Lightyear (2022)

Here's a movie banned in China for one (1) same-sex kiss between two consenting married adults.  Who are animated.  Another one for the Lucy-is-Too-Late files!  We have got to stop using the box office as a metric for success because on paper, this under-performed, which means we're probably not getting a sequel.  It doesn't necessarily need a sequel but it would be a shame if the concept was trashed because people aren't going to theaters.

Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans) takes being a Space Ranger very seriously.  So seriously that he refuses to ask for help, inadvertently stranding his entire research vessel on a hostile planet.  Desperate to make up for his mistake, Buzz volunteers to test a new fuel, attempting to reach hyperspace.  But due to time dilation he loses four years on the planet every time he goes up, even though it only feels like four minutes to him.  He is a man outside of time, watching as the people he knew as peers grow old, marry, have children, and generally live life.  When the new commander (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) cancels the program for lack of interest, Buzz snaps, steals a ship, and with the help of his robotic cat, Sox (Peter Sohn), makes one last attempt to crack the fuel formula.  It works, but now there's a new problem.  Buzz is far enough into the future that evil robots are attacking the planet and the only people available are the Colonial Defense Forces:  a weekend warrior named Mo (Taika Watiti), a parolee (Dale Soules), and the granddaughter of Buzz's best friend, Izzy (Keke Palmer), who is afraid of space.  They have no training and no concept of teamwork, but they've got heart.

The movie opens by saying that it is the film Andy from Toy Story watched that inspired him to want a toy based on the main character.  I am not an expert in Toy Story lore and my eyes glazed over trying to read about it on Wikipedia so I'm just going to take it at face value.  Lightyear is a "real" movie that a "real" child saw and liked enough to want a "toy" that had it's own real four-movie saga, and at least 2(?) spin-off TV shows.

The animation is completely stunning.  And best of all, it looks like animation, not creepy photo-realistic uncanny valley human mimicry.  Buzz Lightyear the "human actor" looks like Buzz Lightyear the toy and not like Chris Evans.  I feel like a snake eating my own tail typing all this out.

Anyway, the point of the story is that sometimes you need help and also you can't just sit on the sidelines of life.  It's super cute and there's a cat.  10/10.  Go watch it on Disney+.