Toy Story 5 - Is It Good or Nah?

Overview

The video is a review/recap arguing that Toy Story 5 is surprisingly worthwhile—despite the initial outrage over “undoing” endings from past films. The reviewer claims the series has a strong track record (“they’ve never made a bad Toy Story movie”), and says the trailers made them realize the premise might actually work.

Main Plot & Standout Beats

Overall vibe / Noah’s take

The movie is described as fun, well-directed, and more emotionally meaningful than expected, though a bit more disjointed than earlier entries. The reviewer credits the writing for converging all plot lines by the end.

Buzz Lightyear subplot (shipwreck to Star Command)

A major highlight is Buzz Lightyear(s), who are shipwrecked and must make their way back to Star Command. The reviewer likens the Buzz group to Pikmin (“Look at them go”) and calls the subplot a microcosm of the series’ themes—especially because one Buzz finds their true purpose, even if it doesn’t directly connect to everything else.

Jessie’s backstory and arc

The film revisits Jessie’s past, but the reviewer praises it for not feeling like manipulative nostalgia. Jessie’s pain and remorse are treated as genuinely felt. They also emphasize Jessie is essentially the main character, which makes the movie feel fresher than earlier installments.

Woody’s role (a backseat)

Woody is back, but the reviewer says he takes a backseat—and notes that Toy Story 4 was more Woody-centric, so this shift is acceptable. There’s even a light joke about how he and Jessie “communicate,” with a walkie-talkie explanation being handwaved.

Placement of the toy “regular side characters”

Like Toy Story 4, the “regular side characters” are somewhat sidelined. The reviewer mentions a moment where they’re put in the garage, while Woody/Buzz carry the main action. They acknowledge this is unfortunate, but say it doesn’t bother them because the big arcs for those characters already happened in 2 and 3.

Jokes, Casting Notes, and Character Commentary

• Mr. Potato Head recast: After the original actor died, the voice/actor changed. The reviewer says the new version is sometimes spot-on and sometimes “the least accurate thing,” creating a strange inconsistency.
• Conan O’Brien potty-training toy: A specific new character—described as a potty-training Conan O’Brien toy—stands out as hilarious, with the reviewer joking he should do stand-up.
• Lily Pad antagonist: The reviewer praises Lily Pad, saying it has an arc similar to a prior Toy Story villain but is motivating and understandable in a better way than expected.
• Bonnie becomes more lovable: The reviewer claims this is the first Toy Story movie where they actually cared about Bonnie, because she’s shown struggling with not being able to connect/make friends, which is upsetting—especially given the bullying online.

“Tech and Internet” Themes (and Reactions)

• The reviewer criticizes the film’s depiction of internet behavior, arguing it’s “not safe for children” because it’s easy to message strangers and even dox people. They clarify this isn’t the movie’s fault so much as it reflecting a real-world danger.
• They praise the movie’s nuance: it shows negative effects like addiction, cyberbullying, and doom-scrolling, while also portraying tech as a way to connect with people you wouldn’t meet otherwise—without villainizing tech itself.
• They also describe Jessie learning to “stop being racist to technology,” treating it like a real character arc rather than a throwaway bit.

Overall Evaluation & Comparisons

• Rating: The reviewer gives Toy Story 5 an 8/10 (with a comparison to “Hoppers” for context—another recent title mentioned).
• Why it doesn’t feel “final” like earlier entries: The ending avoids the massive emotional curtain call feeling. Instead, the reviewer says it ends chill, without a cliffhanger—making it feel more authentic.
• Series parallel argument (Ace Attorney analogy): They compare the situation to Ace Attorney, where beloved earlier endings were followed by later entries that went in more controversial directions. Their point is that Toy Story 5 continues the saga without just repeating or fully undoing the best parts of earlier films.

Notable Final Remarks

• The reviewer wouldn’t mind Toy Story 6, proposing a “full Bonnie trilogy” idea as a natural continuation after the Andy trilogy.
• They close with broader recommendations (including anime On-Gaku and a plug for a Nebula series), but the core recap stays focused on the positive case for Toy Story 5—especially around Jessie, a strong Buzz subplot, and a fresh emotional payoff without over-ending the franchise.

Appearing Personalities (as referenced)

• Jessie
• Woody
• Buzz Lightyear
• Conan O’Brien (as a described “potty-training toy” character)
• Lily Pad (antagonist)
• Bonnie
• (Also referenced: Zurg; and “Hoppers” as a comparison title)