Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the entire Toy Story crew are back in theaters this summer with a new story — and given the last debacle that left both parents and children in shock, with an on-screen kiss between two male characters — Catholic moms and dad are fretting over what might be in store with this new installment.

The first movie showcased so well the true, active mind of a child: an imagination that brought life and character to every inanimate toy, playing out full scenes, complete with narration and a good denouement to boot! As a mom of a 6-year-old, I see Andy’s imaginative playtime as a perfect depiction of almost every Saturday morning in my own household.

On the LGBT front, parents can rest assured that this newest edition doesn’t promote any woke ideologies like the last, but it does tackle the tough subject of technology head-on. The main character, Bonnie, receives a smart tablet as her new toy, leaving her dear old friends eagerly waiting with bated breath for the next adventure while she stares blankly at a screen.

The usual gang from the original Toy Story franchise is back, but with a twist: Jessie becomes the primary toy, while Woody sits forgotten in the closet. And the entire crew must band together to save Bonnie from the grip of her newfound friend, Lilypad, who is consuming all of Bonnie’s time and opening up another world, a digital one, with all of its potential dangers. 

Here are five things to know about the plot (no real spoilers here!) and its core message before you head out to your local movie theater:

1. The message is accessible — and it works!

The idea that technology isolates us from real-world relationships comes through clearly, even to the youngest minds. A colleague shared with me that after seeing the film on Father’s Day, his 7-year-old daughter scolded him for being on his phone. She completely understood the film’s premise: There are far better things to be doing with our loved ones than mindlessly scrolling alone.

2. The film steers clear of woke ideology.

Unlike the Lightyear disaster that left some theaters censoring a scene, this newest edition does not promote the LGBT agenda. This comes as a welcome relief to the many millennial parents who hold fond memories of seeing the original movies when they themselves were kids and teenagers.

3. The movie portrays tech as ‘caring’ — which is a bit concerning.

At one point, the tablet character, Lilypad, decides to pack up because she understands the harm she is causing her young owner. While this makes for a touching plot point, it is a far cry from reality. In the real world, the name of the game for Big Tech is screen addiction. These corporations are not trying to self-regulate or limit a child’s interaction with their devices. Truly, tech is not your child’s friend.

4. Cyberbullying is explored and depicted.

During the course of the film, Bonnie begins receiving digital messages that are unkind, causing her to become visibly distressed and depressed, a major red flag, as parents are well aware. Although this is a realistic plot development reflecting what far too many children experience today, the depiction of bullying and its emotional fallout might be too intense for very young, impressionable minds.

5. Did Pope Leo reference the film this week?

A message from the Holy Father left Catholic author and podcaster Katie Prejean McGrady wondering if the Pope was subtly referencing the movie.

Speaking to children attending the annual Vatican Summer Youth Camp on June 22, Pope Leo shared a remarkably “Toy Story-coded” message:

“Even in the family: the family that is together, it is not enough that we are all there. Each, they look at his phone. It is very important to learn to talk, to converse, to find each other well with others, to play together, and also to pray together, because even if we can have the Bible and some prayers in the phone, God doesn’t want to look at the phone: God wants to look at our hearts, our life. And therefore be free from these things that in themselves can be fun, a help, a nice thing, but it is much more important to develop our human being with friendship, with conversation …”

The Real-World Marketing Trap

Perhaps the most concerning news about the film is its real-world marketing strategy. Currently sitting on store shelves nationwide is a physical “Lilypad” device that parents can purchase for their children. Created by LeapFrog, the device is marketed to preschoolers between the ages of 3 and 5 and sells for less than $30 at Walmart.

Presented as a beginner device, the item description reads: “Stay connected with Jessie, Buzz, Woody and the Tech Trio by texting them using emojis and preset messages.”

With a real toy-tablet hybrid marketed to such young minds, it is clear that Big Tech may not care much about the real toys collecting dust on shelves. However, the film may still serve a vital purpose: Seeing the on-screen emotional distress caused by these devices might just make parents think twice before inviting a digital stranger into their child's bedroom — especially for children even younger than 8-year-old Bonnie.

With recent studies pointing to an abundance of “white matter” issues in young brains caused by excessive screen time (which Pope Leo references in his first encyclical), there is simply no good reason to buy a digital device for a child who is still learning how to speak, form sentences and navigate the physical world. It is a reality that makes the premise of this new movie hit incredibly close to home.

So if you do see the film, make sure to use it as an opportunity to discuss some of these extremely important topics related to navigating the internet and the digital world. But most importantly, don't forget the invitation Pope Leo gave to kids of all ages: 

Get off devices this summer, pick up some real toys, and head ... to infinity and beyond!