Lightyear Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

Downs...

4. The Disappointingly Generic Script

Far and away Lightyear's biggest weakness is its script, which for a spin-off from Pixar's most beloved franchise feels shockingly run-of-the-mill, even flat-out generic at times.

This is for the most part an over-familiar sci-fi adventure that borrows liberally from so many superior genre entries - perhaps most surprisingly of all, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar - without offering much of its own creative spin.

Almost everything about the story and characters is laid out in highly matter-of-fact terms. With the foreshadowing being brightly neon-signposted for the most part, there are very few instances in this film where audiences - adult ones, anyway - are likely to be surprised.

Though the first act is certainly promising, the second reel feels massively padded out with filler, ahead of a third that's just totally lacking in ambition and imagination.

Even with its likeable characters and oft-entertaining fan service, Lightyear's script isn't nearly as charming as you'd expect.