Small Soldiers (1998)

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers (WGA):

Gavin Scott (written by) and
Adam Rifkin (written by) ...

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The few, the proud, and the small.

Plot:

When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.

Plot Keywords:

Toy | Computer | Action Figure | Military | Battle

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

David Cross	...	Irwin Wayfair
Jay Mohr	...	Larry Benson
Alexandra Wilson	...	Ms. Kegel
Denis Leary	...	Gil Mars
Gregory Smith	...	Alan Abernathy
Dick Miller	...	Joe
Kirsten Dunst	...	Christy Fimple
Jacob Smith	...	Timmy Fimple
Jonathan Bouck	...	Brad (as Jonathan David Bouck)
Kevin Dunn	...	Stuart Abernathy
Ann Magnuson	...	Irene Abernathy
Wendy Schaal	...	Marion Fimple
Phil Hartman	...	Phil Fimple
Archie Hahn	...	Satellite Dish Installer
Robert Picardo	...	Ralph, Clean Room Technician

Also Known As:

The Commando Elite (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some menacing action/violence and brief drug references.

Runtime:

108 min | USA:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Philippines:G | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch - 411 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The movie is meant to take place in fictional Winslow Corners, Ohio, and the producers made an effort to represent Northeastern Ohio accurately: Alan rides his bike past a newsstand selling The Plain Dealer, a Cleveland-centered newspaper. Later he leaves his phone number on the Globotech voice mail system and gives the Akron area code of 330. The Heartland delivery truck appears to have 90s-style Ohio license plates and is a reference to the state generally, "Ohio: The Heart of it All!"

Goofs:

Continuity: When Christy and Alan go to the back room of the toy store at the beginning, Christy's hair jumps back and forth over her shoulders between shots.

Quotes:

Stuart Abernathy: What kind of Idiot would put Military Technology in Toys?
Irwin Wayfair: [pointing at Larry] Well that'd be Gizmo over here.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Apocalypse Now (1979)

Soundtrack:

Love Removal Machine

Hey Now, A 5.8?

I thought this movie was overall a really great and enjoyable little film.What was really THAT bad about it?Some, not all, of the comedy was quite laughable, it completely entertains you, and it certainly keeps you interested through the whole movie.The fighting scenes were cool and amusing, and the script was pretty different and new.I don't see why this movie has the rating it does, for I thought a lot more people would've liked it better than this, but I guess not everybody can spot a great film when they see one.If you haven't seen this movie yet, I completely recommend it, because it is a nice little movie, that is getting too much harsh treatment.I had loads of fun watching it, and I'm sure you will too.