Lightyear Movie Review Flawed But Fun The Nerd Stash

Pixar has ventured into the world of monsters, the human mind, and a bedroom full of living toys. Now, they’re is venturing into outer space with one of their most action-packed outings to date. Buzz Lightyear is back – but not in the way you know him. This is the ‘real’ Buzz starring in the movie that inspired Toy Story‘s Andy to get the tie-in toy. And, honestly, watching it is enough to see why. It’s time to review Pixar’s sci-fi movie blockbuster, Lightyear.

What’s the Buzz All About?

Of course, if this really is the movie Andy sees as a kid in 1995, it raises eyebrows. For example, it confirms that the movies in the Toy Story universe were miles ahead in CGI compared to ours in 1995. The animation in Lightyear is sublime. The characters aren’t as cartoony as Pixar’s other features – the exaggerated monstrosities of Monsters. Inc. or the stereotypical superheroes of The Incredibles – with the studio opting for a slightly more realistic look. And yet, their expressions are artfully depicted and help enhance the movie’s visual gags as well as the dramatic scenes.

And the animation doesn’t disappoint in the action, either. Lightyear is a science-fiction action-adventure movie that has our good hero rocketing through time and taking on the villainous Zurg. As such, it’s a relief Pixar spared no expense with the explosions, Buzz and pals slamming against walls, and the thrust of the spacecraft. Reviewing their output for the last few years, Lightyear is Pixar’s most action-heavy movie for some time – and it’s truly amazing to see how far the studio has come since the first Toy Story. To infinity and beyond, indeed.

The sounds you hear accompanying the action is also top-notch. Michael Giacchino’s score possesses an intense, adult feel that’s unusual for a kid-friendly Pixar movie. And yet, it fits the visuals since the color palette is noticeably more subdued than Pixar’s previous efforts. After all, the movie spends most of its time either in space or in barren, alien environments. Even Buzz’s spacesuit is less flashy than his toy counterpart in Toy Story, its colors duller to accommodate the film’s relatively realistic tone. While adults may not care, one wonders whether Pixar’s decision to go down this route may off-put some kids, especially those with short attention spans.

Bye Tim Allen, Hello Chris Evans

It’s no secret the internet was initially ‘abuzz’ (sorry) with debate over whether it was right to replace Tim Allen with Chris Evans. However, whatever side you sit on this argument, there’s no denying Evans nails the role of Buzz Lightyear. Indeed, Evans went on record to say he respects Tim Allen’s beloved performance and that he based his a little on the Home Improvement actor’s style. Suffice to say, this is evident in Evan’s Buzz, as the character still retains traces of Allen’s stereotypically heroic Toy Buzz. However, Evans’ superior talent in playing dramatic roles aids him greatly during the film’s more emotive scenes.

It’s a shame, however, that Buzz Lightyear himself is boring. The first act establishes that Buzz is best friends with Alisha Hawthorne, his commanding officer. But Hawthorne, played by Uzo Aduba, only appears during the first quarter of the film before the time skips kill her off. The movie entices us to feel sorry for Buzz and his lost comrade, but their friendship never feels developed enough to make us care. As for Buzz’s backstory, we never learn much about our hero, although he tells her grandchild, Izzy (Keke Palmer), that he was once a terrible cadet and he only got where he was thanks to Alisha giving him a chance.

But it’s not only Buzz who suffers from being uninteresting. Where dramatic backstories are concerned, Lightyear disappoints as a movie entirely. Izzy’s arc involves her getting over her fear of space (a nice irony since her grandma was a space ranger). However, the rest of her arc is about her living up to her grandma’s reputation. Izzy is a likable character, both witty and charming, owing much to Keke Palmer’s performance. But she deserves a better story. Although the movie’s co-lead, she ends up being overshadowed by the additional comic relief characters.

Pixar Comedy

Taika Waititi seems to be everywhere currently. Well, he’s here in Lightyear, playing the movie’s comic relief alongside Dale Soles. The pair play Mo Morrison and Darby Steel respectively, who offer many of the movie’s laughs. Waititi’s naïve aging recruit act as the perfect foil for Sole’s elderly paroled convict. There is no emotional depth to either character, but you’ll get a good laugh watching Mo fail to use his spacesuit and Darby being insanely reckless.

But where comedy is concerned, the biggest props go to Peter Sohn as Sox, Buzz’s robot-cat. The cat is armed with many hidden features – including a secret sleeping dart maneuver – and is a vital source of info for the titular hero. His funny moments really kick in when the animal is in danger and – although able to feel emotion – cannot express it in any manner except his robotic, deadpan voice.

It’s a good thing the comedy succeeds because it helps elevate the movie through some otherwise bad decisions. The plot twists, for example, just don’t feel very impactive. And Zurg, while badass in look, never truly feels very threatening as a villain. For these reasons, the movie plays things safe, as though they’re saving the better stuff for the sequel.

To Infinity and Beyond

When all’s said and done, however, Lightyear isn’t a bad film. In fact, there are moments when it’s brilliant. Again, the action scenes carry a great deal of weight and intensity. And seeing Pixar tackle a relatively grounded science-fiction universe is novel, while the script’s implementation of science fiction tropes (such as time dilution and Einstein’s general theory of relativity) is sure to impress science geeks.

What this leaves us with is a flawed but ultimately fun, family-friendly film. It isn’t going to dethrone Toy Story at all, but it serves as a decent sci-fi flick in its own right. The movie’s climax hints at a sequel – and one hopes Pixar learns from the downsides of this one to ensure good old Buzz Lightyear gets the epic he truly deserves.

Verdict: In review, Lightyear is a fun, family-friendly sci-fi movie. It’s flawed, sure – but its dazzling visuals and talented cast elevate its middling material to a worthwhile watch.

But that’s just our take. How would you review Pixar’s new Lightyear movie? Did you enjoy it or not?