Lightyear Fails To Go Beyond Lightweight Fun

Ever wonder how the hero of Star Command got his start? I mean there’s the animated series from the ’00s which had also had a prologue movie of its own, but I digress. Disney (Pixar), not content to have two lucrative space opera franchises under its belt, saw fit to modernize one of Toy Story’s most popular characters for the roaring 2020s.

So, strap on a jet pack and prepare to find out what lies beyond infinity as I discuss Lightyear.

Lightyear tells the story of young astronaut Buzz Lightyear, who, after being marooned on a hostile planet with his commander and crew, tries to find a way back home while confronting a threat to the universe’s safety.

As usual this will be spoiler free, but I will start with a cast that I am allowed to discuss; Chris Evans as the titular hero gives a much more grounded performance than his predecessors, while carrying the same sternness that has become synonymous with the character.

Taika Watiti and Dale Soules serve as great comic relief in their respective roles of Mo and Darby. Uzo Adobu shows off some excellent voiceover talent as Buzz’s commanding officer Alisha Hawthorne, as does Keke Palmer as her granddaughter Izzy.

Visuals are what you expect from this studio — a nice contrast of bright lights and dark tones that suit the moods of each scene. And the reimagining of designs was brilliant. I never imagined seeing Emperor Zurg as a threat, but this movie managed to do it. There were also many easter eggs that were callbacks to other intergalactic warfare IPs, such as Mobile Suit Gundam (yeah, I was surprised too.)

The score is also of the Pixar pedigree, going for music that one would associate with movies like Apollo 13.

But the nagging question that wouldn’t leave my mind, was this necessary?

Yeah, it was fun to watch, and it was all in all a very well put together production, but it felt more like an ’80s cartoon; by which I mean this was meant to sell toys. This may just be the cynical 40 something in me talking, but this feels more devoid of substance than all of the Cars (minus part 3) put together. It’s not a bad film, it just left me … whelmed.

Which in some ways is a fate worse than a low review score.

I give Lightyear (Pixar; PG; 1hr 40mins) a 3 out of 5.