Small Soldiers (1998)
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Two factions of sentient action figures engage in a dangerous war after being equipped with advanced microprocessors.
The story
After the defense contractor GloboTech Industries acquires the Heartland Toy Company, toy designers Larry Benson and Irwin Wayfair use a high-powered microprocessor to upgrade two lines of toys: the 'Commando Elite' and the 'Gorgonites.' The technology inadvertently grants the toys sentience. When a teenager named Alan Abernathy unboxes the items, he discovers the toys are alive and the Commandos have begun a violent campaign to eliminate the Gorgonites. Alan must navigate the escalating conflict and the danger posed by the aggressive soldiers while trying to protect his community and his new friend, a Gorgonite named Archer.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the acquisition of Heartland Toy Company by GloboTech, designers Larry and Irwin use the X1000 microprocessor to create sentient toys. The 'Commando Elite' soldiers, led by Chip Hazard, and the 'Gorgonites,' led by Archer, become aware of their surroundings. After a skirmish in a toy store, Alan Abernathy finds the Gorgonites and takes them home, while the Commandos begin a hunt for them. The conflict escalates when the Commandos take Alan's neighbor, Christy, hostage. Alan and Christy team up to rescue her, during which they fight off the Commandos' 'Gwendy' doll reinforcements. The ensuing battle leads to the destruction of most Commandos in a vehicle crash. Ultimately, Alan and Christy work together to trigger an electromagnetic pulse that disables the remaining Commandos. In the aftermath, the Gorgonites are sent to their home in Yosemite National Park, and the Commandos are repurposed for military use.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 110
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Joe Dante
- Writers
- Gavin Scott · writer; Adam Rifkin · writer; Ted Elliott · writer; Terry Rossio · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kirsten Dunst · Christy Fimple; Gregory Smith · Alan Abernathy; David Cross · Irwin Wayfair; Jay Mohr · Larry Benson; Denis Leary · Gil Mars; Kevin Dunn · Stuart Abernathy; Ann Magnuson · Irene Abernathy; Phil Hartman · Phil Fimple; Wendy Schaal · Marion Fimple; Frank Langella · Archer; Tommy Lee Jones · Major Chip Hazard; Clint Walker · Nick Nitro
- Genres
- science fiction; action; comedy
- Themes
- Artificial Intelligence; War; Technology
- Tone and mood
- Action; Comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- Sentient Toys; Action Figures; Sci-Fi
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a moderate commercial success.
- Reported review scores
- CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was the last on-screen role of Phil Hartman.; The film marked the final role of Clint Walker before his retirement.; The film's effects are a mix of one-third puppetry and two-thirds CGI.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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