‘Lightyear’ Film Review: The Pleasures of Pixar’s Spin-Off Are Far Too Finite

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Pizza Planet? What about a jokey reference to the “Woody’s Roundup” TV show for viewers the age of Andy’s mom? And let’s face it: as admirable as it is that Pixar has created an LGBTQ character that can’t easily be dubbed over in foreign markets (the ones that demand that sort of thing will certainly find a way), there was no such thing as a mainstream studio kids’ movie of 1995 — not even an adult-aimed studio movie — progressive enough to pair a white male protagonist with a Black lesbian confidante.The most 1995 aspect of “Lightyear” comes from Evans’ performance, but only if you imagine he’s intentionally impersonating George Clooney for the entire movie; that’s how it sounds, anyway.

The laughs generally come from Sohn, Aduba and Taika Waititi as an inexperienced member of the Space Ranger reserves who gets pressed into service. (And even that latter character gets saddled with a set-up/payoff gag that’s so blatantly telegraphed that it should have been rewritten.)To its credit, “Lightyear” has visual pizzazz, from the hyperspace sequences to the heretofore hidden surprises that emerge from those colorful buttons and dials on the Space Ranger uniforms.

Ultimately, however, this film gives the world a new reason not to see a movie: “No thanks, I read the book” is now “No thanks, I played with the toy.”“Lightyear” opens in US theaters June 17..