Lightyear (2022)

Directed by Angus MacLane, and starring Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear with Keke Palmer, Lightyear is a triumphant Toy Story spin-off.

Buzz Lightyear is a seasoned space ranger tasked with exploring outer space with his best friend and partner Alisha Hawthorne. Self-reliant to a fault, Buzz consistently prefers his iconic, “I-can-do-it!” monologuing to the advice of his own team and autopilot system I.V.A.N. However, when this very bravado causes Buzz to make a disastrous miscalculation while trying to escape a hostile planet, he’s burdened with the unbearable shame of failing the mission. To make matters worse, the entire crew is stranded light years away from home. Buzz begins working on a risky escape attempt into hyperspace, but it produces galactic consequences even he couldn’t anticipate.

Lightyear is a showcase of every technique Pixar has picked up since Toy Story – this time in a shiny, sci-fi varnish. Everything’s here: tear-jerking time-lapses à la Up, exhilarating action sequences, gasp-inducing moments of suspense, a charming score by the maestro Michael Giacchino, and a genuinely shocking plot twist. The animation is also jaw-dropping from beginning to end; Lightyear’s sleek animation bears a satisfying resemblance to the over-the-top futuristic visuals of the 90s, and it cleverly incorporates corny special effects that were typical of the genre’s pioneers. All of this, combined with the whimsical characters and familiar tropes, lends credence to the premise that Lightyear was Andy’s favorite sci-fi flick that made him get the Buzz toy in the first place, decades ago. Voice talent in Lightyear is incredible as well: Chris Evans gives Buzz the charisma of a natural leader. He emulates the confidence that Tim Allen brought to the character, but drops the silly gravitas that defined Buzz in Toy Story as a toy that comically thinks he’s an intergalactic hero; with Evans’ rendition, Buzz truly is one. The supporting cast provides emotion and well-timed comedic relief when necessary, but Evans remains the standout. My only criticism of Lightyear is that at times it leans too heavily into the tried-and-tested Pixar tropes, leading to predictability where it could have been more creative. I really wanted to fit a “to infinity and beyond” pun somewhere in this review, but sometimes, as Buzz learns over the course of the film, it’s okay to admit we can’t do it.