History Film / TheToy

Unemployed journalist Jack Brown is having a hard time fixing that problem. The job market in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana just isn't looking too good lately, forcing him to find employment as [[WholesomeCrossdresser a maid]] for local tycoon U.S. Bates, but his refusing to shave his mustache and the fact that he was male costed him for having the job permanently. This did not stop him from managing to join the night cleaning crew at one of U.S.'s retail outlets, though.

After murdering an innocent Wonder Wheel while comically fooling around with the stores wares, Jack catches the attention of Eric, U.S. Bates' spoiled rotten son. Eric is there after hours with some of his daddy's men to pick out any toy in the store, and he's just made his selection; [[HilarityEnsues he wants Jack.]] Everyone but Eric thinks this is a bad idea, but what he says goes, and he knows enough about spoiled rottenness to know that everyone has a price. So Eric's chaperons stuff a bunch of money in Jack's hands, promise to give Wonder Wheel a decent burial, and then box him up in a crate to bring home with Eric.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: U.S's affection towards his son might be one of the few redeeming factors that puts him in this category.

Unemployed journalist Jack Brown is having a hard time fixing that problem. The job market in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana just isn't looking too good lately, forcing him to find employment as [[WholesomeCrossdresser a maid]] for local tycoon U.S. Bates. After Bates cans him for refusing to shave his mustache -and for being a man- Jack sneaks on board the night cleaning crew at one of U.S.' retail outlets.

After murdering an innocent Wonder Wheel while comically fooling around with the stores wares, Jack catches the attention of Eric, U.S. Bates' spoiled rotten son. Eric is there after hours with some of daddy's men to pick out any toy in the store, and he's just made his selection; [[HilarityEnsues he wants Jack.]] Everyone but Eric thinks this is a bad idea, but what he says goes, and he knows enough about spoiled rottenness to know that everyone has a price. So Eric's chaperons stuff a bunch of money in Jack's hands, promise to give Wonder Wheel a decent burial, and then box him up in a crate to bring home with Eric.

Once there, Jack quickly tires of Eric's horrid behavior and humiliating pranks and he storms out, still decked out in too-tight Spider-Man pajamas, to return home; to hell with the money. Problem is, Eric is lonely enough to beg his dad get him back by any means. U.S. offers Jack enough money to pay off his mortgage, which he all-too eagerly accepts. But Eric's brattyness has got to go, so Jack cuts through the boy's JerkassFacade and begins befriending the LonelyRichKid underneath.

Though its premise is a bit controversial, ''The Toy'' is still a pretty damn funny film with some surprisingly sweet moments, and it offers a rare chance to see two legendary comedians playing off each other. Oh, and Gleason's trophy wife has some [[MaleGaze nice new boobs]]. Meanwhile, child actor Scott Schwartz went on to do porn.

* ThisIsReality: Eric tries to [[WhatTheHellHero call Jack on selling out]] by accepting a job with U.S.' newspaper, to which Jack has no choice but to invoke this:
-->'''Jack:''' ''"Man, what do you want me to do, starve to death? You think I can feed myself on high ideals and principles? Well, '''I can't!'''"''

* ThisIsReality: Eric tries to [[WhatTheHellHero call out Jack for selling out] by accepting a job with U.S.' newspaper, to which Jack has no choice but to invoke this:
->'''Jack:''' ''"What do you want me to do, starve to death? You think I can feed myself on high ideals and principles? Well, '''I can't!'''"''

* ThisIsReality: Eric tries to [[WhatTheHellHerocall out Jack for selling out] by accepting a job with U.S.' newspaper, to which Jack has no choice but to invoke this:
'''Jack:''' ''"What do you want me to do, starve to death? You think I can feed myself on high ideals and principles? Well, '''I can't!'''"''

* {{Undercrank}}ing: Used at a couple of points, most notably when Jack wades into a piranha-infested creek and then ''leaps out, running across the surface of the water back to shore''.
* YouDidntAsk: Eric's explanation to Jack as to why they are breaking into U.S.' printing press when Eric has the key.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming: Plenty to go around once Eric learns to stop being an awful little shit, but the end of the movie has the best by far, when U.S. and Eric finally say "I love you" to one another.
* DeepSouth: Averted, thank God. The movie was filmed on location in Baton Rouge, a major metropolitan area, so Donner couldn't have gotten away with it if he wanted to.

Though its premise is a bit controversial, ''The Toy'' is still a pretty damn funny film with some surprisingly sweet moments, and it offers a rare chance to see two legendary comedians playing off each other. Oh, and Gleason's trophy wife has some [[MaleGaze nice new boobs]].

* HeyItsThatGuy

A 1982 remake of the French comedy ''Le Jouet'', starring Creator/RichardPryor and Jackie Gleason and directed by RichardDonner.

* MyNameIsNotDurwood: Everyone tends to pronounce U.S. as "You Ass," and he's not too thrilled about it. By the end, he only allows Jack to get away with it.

Though its premise is a bit controversial, Film/TheToy is still a pretty damn funny film with some surprisingly sweet moments, and it offers a rare chance to see two legendary comedians playing off each other. Oh, and Gleason's trophy wife has some [[MaleGaze nice new boobs]].

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<<|FilmsOfThe1980s|>>

A 1982 remake of the French comedy ''Le Jouet'', starring RichardPryor and Jackie Gleason and directed by RichardDonner.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: It's Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason in the same movie. Take your pick.

** Also, everyone pronouncing his name "You Ass." By the end, he only allows Jack to get away with it.

* UnfortunateImplications: A rich, white guy buying a black man? Yeah, saying there are UnfortunateImplications here is a fair cop. Don't go patting yourself on the back for noticing this, though: it's [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] repeatedly throughout the movie.

* ButtMonkey: Eric makes Jack one for the first half of the movie, and U.S. makes Mr. Morehouse one for the second half.

Unemployed journalist Jack Brown (RichardPryor) is having a hard time fixing that problem. The job market in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana just isn't looking too good lately, forcing him to find employment as [[WholesomeCrossdresser a maid]] for local tycoon U.S. Bates (Jackie Gleason). After Bates cans him for refusing to shave his mustache -and for being a man- Jack sneaks on board the night cleaning crew at one of U.S.' retail outlets.

Unemployed journalist Jack Brown is having a hard time fixing that problem. The job market in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana just isn't looking too good lately, forcing him to find employment as [[WholesomeCrossdresser a maid]] for local tycoon U.S. Bates. After Bates cans him for refusing to shave his mustache -and for being a man- Jack sneaks on board the night cleaning crew at one of U.S.' retail outlets.

After murdering an innocent Wonder Wheel while comically fooling around with the stores wares, Jack catches the attention of Eric, U.S. Bates' spoiled rotten son. Eric is there after hours with some of daddy's men to pick out any toy in the store, and he's just made his selection; [[HilarityEnsues he wants Jack.]] Everyone but Eric thinks this is a bad idea, but what he says goes, and he knows enough about spoiled rottenness to know that everyone has a price. So Eric's chaperons stuff a bunch of money in Jack's hands, promise to give them Wonder Wheel a decent burial, and then box him up in a crate to bring home with Eric.