History Film / TheToy

* ExactWords: Eric smugly reminds his father's surprised employees that his father said he could choose ''anything'' inside the store when he asks for Jack.

* PersonalArcade: Eric has ''VideoGame/{{Centipede}}'' and ''VideoGame/SpaceDuel'' cabinets in his bedroom.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: InUniverse Jack (black man) and some others point out the UnfortunateImplications of Eric (white kid) having him (and treating him) as a "toy" (with that exact term flung around by Eric constantly). Thankfully 1) Eric and U.S. undergo CharacterDevelopment and 2) U.S. [[EveryManHasHisPrice has enough money to pay them all off]].

''The Toy'' is the 1982 [[ForeignRemake American remake]] of the French comedy ''Le Jouet'' with Creator/PierreRichard. It was directed by Creator/RichardDonner and starred Creator/RichardPryor and Creator/JackieGleason.

A 1982 [[ForeignRemake American remake]] of the French comedy ''Le Jouet'', directed by Creator/RichardDonner and starring Creator/RichardPryor and Creator/JackieGleason.

* AlsoStarring: Got the "And Introducing" credit for Scott Schwartz.

* AccidentalMisnaming: 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. Not that he's going to stop Fancy from doing it.

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_toy_1982.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:310:Just don't ask where the batteries go.]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-toy_4914.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Just don't ask where the batteries go.]]

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

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 a man cost him 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 store's 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.

* RealityEnsues: 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!'''''

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 man cost him 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.

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

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We never do find out whether U.S. is still facing a federal indictment after his plan to blackmail the senator was foiled by Jack and Eric. He doesn't seem too worried about it in the end, if his promises to Eric are any indication.

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 man costed him 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.

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

* ButtMonkey: Eric makes Jack one for the first half of the movie with his humiliating pranks, and U.S. makes Mr. Morehouse one for the second half by forcing him to fire an associate just for having sweaty hands, and later forcing him to pull down his pants in front of Jack just to make a point about how much power U.S. really has.

* DeepSouth: Averted. The movie was filmed on location in Baton Rouge, a major metropolitan area and state capitol of Louisiana, so Donner couldn't have gotten away with it if he wanted to.

* DeepSouth: Averted. The movie was filmed on location in Baton Rouge, a major metropolitan area of Louisiana, so Donner couldn't have gotten away with it if he wanted to.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: U.S. wants his son to know that being wealthy means never having to say you're sorry. Jack notes that's about the only thing Eric ''does'' understand.

its premise is a bit controversial.

its premise is a bit controversial,

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

* AccidentalMisnaming: 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.

-->'''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!'''"''

* {{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.

* ParentalAbandonment: Eric has nannies, au pairs and butlers around to take care of him, but he really wants his dad to do the job.