing of Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, and Jim Varney, there have been new voices for Mr and Mrs Potato Head and Slinky Dog. And yes, Pixar’s good luck charm John Ratzenberger returns as Hamm. Among the others making their first Toy Story credits are the voices of global sensation Bad Bunny as ‘Pizza with sunglasses’, Greta Lee as Lilypad the smart tablet, Conan O’Brien as a ‘specialized’ device, and Mykal-Michelle Harris as Blaze.
This is definitely a female-centric story as Jessie takes the lead role. Woody and Buzz are featured prominently, but Jessie is the one focused on ensuring young Bonnie makes friends. The emphasis on technology is one all parents will recognize. Kids don’t “play” the way they once did, and the story emphasizes how that adds complexity to not just making friends, but also in defining what friendship actually is in this modern world. Smart devices, screens, and tablets have pushed toys to the background – or the garage, or even worse. It’s heartwarming, and sometimes nerve-wracking, watching Jessie and this crew of toys do what they can to help kids hold onto childhood as long as possible.
There are some subplots included regarding Buzz and Jessie, Jessie’s background with previous kids, and the ongoing challenges faced by parents. The animation is as stunning as you’d expect, and Randy Newman returned to compose the film’s score. By now it’s no secret that Taylor Swift, with a writing boost from Jack Antonoff, performs her new song, “I Knew it, I Knew You”, over the closing credits (and stay for the stingers).
DISNEY & PIXAR’S TOY STORY 5 releases exclusively in theaters June 19, 2026. Run time: 1hr 42min
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. The Farrelly Brothers (Bobby and Peter) were the creative force behind such comedy classics as DUMB AND DUMBER (1994), THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998), and one of my personal favorites, OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE (1999). At some point, the brothers decided to split up and work on their own projects. Peter won a couple of Oscars for GREEN BOOK (2018), and now Bobby, working from a screenplay by Thomas Moffett (AN ACTOR PREPARES, 2018), delivers one more in line with the brothers’ early works.
Greetings again from the darkness. Thoreau famously wrote, “The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation.” That quote may overstate the being of the staff at The Grand, a 100-year-old hotel that once provided service for royalty, but now the seaside inn is crumbling at the seams and desperate for guests. The feature film directorial debut from writer-director Harry Sherriff and co-written by Laurence Tratalos is quite a pleasant surprise.
Greetings again from the darkness. Relationships require communication, diligence, and a bit of luck. Director Chloe Robichaud (SARAH PREFERS TO RUN, 2016) is working from a script from playwright Catherine Leger to deliver a remake of the 1970 French sex comedy, DEUX FEMMES EN OR from Claude Fournier. Finding humor in strained or crumbling relationships is never easy – especially when medication or a newborn is involved.
Greetings again from the darkness. If you see something, say something. If you know something, say something. If you fear something but aren’t sure, say something. Such is the world we live in today … the world our children live in today. Somehow that same world also revolves around social media and the insatiable desire to be ‘seen’. The first feature film from writer-director Oscar Boyson and co-writer Ricky Camilleri takes on these somewhat conflicting societal issues, and they do so with an approach that’s at times absurdist, often comical, and always a bit frightening (in a real world way).
Greetings again from the darkness. Starting over in life is really a misnomer. We like the phrase ‘new beginning’, but in fact, it’s just the next phase in our journey called life. Still, a significant break or traumatic event can certainly change one’s outlook and that’s what Amy Landecker (“Your Honor”) examines here with her feature film directorial debut. In addition to directing, Ms. Landecker also wrote the script, produced the film, and has the lead role.
Greetings again from the darkness. Director Gore Verbinski has a diverse oeuvre of films dating back almost thirty years. His work includes the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, the horror film THE RING (2002), the animated Oscar-winning RANGO (2011), THE LONE RANGER (2013), and the eerie A CURE FOR WELLNESS (2016). This is his first film in almost a decade. It’s written by Matthew Robinson (LOVE AND MONSTERS, 2020), and it’s bonkers.
Greetings again from the darkness. Well, it’s not exactly a ‘good cop/bad cop’ scenario, since only one of them is a cop – and he’s suspended and out of his territory. It’s also not a traditional ‘Buddy comedy’ since these aren’t buddies, but rather estranged, grudge-holding half-brothers. Still, the premise is admirable, and the casting choice of pairing Dave Bautista with Jason Mamoa is marketing brilliance. Jonathan Tropper (creator and writer of “Banshee”) wrote the screenplay and Angel Manuel Soto (BLUE BEETLE, 2023) directed.
Greetings again from the darkness. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this one. You don’t need to be an old man either. Since I am both, you can only imagine the appreciation I have for writer-director Carson Lund and his co-writers Michael Basta and Nate Fisher as they deliver a nostalgic and humorous look at how men deal with glory days of old and a rapidly changing landscape that looks to erase the past and their memories.
Greetings again from the darkness. Longtime movie lovers usually cringe with announcements regarding movie remakes. Of course, some work out pretty well: A STAR IS BORN (2018), THE THING (1982), TRUE GRIT (2010); while others deserve backlash: PSYCHO (1998), ROLLERBALL (2002), THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003). When the news hit that writer-director Tom Gormican (THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT, 2022) was going to remake ANACONDA (1997), it wasn’t so much a cringe reaction as it was a giant question mark … Why remake a movie that on its best day could only be labeled a fringe cult favorite? Once the leads of Jack Black (after Nic Cage dropped out) and Paul Rudd were announced, it made much more sense. This was to be a comedic take on an original film that featured quite a few accidental comedy elements.
Movie Reviews from the Dark 