Small Soldiers (1998)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

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 murder of Phil Hartman before the premiere caused some minor changes before release.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Alan and Christy look at the burning wreckage of the commando elite in the water Christy is wearing 'tight' jeans, but in scenes before and after that, she is wearing much looser jeans

Quotes:

Archer: Greetings. I am Archer, emissary or the Gorgonites.
Alan: Awfully polite for a monster.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein (1999)

Soundtrack:

War

good archetypal satire

The characters were not well developed because of the archetypal nature of the story, which was simple and insightful, with a lot of action and no real brutality. Filled with parodies and even musical quotes from other films, this film has a plot similar to _Gremlins_ with the greater feel of its sequel with its archetypal powerhouse of a Daniel Clamp (that is, sans Clamp's failings). Dante makes the film comical and thought-provoking, with main characters who seem like we are supposed to see ourselves in their place, rather than learn about who they are. There is wonderful use of a boat motif leading to an ending straight out of _The Gods Must Be Crazy_, with its power and charm. Despite this, Dante realized he was doing somewhat of a retread, hence all of the gremlin jokes. Dante had a better portrait of younger teenagers with _Explorers_ for those who miss the character development, which really only seems lacking after the film is over.