Toy Story 5

Toy Story 5; How many Toy Storys are too many? Turns out 5. Coasting on nostalgia & introducing new characters that don’t have the likability of previous films, the formula is tired & no longer inspired. Franchise has been lifted by sum total of toys, but there’s little for most toys to do here; B-

Hoppers

Hoppers; Story, message and entertainment blend in the same Pixar manner we’ve cherished for three decades now. The 30th film comes in just below the studio’s legacy best, but right on par with some of its greatest hits. Fun and silly while still grounded in emotional reality, it’s pure enjoyment; A
 

Elio

Elio; Seemingly less ambitious than Pixar’s previous films, while still striving to push animation into realms only existing in our imagination. Story is sweet and possibly tear inducing, with an affirming message but lacks the start to finish quality that classic Pixar films had in its prime; B+

Cars 2

Cars 2; Setting the Cars characters in a James Bond/M:I spy genre is an inspired choice. Too bad Mater’s stupid schtick is the driving force of the film, as his annoying dumbness is infuriating to watch. Some good jokes, some great animation but the clueless guy mistaken for suave spy falls flat; C+

Lightyear

Lightyear; Fine animation with several nods to space adventures past and present. Never cared for the character much and this doesn’t change anything but there’s mild fun to be had and a few great action moments. Missed seeing the usual Pixar short film beforehand; B

Luca

Luca; A literal fish out of water story with a lot of charm and sweetness. Pixar’s dedication to all the details makes this a vibrant piece of storytelling with likeable characters. Though not quite upper echelon Pixar, Luca is a quality addition to the Pixar library; A-

The Good Dinosaur

The Good Dinosaur; If you saw trailer, you've seen the movie. No surprises. Nothing new. Telegraphed start to finish. Shame on you, Pixar; C

Brave

Brave; Pixar's fall continues as movie isn't more than quaint. Gorgeous Scottish setting plays host to slapstick story w/o emotional heft; B