Here's a movie that hugely disappointed me, as I never thought it would. I had seen the preview for this film, when going to see Octopussy. What I got, was a unfunny letdown. Despite it's firm standing morals, intentions, that of being neglect, The Toy becomes a misfire of a comedy, with a story that kind of loses it way, goes off the beaten path, a path of boredom. The boy is a natural acting force, and Gleason has great presence on the big screen, while a suffering Pryor, character of not, really tries to make this work. It's not his fault. It's the hand he's been dealt. Pryor's character, is a guy, desperate to make it in journalism, but isn't taken seriously, where he's resorts to demeaning positions, within this paper, that neglectful father, Gleason owns. His spoilt brat of a son, on a shopping expedition, happens upon Pryor, goofing around, one toy, and inflatable wheel, he gets caught on. The son picks his favorite toy- Pryor, where he's subjected to a new hell of a job, as this little brat, puts him through hell. You can learn lessons from this movie, that's for sure, but there's a lesson to be learnt here in film making. Beatty as a chief employer of Gleason's is nearly subjected to another Deliverance moment, and that wonder wheel does look fun, this film, far from it. Pity.
Review of The Toy
