I still remember the first time I saw Toy Story and how I loved it. I thought it was really cute and loved the humor. Whether you’re an adult or a kid, it plays well and so well that there were several sequels after. Needless to say, it became a staple among parents and kids, but also anyone who wanted a little innocent fun. Buzz Lightyear is basically the film that the toy in the first film is based on. We get to watch the movie that started it all and lit Andy up with excitement. The Buzz in the film is younger and voiced by Chris Evans, but he dons the trademark suit. While he is supported by a lot of great characters, many of them come and go as the film takes place over a great span of time. I don’t want to give away too much, but it’s basically a story about how he is so determined to go home that he loses sense of all the reasons to stay. He learns so much about himself and is able to take a step back to see it; making the revelation something a little more than just a decision.
While it might be hard to talk about acting with voiced characters, it isn’t impossible. And I think that Chris Evans is definitely someone who can express so much with just his voice. Whether it’s because we have seen so much of him or because his voice is that expressive, you can almost see his expressions throughout the movie. And bonus points for the animation team for matching them to the film so well! I thought the supporting characters were ok, but they didn’t seem to connect like they were intended to. I didn’t feel they really connected to Buzz or even to each other. As a result, there is a scene that is meant to be emotionally wrecking (you’ll know it when you see it) and was reminiscent of another Pixar film, but it didn’t hit me as hard as the scene it paid homage to. I would have liked to feel more between the characters, so I could feel more with them. But, you spend the whole movie looking for it and it feels like a waste.
The animation looks great, though there could be people who will complain that it isn’t advanced as it could be. But, remember that the first film came out mid-nineties, and the movie Andy saw wouldn’t have been anything as advanced as the movies we have seen post-Matrix. I thought that it was very fitting for the time it took place in, especially considering it would have been geared towards kids. The palette and other mood manipulation facets weren’t really there. And I think that might contribute to a feeling of it falling flat. While there were varying palettes throughout the film, they weren’t mood-managing. They were just there for the story and to keep the characters alive. Again, it’s supposed to be a kid’s movie. So, it would be impossible to say it was a consideration or something that just got left off the table.
While the storyline is something we haven’t seen a lot of before, it feels fresh in comparison to other tropes and tellings we have seen in recent years. I did think it was a little weak to base an entire film on, but it did well. Perhaps it was just five degrees off from the target they were aiming for. Overall, I thought it was good. It wasn’t as bad as some movies I’ve seen (I’m looking at you, Joker) and it wasn’t hard to sit through. There are moments that make you laugh and it’s very cute. But, you can see that it’s market to children and it did a great job. Children don’t care about the emotional connection between characters or palettes in the film. They care about that robot cat and where they can get one. It’s great to watch with your kids or to just for some light entertainment, but don’t go in expecting too much. Go in hoping for a few laughs, maybe even go somewhere that serves wine to amplify the experience!
