This article is about the film. For the soundtrack, see Small Soldiers (soundtrack). For the video game, see Small Soldiers (video game).

Small Soldiers is a 1998 American action comedy film directed by Joe Dante. It stars Kirsten Dunst and Gregory Smith, along with the voices of Frank Langella and Tommy Lee Jones. It depicts two factions of toys which turn sentient after being programmed with a military microprocessor, putting in danger when one faction ultimately turns lethal.

Released on July 10, 1998, in the United States, the film received mixed reviews, but grossed $87.5 million on a $40 million budget. Small Soldiers marks the last on-screen film role of Phil Hartman, who was murdered two months before the film's American premiere, and is dedicated in his memory. It was also the final film role of Clint Walker.

Plot

When top defense contractor GloboTech Industries acquires the Heartland Toy Company, CEO Gil Mars commissions toy designers Larry Benson and Irwin Wayfair to develop toys capable of "playing back". Mars selects Larry's "Commando Elite" action figures for the project, with Irwin's "Gorgonites" — peaceful monsters intended to be educational toys — as their enemies. Facing a tight deadline, Larry unwittingly equips the toys with GloboTech's X1000 microprocessor.

Working at his family's toy store, teenager Alan Abernathy persuades delivery driver Joe to give him a shipment of the new GloboTech toys, activating Major Chip Hazard, head of the Commando Elite, and Archer, the Gorgonites' leader. Alan develops a crush on his neighbor Christy Fimple, and returns home to discover Archer in his backpack, realizing the toys are essentially self-aware and capable of learning. That night, Chip Hazard activates his comrades to attack the Gorgonites, and Alan finds the store in disarray and the new toys missing. Christy helps clean up, and Alan calls GloboTech's customer service line to file a complaint. Larry and Irwin hear his message, and discover the X1000 is a military-grade artificial intelligence chip, susceptible to EMPs.

Following Alan home, the Commando Elite interrogate Archer, but Alan intervenes and is wounded by Nick Nitro, whom he partially destroys in the garbage disposal. His parents hear the commotion, but refuse to believe his explanation about the toys. Alan and Archer find the Gorgonites hiding in the store's dumpster; unlike the militant Commando Elite, the Gorgonites were programmed with Irwin's original friendly and inquisitive personalities, and merely seek to find their home, which they believe to be in Yosemite National Park. Tapping the Abernathys' phone line, the Commando Elite learn of Alan's interest in Christy. Infiltrating her house, they capture her younger brother Timmy, sedate their parents, and use Nick Nitro's AI chip to transform Christy's "Gwendy" fashion dolls into reinforcements. Taking Christy hostage, they demand that Alan surrender the Gorgonites.

Alan and Archer sneak into the Fimples' house and rescue Christy. The Commando Elite pursue them with improvised vehicles built in the Fimples' garage, but are destroyed in a fiery crash; only Chip Hazard survives. At the Abernathys' house, Alan, Christy, and the Gorgonites try to convince their families of the truth about the toys, and Irwin and Larry arrive to talk to Alan about his voicemail. Chip Hazard arrives with a new army of Commando Elite and more improvised vehicles and weapons, having hijacked a recall shipment driven by Joe, and lays siege to the house, cutting off the electricity. When Irwin suggests an EMP, the group realizes they can overload the nearby power lines. Christy, Irwin, and Larry make their way to the Fimples' house to ensure a larger surge, and the Gorgonites emerge and fight back against the Commando Elite. Climbing the utility pole, Alan is attacked by Chip Hazard, who battles and defeats Archer, but Alan thrusts him into the power transformers as Larry and Irwin wedge open the breakers, triggering the EMP blast and destroying the toys.

In the morning, as the authorities clear up the aftermath, Mars arrives by helicopter, paying off Joe and both families for the damage, and instructs Larry and Irwin to repurpose the Commando Elite for military use. Alan and Christy start a relationship, and he discovers the Gorgonites survived the EMP underneath the Fimples' satellite dish. Alan brings the Gorgonites to Yosemite, sharing a goodbye before sending them off in his father's toy boat to find their home.

Cast

Small Soldiers was Hartman's last on-screen role before his death and the film is dedicated to his memory.[2]

Voice cast

Gorgonites

Commando Elite

Others

Excluding Jones and Dern, the Commando Elite are voiced by cast members from the 1967 film The Dirty Dozen. Dern replaced The Dirty Dozen actor Richard Jaeckel, who died before shooting began. Excluding Langella and Cummings, the Gorgonites are voiced by cast members from the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap. The film was the last role for Walker before his retirement from acting.

