Review: Sorry, Pixar's 'Lightyear' Is a Buzzkill

This image released by Disney/Pixar shows character Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Chris Evans, in a scene from the animated film "Lightyear," releasing June 17. (Disney/Pixar via AP)

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By Associated Press

June 13, 2022 at 9:59 PM UTC

Updated on

June 14, 2022 at 3:56 PM UTC

(AP) -- “In 1995, Andy got a toy from his favorite movie. This is that movie.”

So begins “Lightyear,” a new Pixar release that takes a meta approach to the animation studio's flagship franchise. It isn't a prequel to “Toy Story," exactly, but instead presents the movie that inspired Buzz Lightyear toys in the first place. It's a potentially clever bit of reverse engineering by the Walt Disney Co., which, after decades of growing merchandizing out of its films, has reversed course. We aren't exactly through the looking glass, but we may be through the Happy Meal.