#04: Toys (1992)

God I miss Robin Williams.

I think when it comes to talking about 1992's Toys, the first thing that needs to be expressed is that I can't believe we're almost a decade without Robin Williams. When you look back at the man's line of work, you come to realization that, regardless of the quality of the film, Williams could manage to elevate it as best he can. And that when Robin was passionate about a film and hoping for its success, you can definitely see that as well. So when you consider everything that happened around the time of the film's release and in particular his issues with Disney who betrayed his trust when it came to promoting Aladdin, yeah, I can see how he'd be upset. But, in fairness, when the best advertisement that you can make for a movie is Robin Williams screaming in a field, then maybe it always had an uphill climb. Because I think Toys is a mess of a movie. Not the worst mess ever, but one that definitely feels like it lost its plot midway through.

Directed by Barry Levinson, Toys stars Robin Williams as Leslie Zevo, son of toy mogul Kenneth Zevo. After Kenneth dies, his world famous toy factory is given to his brother Leland Zevo, a military lieutenant general obsessed with war. Leslie, along with his sister, the eccentric Alsatia (played by Joan Cusack, and I'll be talking a bit about Alsatia later) along with Leland's soldier son and master of camouflage Patrick (L.L. Cool J) eventually have to put a stop to Leland Zevo's plans to turn the factory from creator of fun and imaginative toys to war weapons controlled by children who think it's all a video game. So, it's not hard to see what the major message of the movie is. A semi-ham fisted commentary on violent toys and video games. How kids can be easily desensitized by violence and can be manipulated into believing that this is all normal. And in not the most subtle of ways.

I have a lot of thoughts on this film but I'll speak of the positives first. I love how this movie looks. From the lush green fields we see throughout the film to the wonderous Zevo toy factory which feels like a living doll house. Speaking of which, the home of Leslie and Alsatia being this pop-up house is such a neat design. So many scenes in this movie feel so breathtaking in their imagination and creativity. A child's imagination brought to life. Granted, there's not much of that same vision by the end, with the big final showdown being held mostly in a small room filled with toys, but when the movie shines in visual flair, it really shines. All the different toys are neat to look at, especially the weaponized toys in the climax of the film.

As for the acting, it's all solid. Robin is fun as Leslie, albeit not the most energetic or even dramatic that he usually is. I've read a few reviews on this movie that state that similar belief that this isn't Robin at his most dynamic and I'll agree. When he's fun and charming though he very much is still that. Honestly the real star of the movie is Michael Gambon as Lieutenant General Zevo. How insane and villainous he becomes. Be it the scene at the arcade with the game where he shoots UN trucks, his attack on one of the "Washington boys", down to being so inebriated and manic that he tries to kill a fly with his gun only to shoot himself in the foot. L.L. Cool J is fine as Patrick Zevo. The dutiful army man who starts the movie as a side-villain alongside Leland but soon realizes he was duped by his dad as well and joins the side of good. I will say the turn is a bit clunky. I also really like the soundtrack as well. Very of its time. I'm going to have those "Happy Workers" and its more dour militarized "Workers" songs stuck in my head for a while.

So, what don't I like? Most of the movie itself. The plot is very simple in scale but stretched out super thin. It really didn't need to be a two hour movie. A lot could have been on the cutting room floor and not much was lost. The movie sets up Robin Williams' Leslie with Robin Wright's Gwen and while it's a cute relationship and the two play off one another well, their relationship feels rushed. I'll also say the tone feels weird. Like, who was this for? You have the toys and the childlike wonder of the film that vanishes more and more throughout. It also feels more intentionally adult, particularly in one scene where the two Robins are about to have sex while Jamie Foxx and another guy try to spy on them with a robot toy. It feels like a movie that wants to serve both masters but doesn't serve either. Too dry and slow for kids, too childish and silly for adults. 

And then there's Alsatia. Before the twist reveal of what Alsatia really is, I was concerned about this character. Her mannerisms and speech, often focusing on one thing or another and never fully focusing. I thought this was a take on a character on the autism spectrum. Given the movie is from the guy behind Rain Man... Yeah, yeah that feels like it confirms that. And if it wasn't for Joan Cusack being Joan Cusack and playing the role well, I'd probably be more bothered by the character. It's definitely a role that I think doesn't hold up perfectly. That, and the reveal of her being a robot the whole time feels really jarring. It makes sense in the context of the film, but it's still one of those "what" moments for me. And then there's the "violent toys and video games" metaphors in this movie that rub me the wrong way in some places. Not that the concept of being desensitized to violence isn't a real concern, but there's just this hollow feeling to it. A real "kids these days" mentality to it. Though, you can see Turtles in Time on one of the arcade cabinets so any real anger I may have washes away. All I need is Turtles in Time to set my mind at ease, I guess. Also, the movie may or may not have predicted drone strikes, so there's that too.

And you're ultimately left with a movie that wants to have both a look at how whimsy is more important than war, mixed in with a lot of slowness and moments that don't feel like it keeps that whimsy going. There's a reason why Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory still works in a modern setting. The imagination of Wonka's world of pure imagination is still believable and feels like where you want to be, even if you end up in a chocolate pipe or down a trippy nightmare boat ride. Toys never gets a chance to have that. For as much as I love its visuals and its almost toybox come to life feel in some ways, the movie never has a chance to have as much fun with that toybox. The movie called Toys doesn't get much to do with toys. Even in the climax when after Leslie makes his big speech to his father's original toys, most of the toys get destroyed by the military toys. Feeling more like a losing effort and nightmare scenario than the big fun finale it could have been with a better plot. Also, all the build up on the Sea Swine and you can barely even see it.

Regardless, it didn't succeed at the box office, not even making back half of its 50 million dollar budget. Aladdin, released the month prior, did mega bank at the box office, all while using Genie in most of the advertising against Robin's wishes. To which, I agree with Williams that it sucked to have his one request reneged so suddenly, but given Genie is a pivotal character in the film, I can see why Disney did it. They're a mostly soulless corporation more focused on making money and they weren't going to not use Genie. Not defending them mind you, but let's not delude ourselves. I also don't think Aladdin affected Toys in the long run. I think it was ultimately a doomed movie from the start. The critical response didn't help. Robin Williams screaming in a field didn't help. Nor did any advertising really help it. It was always going to fall down the rabbit hole of being a cult classic at best. And I don't even think it's ever fully achieved even that.

Overall, Toys was just okay enough in my eyes. Not the worst movie I've ever seen and there is such a great idea within it about being a battle of war and peace. But the message is muddied and at times a bit too overblown, and most of the acting and story beats just feel there, save for, again, Michael Gambon who is far and away my favorite part of the movie. The movie is pretty to look at, but lacking in the hard substance that could have made those visuals matter. I will say that I won't forget about it any time soon, so in terms of sticking to one's memory it works there. With a more compelling plot and more of a fun factor within it, I think Toys could have been a hidden gem of a film. But some toys I guess are best left collecting dust on a shelf. 

RATING: **