'Toy Story 5': 3 Christian reactions to film's warning about kids using tech

1. Plugged In

Writing for Focus on the Family’s entertainment review source, Plugged In, Emily Tsiao praised the film for highlighting how excessive screen time can have "devastating" consequences when left unchecked.

“It’s about balance, the film seems to say. Tech is great for a lot of things, but it’s not the be-all and end-all — certainly not for friendship. So use your devices when it makes sense, like setting up a playdate,” Tsiao wrote.

“But once playtime begins, screen time should end. And kids should be left, not to their own devices, but to their own imaginations,” she added. 

In “Toy Story 5,” Bonnie is seen struggling to make friends because she still plays with real toys instead of a device. Bonnie eventually receives a tablet called Lilypad (Lily for short), which helps her connect with other children.

As the story progresses, however, Tsiao notes that the movie shows Bonnie becoming glued to her tablet and having a harder time engaging in social interactions that don’t involve a screen. 

At one point in the film, Bonnie is bullied by other children in a group chat, which hurts her feelings and causes her to withdraw. 

“More and more, Bonnie starts to feel like she doesn’t belong. She abandons her traditional toys and retreats into her tablet. But it doesn’t fulfill her. The games she plays engage her eyeballs, but not her heart,” Tsiao wrote in her review. 

Despite showing the side effects of excessive screen time, the movie reveals that Lily actually cares about Bonnie. The tablet character and the other toys work together to help Bonnie find a genuine friend. 

“By finding balance between screen time and playtime, between devices and toys, Bonnie eventually does make a friend — someone who she doesn’t have to change her personality or playtime habits for, someone who likes Bonnie just the way she is,” Tsiao wrote in her review. 

“And as a result, Bonnie’s toys do not get abandoned, and neither does Lily,” she continued. “They all find a way to work together toward Bonnie’s happiness (and developmental goals) in harmony.”

While the Plugged In review of “Toy Story 5” was mostly positive, Tsiao warned that there are many toilet-humor jokes and near-uses of explicit language. Tsiao also felt that the children’s playtime in the film can be a bit silly and perhaps suggestive to some parents, particularly those who are sensitive about Disney’s past LGBT controversies. 

“Those moments will be largely navigable for many families, though I would understand if parents felt that it just wasn’t worth the hassle,” Tsiao added. “After all, the original ‘Toy Story’ wasn’t nearly so edgy. Still, for fans of the franchise, this film will likely feel resonant and poignant, especially in today’s tech-saturated landscape. It’s funny and heartfelt.”

“And if you’re anything like me, you might even find yourself trying to explain to your 10-year-old nephew why you’re crying happy tears as the film’s credits roll,” she added.