Toys

1992
nicolascagegoons
Watched Jun 4, 2026
Rating

its very obvious that berry levinson isn't a comedy director, he's not really good at comedic timing or giving his actors any sense of comedic guidance. its all played to straight.

everything else is suprisingly good. im not gonna act like the story and characters themselves are specifically special but the framework and world they inhabbit are.

the relationship between kid centric media conglomerates and the militairy and war is something not often depicted in films. but here its front and center with a beautifull backdrop consisting of colorfull but liminal sets, costumes and production design. there will always be something sinister about things being so kid focused it becomes a parody to me. but robin williams and his character are weird too, he's generally very kid like as well and the hero of the story. the need for the preservation of childhood innocence thats in relationship with toys shines bright in leslie. if anything, he's the classical toymaker archetype often presented in these types of stories but this one has an entire different context and meaning behind it that changes it.

it doesn't really have a lot to say on the consumerist side of toys but it never really wants to.
im more flabbergasted that will all lead to euphoria due to one man's films and seed.

(watch my films
the grievance of the day: https://boxd.it/eD8Suj
summer walk: https://boxd.it/ewenRP )

liminal spaces

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