Movie spotlight
On one of his bratty son Eric's annual visits, the plutocrat U.S. Bates takes him to his department store and offers him anything in it as a gift. Eric chooses a black janitor who has made him laugh with his antics. At first the man suffers many indignities as Eric's "toy", but gradually teaches the lonely boy what it is like to have and to be a friend.
An unemployed reporter, desperate for a job, agrees to be bought as a personal toy by a spoiled rich kid. While initially playing along, he begins to question the ethics of his situation and the impact it has on the child. He attempts to teach the boy valuable life lessons while navigating the demands of the eccentric millionaire father.
The Toy received largely negative reviews from critics, who found its premise and execution to be weak and unfunny. While some acknowledged the potential for humor, most felt the film failed to deliver, with performances and plot points drawing criticism.
The film's central concept of a man being purchased as a toy was widely seen as problematic and unfunny.
Critics found the performances to be lacking, particularly Richard Pryor's, who struggled to carry the weak material.
The plot was often described as predictable and lacking in genuine emotional depth or comedic timing.
Google audience: Audiences generally found the film to be a disappointing comedy, with many expressing that it was not very funny and that the premise was difficult to accept. Some viewers appreciated the performances of Jackie Gleason and Ann-Margret, but overall, the film did not resonate well.
The film was based on the 1975 French film 'Le jouet', which starred Pierre Richard and Michel Bouquet.
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New Video Drop: Full review, reaction, and roast of THE TOY (1982) starring Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason. If you want to relive the film with a hilarious commentary - check out the video on the Midnight Hustle Podcast YouTube channel: ...
In "I Am Richard Pryor" they kind of blasted this movie as being horrible....And here I am thinking it was a beloved childhood classic. They won't remake it now, the PC police would be all over them...despite the fact that it was Richard...
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