There are two reasons to see Toys: some phenomenal visual spectacle and the utterly adorable performance of Joan Cusack. The story: When the founder of the Zevo toy factory dies, he leaves it to his militaristic brother Leland (Michael Gambon) instead of to his whimsical son Leslie (Robin Williams). When Leland starts making war toys (and worse, actual weapons masquerading as toys), Leslie is forced to stop being capricious and take on some authority. Toys is supposedly about innocence and peace, but really it's director Barry Levinson's cry of anxiety about modern-day playthings, particularly video games--which is almost psychic of him, given how video games have started to devour the entertainment market. Fans of Williams will enjoy his performance; the visual design really is gorgeous; and Cusack, as Leslie's sister Alsatia, is so lovely she almost carries the film through its muddled themes. Almost. --Bret Fetzer
2.
Robin Williams stars in this surreal antiwar fantasy directed by Barry Levinson (RAIN MAN, DINER). Williams plays Leslie Zevo, the son of a fun-loving toymaker. Leslie and his sister, Alsatia (Joan Cusack,) grew up surrounded by their father’s whimsical creations in the fantastic factory that he built. When their father dies, the children find that he has left his beloved business in the hands of his brother, a warmonger general (Michael Gambon), thinking that despite his children’s love of the company, they don’t have minds for business. Unable to disregard his military sensibilities, the general embarks on his own secret project in an effort to make toys that fulfill his confrontational nature, developing video games for children that actually control live weapons. Upon discovering their uncle’s diabolical plan, Leslie and Alsatia set out to stop the general in his tracks and save their father’s dream factory from manufacturing lethal weapons. Levinson’s interesting social commentary also features rapper LL Cool J as the general’s son, Patrick, a military man who specializes in camouflage; and Robin Wright as Leslie’s love interest.
3.
Robin Williams stars as Leslie Zevo, a fun-loving adult who must save his late father's toy factory from his evil uncle (Michael Gambon), a war-loving general who builds weapons disguised as toys. Aided by his sister (Joan Cusack) and girlfriend (Robin Wright), Leslie sets out to thwart his uncle and restore joy and innocence to their special world. Enter a spectacular world of whimsy, fun and fantasy in this acclaimed visual extravaganza directed by Barry Levinson.
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