10 Reasons Why Lightyear Failed
8. The Story Was Too Generic For Adults, Too Confusing For Kids
One of the most common complaints about Lightyear from the moment its first trailer dropped was, "Who is this for?"
While the obvious answer might be Toy Story fans, the marketing largely underplayed its status as a spin-off, focusing instead on the gritty sci-fi elements and then, in later trailers, the goofy comedy.
Yet the final film is an awkward stew of elements that don't quite cohere: the sci-fi adventure story is too formulaic and familiar to make much of an impression with older viewers, while the time dilation mechanics will simply be too complex for younger viewers to make sense of.
And so Lightyear ends up a film powered by a relatively flat, underwhelming story that's unlikely to leave many completely satisfied or fully emotionally invested.