Production

On making the film, director Joe Dante recalled, "Originally I was told to make an edgy picture for teenagers, but when the sponsor tie-ins came in the new mandate was to soften it up as a kiddie movie. Too late, as it turned out, and there are elements of both approaches in there. Just before release it was purged of a lot of action and explosions."[3] For the film's effects shots, Dante stated that the original idea was to use mostly puppetry, using puppets provided by Stan Winston. However, Dante said that while shooting, it was "simpler and cheaper" to use CGI after the scenes had been shot, so the film is "one-third puppetry and the rest CGI."[4]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, 48% of 46 surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average score is of 6.1/10. The critical consensus states, "Small Soldiers has plenty of visual razzle-dazzle, but the rote story proves disappointingly deficient in director Joe Dante's trademark anarchic spirit."[5] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[6]

Siskel & Ebert gave it Two Thumbs Down. Roger Ebert gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, saying: "The toys are presented as individuals who can think for themselves, and there are believable heroes and villains among them. For smaller children, this could be a terrifying experience."[7] Caroline Westbrook of Empire Magazine gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and said: "It's Gremlins with toy soldiers, except not quite as dark or funny."[8]

The film grossed $55.2 million in the United States and Canada and $87.5 million worldwide.[1]

Lawsuit

Filmmaker Gregory P. Grant filed suit against Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks and Universal Pictures[9] for copying his film Ode to GI Joe,[10] which played at film festivals and earned him a Student Academy Award.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

In other media

Merchandise

A soundtrack containing classic rock blended with hip hop was released on July 7, 1998, by DreamWorks Records. It peaked at 103 on the Billboard 200. The film score was composed and conducted by veteran composer Jerry Goldsmith. In addition, a video game based on the film was developed by DreamWorks Interactive and released by Electronic Arts on September 30, 1998. Kenner Products (a subsidiary of Hasbro) produced a line of toys, which featured the Gorgonites and the Commando Elite. Burger King teamed up with the film to promote their new product, the Rodeo Burger. They created a line of kids' meal toys tied to the film. They were met with some controversy after the film received a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Burger King executives claimed this caught the company by surprise as they were led to believe the film would receive no higher than a PG rating. According to Joe Dante, the MPAA gave the film a PG-13 rating due to the scene in which the Commando Elite put drugs in Phil and Marion's drink. While the pamphlet accompanying the toys included the disclaimer "While toys are suitable for children of all ages, the movie Small Soldiers may contain material that is inappropriate for younger children," some restaurants accepted an exchange for Mr. Potato Head toys.[17][18][19]

Video games

Four video games were released in 1998:

Cancelled remake

A remake of Small Soldiers was in development by 20th Century Fox called Toymageddon. The script was purchased in January 2014, and director Justin Lin was set to produce the film. The story was described to be set in a "toy factory that begins to run amok." At that time it was not explicitly stated to be a remake of Small Soldiers.[20]

Due to the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney on March 20, 2019, Disney later in August cancelled the film along with over 200 other projects, which revealed the film was intended as a remake of Small Soldiers.[21][22]

References

  1. ^ a b Klady, Leonard (January 25, 1999). "The Top 125 Worldwide". Variety. p. 36.
  2. ^ Philpot, Robert (1998-12-06). "1998's top closing moments". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. Arts 1.
  3. ^ Brew, Simon (February 21, 2008). "The Den of Geek interview: Joe Dante". The Den of Geek. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  4. ^ Sachs, Ben (August 8, 2012). "The orgiast: an interview with Joe Dante (part one)". Chicago Reader. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  5. ^ "Small Soldiers". Rotten Tomatoes.
  6. ^ EW Staff (August 7, 1998). "Critical Mass". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  7. ^ Ebert, Roger (July 10, 1998). "Small Soldiers movie review & film summary (1998) | Roger Ebert". rogerebert. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  8. ^ Westbrook, Caroline (2000-01-01). "Small Soldiers". Empire. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  9. ^ Guardian Staff (May 9, 2000). "Spielberg sued over Small Soldiers". the Guardian.
  10. ^ "Ode to G.I. Joe". www.tcm.com.
  11. ^ "REEL LIFE / FILM & VIDEO FILE : Animation Panel Will Include a Familiar Voice : June Foray, known for her vocals of Rocky the Squirrel and Natasha, will join the discussion at a screening fund-raiser Sunday in Ojai". Los Angeles Times. May 18, 1995.
  12. ^ "BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL TOURNEE OF ANIMATION". August 17, 2012.
  13. ^ "'ANIMATION' SERVES UP A SMORGASBORD". Chicago Tribune.
  14. ^ "The 23rd Tournee of Animation Film Festival". Box Office Mojo.
  15. ^ "The Best Of The International Tournee Of Animation | Jonathan Rosenbaum". jonathanrosenbaum.net.
  16. ^ "Movie Review: The Best of the International Tournee of Animation". www.austinchronicle.com.
  17. ^ Neville, Ken (10 July 1998). ""Small Soldiers," Big Controversy". E Online. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Small Soldiers: Squad Commander for PC – GameFAQs". gamefaqs.gamespot.com.
  19. ^ Abrams, Simon. "Like Going to Church: Joe Dante on "The Movie Orgy"". rogerebert.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  20. ^ Kit, Borys (January 27, 2014). "Fox Buys 'Toymageddon' for Justin Lin to Produce (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  21. ^ Boone, Brian (August 6, 2019). "Canceled Fox movies we'll never get to see". Looper. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  22. ^ Donnelly, Matt (August 6, 2019). "Disney Flushes Fox Film Development, 'Redirects' Strategy After Big Q3 Loss". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2019.

External links