Film Summary"The Toy", a 1982 American funny film was directed by Richard Donner, including Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason in the lead roles. The story of the film is an adaptation of Francis Veber's 1976 French film "Le Jouet".
Plot OverviewThe film starts with Jack Brown (Richard Pryor) playing a down-on-his-luck journalist who is battling unemployment. His effective writing abilities are insufficient to get him constant work and he is obliged to take up a job as a janitor in the luxurious Marvelous Market, a luxurious department store owned by millionaire U.S. Bates (Jackie Gleason), to prevent eviction from his rented house.
In charge' ruined kid, Eric Bates (Scott Schwartz) enters into the shop on a shopping spree, following his daddy's custom of letting him pick anything in the shop as his gift. Eric sees Jack goofing around with different toys after his cleansing shift and chooses he wants Jack to be his 'toy.' Given that he is dealing with monetary problems, Jack unwillingly accepts the deal of being the young kid's playmate.
Unequal Relationship & RealizationsRegardless of the uncomfortable start, Jack becomes Eric's friend rather than just a 'human toy'. He opens Eric's eyes to the realities of life that his privileged upbringing had actually kept concealed from him and introduces him to things that children typically delight in, like pillow fights and outside adventures. Simultaneously, he makes Eric comprehend the value of a true friend rather than being surrounded by paid 'puppets' that his father hires.
On the other hand, Jack's unconventional tactics bring him into dispute with Eric's daddy, U.S. Bates, and produces funny and absurd scenarios. The multimillionaire father, too busy with his company to pay much attention to his kid, at first sees Jack as an annoyance. However, ultimately, he concerns appreciate how Jack's relationship with Eric is provoking significant modifications in his kid's mindset.
Amazing ConclusionIn the end, Eric learns lots of life lessons with Jack, including the exploitation of people, the significance of relationship, and the awareness that parents should offer love and attention, not just material possessions to their children. U.S. Bates, on the other hand, gets a wake-up call about prioritizing his boy over company. He realizes his errors and perceives that he needs to be a dad initially instead of an employer.
Jack's influence substantially alters Eric as we see him refusing to return to his old methods and asking his dad to replace all his luxurious birthday plans with a basic party with his brand-new friends.
Epilogue"The Toy" stands as a comical interpretation of abundant and exploitative society laced with criticism of negligent parenting. Though it dealt with criticism for its silly and over-the-top humor, it successfully uses funny to look into much deeper social issues. As the film concludes, audiences are left with a strong message about the importance of real friendship and parental love over materialistic satisfaction. Richard Pryor's comical brilliance and Jackie Gleason's representation of an abundant, indifferent father make "The Toy" an unforgettable 80s funny.
Top Cast
