Lightyear - 2022

Movie Info

Rating: PG

Age-appropriateness: moderate action and violence, affirming of same-sex relationships

Overview: While spending years attempting to return home, marooned Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear encounters an army of ruthless robots commanded by Zurg who are attempting to steal his fuel source.

Themes: failure, confidence, pride, teamwork, perseverance, death/grieving, work ethic, isolation, problem solving, time

The Quick 3

Ask these quick questions to hit the major themes of the film.

1. Mistakes/Failure. What failures have been sticking with you? What’s preventing you from overcoming those failures?

Buzz made a mistake which led to his entire research crew of space rangers and scientists to be stranded on a foreign planet. Buzz re-lived his mistake many times, wanting to correct his failure. His attempts to make things right led to even more failures.

2. Discipleship. When have you had a great mentor pouring into you? What does the process of discipleship look like for you in this season of life?

Buzz didn’t always like working on a team. He didn’t like spending his time training younger space rangers. He would rather go at things alone. He eventually learns that he cannot accomplish incredible things without the help of others. The Bible explains that the process of discipleship is growing to be more like Jesus. And discipleship often takes place when a mentor helps trains someone who is newer to the faith.

3. Teamwork. Do you think it's possible for one person to lead an entire church by themselves? Why does the church require so many different types of leaders?

Mo has an understanding of technological systems. Hawthorne comes up with creative solutions to problems. Darby is resourceful. They work together to use their gifts to achieve things they’d never be able to accomplish on their own. Hawthorne tells Buzz, “you don’t need to save us, you need to join us.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ."

After The Movie Discussion Guide

Follow this 5-10 minute discussion guide to drive an in-depth conversation.

1. Parent note: For further context and explanation of the film's same-sex relationship between Alisha and Kiko, check out this movie review by Focus on the Family's Plugged In.

2. Buzz Lightyear experience “time dilation”, in which Buzz experienced time travel. He was only gone on his ship for four minutes, and all of his friends aged four years. Would you ever want to time travel? What are some things you would do if you were able to travel through time?

3. Buzz made a mistake which led to his entire research crew of space rangers and scientists to be stranded on a foreign planet. Buzz re-lived his mistake many times, wanting to correct his failure. His attempts to make things right led to even more failures. What failures have been sticking with you? What’s preventing you from overcoming those failures?

4. In order to achieve his mission, Buzz had to show tremendous perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to get through difficult tasks. Buzz never gave up on his mission, no matter what. What are some tasks you've recently done that required perseverance? What makes perseverance so difficult sometimes?

5. Buzz Lightyear would say, “I’m Buzz Lightyear, I’m always sure.” He was extremely confident in his own abilities, even to the point of being prideful at times. Pride is feeling that you are the best and most important. Old Buzz represented a version of Buzz that needed to win (complete the mission) at all costs. When have you been over-confident in your abilities? Why is pride such a dangerous thing?

6. Buzz didn’t always like working on a team. He didn’t like spending his time training younger space rangers. He would rather go at things alone. He eventually learns that he cannot accomplish incredible things without the help of others. The Bible explains that the process of discipleship is growing to be more like Jesus. And discipleship often takes place when a mentor helps trains someone who is newer to the faith. When have you had a great mentor pouring into you? What does the process of discipleship look like for you in this season of life?

7. Izzy felt the pressure of needing to be as good as her grandma. She thought that meant she could never make a mistake. In reality, we all make mistakes and failing is just a part of the learning process. Do you ever feel like you cannot make mistakes? What makes you feel this way?

Minute By Minute Guide

Use this break down of the entire movie in addition to the “After the Movie” discussion guide. Great for repeat viewings.

:04 Buzz was reluctant to take a rookie along on his mission. He would much rather complete the mission on his own and doesn’t want to be bothered by training others. Discipleship is the process of growing to be more like Jesus, and it often involves a mentor training someone younger in the faith. Who is someone who has been a mentor to you? Who are some younger people that you could train and develop?

:15 After failing to get his ship to hyper-speed, Buzz found himself in a tricky situation. Buzz failed and had to figure out a way to creatively solve the problem. When have you found yourself in a tricky situation? Were you able to creatively find a solution?

:23 During all of Buzz’s missions, Alisha grew really old and eventually passed away. She talked about how much she missed her friend while he was out on space missions. How do you think Buzz feels in this moment? Do you think he should've kept time traveling, knowing that he'd miss out on Alisha's life?

Here's an article about How to Talk to Your Kids About Death/Grieving.

:32 After decades of trying, Buzz finally achieved hyper-speed. Buzz set a goal and worked hard to achieve it. What’s a long-term goal that you worked really hard to achieve? If you were able to achieve it, how did you feel at the end of all of your efforts?

:42 Buzz meets the Junior Patrol, who work as a team to save Buzz from a Zurg robot. Even though they were rookies, Izzy and her friends defeated the robot and helped Buzz. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” Do you ever feel like there's anything you can't do? Who has looked down on you because you were younger than them?

:56 Mo has an understanding of technological systems. Hawthorne comes up with creative solutions to problems. Darby is resourceful. They work together to use their gifts to achieve things they’d never be able to accomplish on their own. Hawthorne tells Buzz, “you don’t need to save us, you need to join us.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ." Do you think it's possible for one person to lead an entire church by themselves? Why does the church require so many different types of leaders?

:59 Buzz expresses vulnerability of how he struggled in his first days as a Space Ranger. He says he’s so thankful for Izzy’s grandma, who believed in and supported him. Vulnerability is sharing openly and honestly with someone knowing you are risking being hurt. Who are some people in your life that you can be vulnerable with? What makes vulnerability scary?

1:09 Izzy makes a mistake, leading to Zurg’s robots obtaining their ship’s fuel cell. As a result, Buzz decides he needs to be by himself. This leads to Zurg capturing him. Do you think Buzz reacted the right way to Izzy’s mistake? What could he have done instead?

1:16 Old Buzz wants to erase the past in order to fulfill his mission. Old Buzz was willing to eliminate Alisha’s family saying, “she won’t miss them if she never meets them.” Do you agree with Old Buzz in this moment? How do you think he came to be this way?

1:30 Buzz gave up his crystal and his mission in order to save his friends. He sacrificed his own desires in order to help Izzy and the Junior Patrol. Jesus laid down his own life in order to save everyone in the entire world from their sins. Jesus cared more about others than He cared about Himself. Because of Jesus, we have been saved and rescued from something we could've never escaped ourselves. Why do you think Jesus was willing to die for you? Did you realize that - because of Jesus - you can now be with God forever