Lightyear
3.5 out of 5 Stars
Director: Angus MacLane
Writers: Angus MacLane, Matthew Aldrich, Jason Headley
Starring: Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Rated: PG for action/peril

LIGHTYEAR, slated to open in theaters on June 17, 2022, is a sci-fi action-adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans)—the hero who inspired the toy. The film reveals how a young test pilot became the Space Ranger that we all know him to be today. © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) – Synopsis: Having failed to save the day, Buzz Lightyear searches for a way to return him and the crew of his stranded spacecraft back to Earth.

MAKING SPACE – In Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear,” Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) and Alisha Hawthorne (voice of Uzo Aduba)—his long-time commander, fellow Space Ranger and trusted friend—are marooned on a hostile planet. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Review: When I was a little boy, I saw a film called “Star Wars.” That film inspired me to own a dozen or so action figures from the movie. I spent an uncountable number of hours dreaming up adventures in my mother’s planter boxes. They were friends that lived a thousand lives in my head. I loved them until the paint wore off and then I loved them more.

TO INFINITY -- Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” is an all-new, original feature film that presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans)—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger and his dutiful robot companion, Sox (voice of Peter Sohn). Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

So, when I saw “Toy Story” in 1995, a film about a little boy and the shared relationship he had with his toys, I immediately recognized myself. Andy was me. I was Andy.

To say that I love the Toy Story franchise would be an understatement. It still feels like a part me of is woven within the digital coding. I’m part of the texture of the walls, the name written across Woody’s boot.

SCI-FI ACTION ADVENTURE – The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. Also featuring the voices of Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Keke Palmer, Efren Ramirez, Peter Sohn, Dale Soules, Taika Waititi and Isiah Whitlock Jr., Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” releases June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

When I sat down to watch “Lightyear” I was expecting, as Chris Evans said in 2020, a “origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.” I translated that into an animated film that paid tribute to astronauts. It wouldn’t be directly about Buzz Aldrin or Neil Armstrong. Just an approximation of their impact on the world.

That’s not what “Lightyear” is. “Lightyear” is the movie that Andy watched and was inspired, like I was, to take a movie character’s toy and build his own universe of around it. “Lightyear” is Andy’s “Star Wars.”

TEAMING UP – In Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear,” Izzy Hawthorne (voice of Keke Palmer), the eager leader of a team of cadets called the Junior Zap Patrol, teams up with Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans) and his dutiful robot companion, Sox (voice of Peter Sohn), on a mission to figure out exactly what—or who—is behind a mysterious alien spaceship hovering above their planet. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

This is by no means a disappointment. It just means that “Lightyear” is more traditional, albeit animated, sci-fi adventure that features a Buzz Lightyear Lightyear’s design is slightly different, and Chris Evans is supplying the voice, but outside of a little humility and self-doubt, it’s the character we’ve come to know and love for nearly 30 years.

HERO’S BEST FRIEND -- Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” is an all-new, original feature film that presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans)—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans. But Buzz can’t do it alone—he shares space with a dutiful robot companion cat called Sox. A hidden grab bag of gizmos in a cute kitty package, Sox is Buzz’s go-to friend and sidekick. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure releases on June 17, 2022. © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

The story, however, is not set in a familiar world. On mission into deep space, Space Command’s Buzz Lightyear and Alisha Hawthrone (Uzo Aduba) find themselves and the crew of their spacecraft marooned on a hostile planet with no way to get home. Lightyear blames himself and his hubris for the situation and devotes himself to finding a way to return everyone to their families on Earth.

HERO’S BEST FRIEND -- Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” is an all-new, original feature film that presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans)—the hero who inspired the toy—following the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. But Buzz can’t do it alone—he shares space with a dutiful robot companion cat called Sox (voice of Peter Sohn). A hidden grab bag of gizmos in a cute kitty package, Sox is Buzz’s go-to friend and sidekick. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure releases on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Fortunately for Lightyear, the crew of the fallen ship included some of the brightest minds that science has to offer. With a little ingenuity, getting home isn’t entirely unrealistic.

Or is it?

Releasing June 17, 2022, Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” is an all-new, original feature film that presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans. Featuring the voice of Chris Evans as Buzz, the sci-fi action-adventure is directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”). © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Hope can be a demoralizing thing. Knowing this, Alisha gifts Buzz an animatronic cat named Sox. Sox (voiced by Peter Sohn) is a stroke of marketing genius. He’s Pixar’s Grogu (Baby Yoda). I desperately want a Sox. Why didn’t Andy have a Sox? Were they sold out? I bet they were sold out.

ALISHA? – In Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear,” Buzz (voice of Chris Evans) returns to the planet he’s been marooned on for decades after a monumental test flight. But things have changed while he was away. When he runs into Izzy Hawthorne (voice of Keke Palmer), he mistakes her for her grandmother Alisha—Buzz’s best friend and commander. Peter Sohn lends his voice to Buzz’s dutiful robot companion, Sox. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure opens in U.S. theaters on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Anyway, following some science stuff, Zurg (James Brolin) and his robot army show up and make a bad situation even worse. This forces Buzz to team up with a group of castoffs that include Alisha’s daughter Izzy (Keke Palmer), Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi) and Darby (Dale Soules) to liberate the planet. And then, maybe, Buzz can go back to worrying about intergalactic space travel.

Incidentally, Darby, a grandmother with an extensive criminal history, is the second cutest thing in “Lightyear.”

AND BEYOND -- Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” is an all-new, original feature film that presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans)—the hero who inspired the toy—introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure releases on June 17, 2022. © 2021 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

“Lightyear” is unnecessary, but it isn’t the cash grab that some might suggest it is. There’s plenty of entertainment to be found in the narrative and a handful of emotional beats that remind you that this is a Pixar film. Instant classic? No, but I wouldn’t turn down a sequel or an affirmation seminar by Sox.