Toy Story 5 explores the battle between toys and technology, even if it falls short of the franchise’s original magic.
Last night, the UAE witnessed the Dubai premiere of Toy Story 5 at Mall of the Emirates. The place was packed with parents and kids, with children dressed in full cowboy mode — alongside plenty of adults who were clearly just as excited. And for once, it didn’t feel cringe.
Many millennials were around 6 or 7 years old when the original Toy Story arrived in 1995. We grew up with Woody, Buzz, and the gang, and now those same kids from the 90s are bringing their own children to meet the characters that shaped their childhoods.
A Shiny New Box
Toy Story 5 takes on a very modern issue: technology has taken over children’s attention, and toys are struggling to find their place in a world dominated by screens. The movie has a strong idea and some genuinely meaningful moments, especially for parents, but it doesn’t quite capture the magic and nostalgia of the original films. It reminds you why you love Toy Story, but it doesn’t always recreate that childhood wonder.
The story follows a world where devices and digital entertainment have become a major part of children’s lives. Kids are spending less time playing outside, using their imagination, and interacting with others. The toys are no longer fighting to avoid being destroyed or replaced — they’re facing something more complicated: becoming irrelevant.
This time, the story shifts more toward Jessie and Bonnie, with Jessie becoming the emotional centre of the film. Woody and Buzz are still important, but they feel more like supporting players — almost like they’ve entered their veteran era. A new character, Lilypad, also plays a major role.
No Villains
As expected from Pixar, the animation is excellent. The characters are expressive, emotional, and somehow still feel alive after five movies — which is impressive considering we’re talking about toys that have aged better than most of us.
Jessie is the standout. Giving her more focus works because she has always been one of the franchise’s most emotionally layered characters. Her journey feels personal, especially when exploring themes of feeling forgotten, being left behind, and trying to understand where you belong.
The movie’s biggest strength is its central idea. The struggle between toys and technology is genuinely relevant. Many parents today understand the challenge of children wanting more screen time, wanting their own devices, and growing up in a digital world that previous generations never experienced.
What works well is that the movie doesn’t make technology the villain. It understands that technology is useful, necessary, and part of everyday life. The message isn’t “throw away your devices” — it’s about balance.
However, the film could have explored this topic much more deeply. The idea of children becoming disconnected, losing imagination, or struggling socially because of screens is fascinating, but the movie only scratches the surface. Technology is given more personality and emotion in the film, which is an interesting concept, but it sometimes simplifies a much bigger conversation.
Buzz also gets an upgrade this time, with Wi-Fi capabilities and new features. The idea is fun, especially seeing a version of Buzz that feels more like a high-tech machine, but it doesn’t add as much emotionally as the original character did. The OG Buzz remains the one audiences connect with because his charm was never about his technology — it was about his personality.
The pacing is where the film struggles. At under two hours, it isn’t a long movie, but some moments feel slower than they should. Certain emotional scenes could have been tighter, while other ideas could have used more time to breathe. The movie has many strong ingredients, but they don’t always come together perfectly.
Some new characters also feel like they exist because the idea was fun rather than because the story needed them. Smarty Pants is a good example — the concept is creative, but it feels like the movie is trying to pack too many modern ideas into one character. Why does a device that helps you poop need messaging capabilities and Wi-Fi?
The technology-versus-toys storyline remains the strongest part of the film. It’s current, relatable, and especially meaningful for parents watching their children grow up surrounded by screens. The emotional moments also work, although the film sometimes pulls back before going as deep as it could.
Signal to Star Command: Missing
But as a longtime fan, I did miss one thing: the original magic. The first Toy Story wasn’t just an animated movie. For many millennials, it’s a defining childhood experience. It arrived at the perfect age and stayed with us. Because of that, I was hoping for more connection to that original era — more callbacks, more reminders of the journey these toys have been on, or even a few small references to the first film.
Toy Story 5 is a thoughtful sequel with a strong modern message. It explores technology, childhood, and connection in a meaningful way, and it will probably hit hardest for parents watching it with their kids. But for a generation that grew up with Woody and Buzz from the beginning, there was definitely room for more of that original magic.
The toys still matter. We just might have been hoping the movie would remind us a little more why.
Verdict: 8/10