Lightyear - Review

 

In 1995, a kid named Andy got a toy from his favorite movie. This is that movie. That’s what the opening title crawl for Pixar’s latest animated adventure “Lightyear” says, and honestly, whatever the technical wizards at Pixar need to say as an excuse to make a space film is fine by me. Given the extremely talented and creative people who work there, regardless of what the film is, it’s pretty much a guarantee that they’ll be putting their top efforts behind it.

“Lightyear” unfortunately isn’t the creative marvel that one might expect from the studio. It certainly isn’t a slouch either. Far from it, it still contains all the same whiz-bang visual delights, top tier voice acting, and excellent low-key comedy that the studio is known for. It just lacks in the more original, creative aspects.

The film’s first act is honestly its best. It’s the best paced, has the best characters and really builds Buzz up as the kind of character worth rooting for to both succeed and get the change his life clearly needs. It’s some really great stuff, and the latter two-thirds, while still fun, don’t really match up to the unexpected emotional investment.

That latter two-thirds are where the film’s creative ambitions fizzle out. It turns into a much more routine “teamwork” kind of family film, complete with wacky characters and speeches about the values of working together and asking for help. It’s still executed well, giving off the idea of a well-oiled machine. It’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but it also isn’t executed poorly either.

Chris Evans (“Knives Out,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) does a great job imbuing Buzz Lightyear with the same kind of gung-ho heroic archetype he played effortlessly as Captain America. It’s easy to see why Pixar chose him to voice this “original” Buzz, as he clearly checks all of the boxes of this 90s sci-fi action hero the film shows him to be. He’s just a lot of fun to hear have a lot of fun with the role.

Uzo Aduba (“Orange is the New Black,” “Steven Universe”) is a clear stand-out. It takes mere moments of hearing her and Buzz banter to fall in love with her character, Alisha Hawthorne. She easily matches Buzz’s overly eager heroism with a kind, softer demeanor, helping to build their friendship to an easily believable place. Also a stand out is Peter Sohn (“Ratatouille,” “Monsters University”) as Sox, Buzz’s personal therapy robot cat. Given how clearly marketable Sox is, it’s a testament to Sohn’s vocal performance that he really makes this metallic feline an instant scene-stealer. He’s extremely funny and just a huge delight.

Keke Palmer (“True Jackson, VP,” “Hustlers”) also excels as Alisha’s granddaughter Izzy Hawthorne. While more comedic than Aduba’s performance, Palmer still delivers her lines excellently, making Izzy a fun, eager to please addition to Buzz’s motley crew. Her emotional arc might be somewhat cliched, but it doesn’t make it any less effective by the film’s end. Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Our Flag Means Death”) and Dale Soules (“Orange is the New Black,” “The Miseducation of Cameron Post”) round out the supporting cast playing Mo and Darby, respectively. They’re clearly meant to be more comedic relief, and while they’re delivery is great, they aren’t so good as to elevate their characters from their two-dimensional origins.

Like each consecutive film from the studio, “Lightyear” puts the talents of Pixar’s digital wizards on full display. Not only is it impressive from a raw detail perspective, but the recreations of the styles of 90s science fiction films are delightful. The overly chunky design to the ships and suits, as well as details like forming hyper speed crystals from colorful goo, really help to build out the world of this space adventure.

For those who are able, thought, the film absolutely must be seen in IMAX. Not often does a film really truly justify the additional price, but “Lightyear” is the first animated film ever made to the format’s specifications and it’s incredible. The vast space sequences and visual splendors open up and dance across your eyeballs with visual splendor. It’s a sight to behold.

It’s unfortunate that, despite the beautiful visuals and committed voice cast, the film isn’t more creatively ambitious. That’s not to say its plot is bad, far from it. Writer/director Angus MacLane (“Finding Dory,” “Toy Story of Terror!”) and his co-writers Jason Headley (“Onward”) and Matthew Aldrich (“Coco,” “Spinning Man”) do a good job fleshing out the world and characters of this adventure. It’s the emotional arcs, such a staple of Pixar’s work, that feel stuck in the past. They’re fairly routine and while still admirable, it is fun to see a movie seemingly fueled by nostalgia bring up being obsessed with the past as a negative trait, it’s not really anything that hasn’t been seen before.

“Lightyear” is, like its archetypal titular hero, a well-oiled machine. It’s a visual delight and provides a fun science fiction adventure from start to finish, with a committed voice cast and a studio that clearly wants to pay tribute to the genre. Its almost unfortunate that it bears Pixar’s name, as the film’s emotional arcs and overall plot don’t live up to the studio’s creative highs. This is still a thoroughly enjoyable adventure for all ages, and one that’s sure to be enjoyed on a big screen. 4/5