The Toy (1982)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers:

Carol Sobieski (writer)
Francis Veber (book)

Release Date:

10 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

When Jackie Gleason told his son he could have any present he wanted, he picked the most outrageous gift of all... Richard Pryor.

Plot:

An underemployed reporter finds himself literally purchased as a toy for a rich spoiled brat.

Plot Keywords:

Toy | Department Store | Wealthy | Bathtub | Job Seeking

Awards:

1 win

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18

10:45 AM

AMC

Cast

Richard Pryor	...	Jack Brown
Jackie Gleason	...	Ulysses Simpson 'U.S.' Bates
Ned Beatty	...	Sydney Morehouse
Scott Schwartz	...	Eric Bates
Teresa Ganzel	...	Fancy Bates
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	David Barkley
Annazette Chase	...	Angela
Tony King	...	Clifford
Don Hood	...	O'Brien
Karen Leslie-Lyttle	...	Fräulein Hilda Hans
Virginia Capers	...	Ruby D. Simpson
B.J. Hopper	...	Geffran
Linda McCann	...	Honey Russell
Ray Spruell	...	Senator Newcomb
Stocker Fontelieu	...	D. A. Russell

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The framed picture seen behind Mr. Morehouse in his office is actually actor Ned Beatty's high school graduation photograph.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Jack Brown is on the phone in Master Bates's room, you can see that the phone has no cord going into the phone jack

Quotes:

Jack Brown: I'm writing a book! Writing a book is a job!
Jack's Friend: No, writing a book is a copout!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Guess Who (2005)

Soundtrack:

I Just Want To Be Your Friend

A fun movie from the 80's that got taken too seriously

I know there was a lot of controversy around this film, due to the fact we have a rich white man buying a black man for his son, but I think that people just took this film way too seriously. Richard Pryor is one of the best comedians of all time, so I definitely became interested in seeing this film after I saw it on VH1's "I love the 80's" show, once again though, it seemed like they were giving the film a hard time. Well, I saw this at a store and figured for 5 dollars, what the heck? It's the rental price, if I liked the movie, I might as well own it. Well, I watched it this morning, I have to say that I thought that this was a very cute film that I'm sure if you have an open mind, you'll definitely enjoy it.

Jack is a journalist looking for a job, he's not getting anything though, at first he starts as a cleaning lady, but is fired by a snobby rich man. Then he's security at a toy store where the snobby rich man's son is shopping for anything he wants, he sees Jack and thinks he is funny, he wants him as the toy. When offered enough money to save his house, Jack agrees to it, but he's getting just a bit humiliated when he is constantly mocked, understandably. But when he gives the little boy a chance, they end up becoming great friends.

The Toy is just a fun movie that I'm sure you'll get a kick out of if you just give it a shot. It's a definite 80's classic that had great comedy in it, Richard was absolutely hilarious. He and Scott Schwartz were very adorable together and looked like they had so much fun together. I would recommend this film for a fun comedy, you're guaranteed a few laughs.

7/10