To Infinity, But Not Quite Beyond: Why Lightyear Deserves a Second Look
Lightyear (2022)
Directed by Angus MacLane
Starring Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, and Taika Waititi
OK, let’s get this out of the way: I’m a Lightyear apologist. Before the film even started, these words appeared on the screen: “In 1995, a boy named Andy got a Buzz Lightyear toy for his birthday. It was from his favorite movie. This is that movie.” While some felt dread or disappointment from this reveal—which was mysteriously absent from the trailers or marketing—I was stoked. The concept was novel, and the film carried that novelty and interest throughout its brief 1 hour and 45-minute runtime. First-time feature filmmaker Angus MacLane took a risk, and for me, it paid off.
It’s always great to see success stories like MacLane’s: an animator-turned-lead animator who honed his craft over the years on projects like Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), and WALL·E (2008), only to be rightfully given a shot at directing a feature. Despite Lightyear‘s disappointing box office and critical reception, I hope MacLane gets another chance—he deserves it. The film’s bold, Twilight Zone-esque structure is heady and challenging, but its mix of humor and fun makes it accessible for all ages.
Chris Evans, of Captain America fame, does a solid job as the voice of Buzz Lightyear. He never resorts to being a mere pastiche of Tim Allen but subtly nods to the character’s long-established speech patterns. Joining Evans in this intergalactic adventure is Keke Palmer as Izzy. She’s just as effervescent here as she was in Nope (2022), though a bit less irreverent. Peter Sohn voices SOX, a robotic cat that injects much-needed humor into this surprisingly dark tale about age, purpose, and legacy. Rounding out the cast are Taika Waititi and Dale Soules, playing screw-ups that foil Buzz’s by-the-book demeanor.
The third act brings some major twists that genuinely caught me off guard, and I appreciated the restraint shown by both the marketing and the first two acts to preserve those surprises. Sometimes, though, films get bogged down by controversy, which can overshadow their craft and enjoyment. Sadly, that happened to Lightyear. The film was banned in several Muslim-majority countries over an innocuous same-sex kiss, and China requested that Disney cut the scene for distribution. Disney declined. These clickbait controversies likely contributed to lower domestic turnout from families who might’ve flocked to see “that space guy from Toy Story” but were deterred by an anti-“woke” resistance—not out of hatred, but more of a “don’t tell me what to think” attitude. Combined with the lack of international support most Pixar films receive, this fueled the “Lightyear is a flop” narrative, which only further hurt its box office performance.
But here’s the truth: Lightyear is a good film with excellent animation and voice acting. Now, you can catch it on Disney+, and afterward, you and your family might just wonder, “Why didn’t we see this in theaters?”
If the Toy Story films about toys range from A+ (Toy Story 3, I’m looking at you!) to B-, then this film, about the movie that inspired the toy, lands solidly at a B.