Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Despite title, edgy fantasy-fable isn't geared toward kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Toys
What's the Story?
TOYS is set in a surreal landscape where the amazing Zevo Toys factory stands isolated in endless, green, rolling hills. The dying president of the family-owned wind-up toy and novelty business thinks his man-child son Leslie (Robin Williams) isn't ready to head the company, and he instead wills it to his estranged brother Leland Zevo (Michael Gambon), a general in the US Army. Leland is far more interested in defense, munitions, and espionage than toys, and he soon has the whimsical factory filled with security troops, ID checks, and paranoia. A visit to a video-game parlor full of war-waging kids convinces the increasingly power-mad Gen. Zevo to secretly recalibrate the whole factory. Now it will create miniature, computerized toy-sized weapons (or deadly weapons disguised as playthings). Leslie and a small group of allies discover the conspiracy and try to stop it.
Is It Any Good?
On a visual-media level, Toys is breathtaking, a pastel- and primary-colored nursery-room world, with optical illusions and false-perspective shots borrowed from great surrealist painters. Even a shameless ad for MTV (Leslie and his crew fake the music-channel to fool guards) is so clever looking one almost doesn't mind. Almost. Sex gags, cussing, and the lack of child characters signify this is a more grownup toy story than Toy Story, but some teens might enjoy its vibe, visions, Robin Williams' energetic patter, and even the naivete of the politics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the anti-war, anti-weapons message of the film. Did it change any attitudes?
Discuss with kids the occasional controversies over "war toys" and whether fake guns and mortars are suitable as playthings.
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 18, 1992
- On DVD or streaming : October 16, 2001
- Cast : Donald O'Connor , Jamie Foxx , Joan Cusack , LL Cool J , Michael Gambon , Robin Williams , Robin Wright
- Director : Barry Levinson
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Fantasy
- Run time : 121 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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