Small Soldiers Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Toys get military-grade AI, resulting in a suburban war between action figures with deeply misguided notions of heroism and a thirst for craft projects, and gentle monsters who just want to find their way back to the island of Gorgon by going to Yosemite.

🍿 Small Soldiers: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Toy Company Acquisition and New Product Line

GloboTech Industries, led by CEO Gil Mars, acquires Heartland Toy Company. Mars instructs toy designers Larry Benson and Irwin Wayfair to develop interactive toys capable of “playing back.” They create two lines: the Commando Elite (military action figures) and the Gorgonites (educational toys). Benson secretly uses a powerful, experimental AI chip, designed for military applications, to control the toys, ignoring safety protocols and potential consequences.

Toys Come to Life in a Small Town

Teenager Alan Abernathy signs for a shipment of the new toys at his family’s toy store without his father’s permission. He discovers that the toys are sentient after a Commando Elite toy named Chip Hazard attacks a Gorgonite named Archer. The Commando Elite, programmed to destroy the Gorgonites, begin to wreak havoc on the town, searching for and attacking their counterparts.

Escalating Conflict and Civilian Involvement

Alan teams up with his neighbor, Christy Fimple, to protect the Gorgonites and stop the Commando Elite. As the toys’ conflict escalates, they use increasingly dangerous and destructive methods. The Commando Elite, led by Chip Hazard, becomes obsessed with destroying the Gorgonites at any cost, even endangering human lives. The teens must find a way to stop the toys before the situation spirals completely out of control.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Alan Abernathy (Gregory Smith): A rebellious teenager who unwittingly becomes embroiled in a war between sentient toy factions.
• Christy Fimple (Kirsten Dunst): Alan’s neighbor and love interest, who gets caught up in the toy war and becomes a target for the Commando Elite.
• Chip Hazard (Tommy Lee Jones (voice)): The ruthless and militaristic leader of the Commando Elite, determined to destroy the Gorgonites at any cost.
• Archer (Frank Langella (voice)): The wise and peaceful leader of the Gorgonites, seeking refuge and a way to protect his people from the Commandos.
• Gil Mars (Denis Leary): The greedy CEO of Globotech, who prioritizes profit over safety and unleashes the dangerous toys onto the world.
• Irwin Wayfair (David Cross): One of the toy designers, whose password is used to implement military AI chips, and is horrified by the consequences.
• Larry Benson (Jay Mohr): The ambitious toy designer who implements the military AI chips into the toys without considering the safety implications.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Chip Hazard: “Are you scared? We’re all scared. You’d have to be crazy not to be scared.” – Chip says this to Christy while holding her hostage, attempting to intimidate her.
• Archer: “We are the Gorgonites, protectors of the small.” – Archer introduces himself and his purpose to Alan.
• Chip Hazard: “He was a good soldier. His battery is dead, but his memory will live on, and on, and on!” – Chip says this as a memorial after one of his soldiers is defeated, referencing a battery commercial.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $40,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $54,682,547
• Worldwide Gross: $54,682,547

💥 Small Soldiers Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching this as a kid and being absolutely blown away by the special effects! The idea of toys coming to life and waging war in my backyard was incredible. Tommy Lee Jones’ voice as Chip Hazard was perfect, intimidating and hilarious all at once. The film gave me a slightly dark but funny look at corporate greed and consumerism, but mostly it was just pure, unadulterated fun. I still watch it every few years for that nostalgic hit.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 90s family adventure movies”
  • “Viewers interested in cautionary tales about technology”
  • “Those who appreciate films with satirical elements”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Toy violence and destruction”
  • “Some frightening scenes”
  • “Intense action sequences”

Professional Reviews

• Los Angeles Times: “Small Soldiers delivers thrilling action sequences and cutting-edge special effects, but at the expense of emotional depth. The voice acting is superb, particularly Tommy Lee Jones as Chip Hazard, though the film’s anti-war message is somewhat muddled.
• Variety: “Joe Dante’s Small Soldiers offers a visually impressive spectacle with darkly humorous undertones, but its mixed tone may struggle to find a consistent audience. The film’s critique of militarism is intriguing, yet the narrative feels unfocused at times.

Audience Reactions

The dark humor and impressive visual effects made this a unique experience.: The special effects and voice acting are what viewers consistently praise.

Overall Consensus: A visually impressive and darkly humorous film that delivers excitement, though mixed tone may not appeal to all audiences.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Joe Dante originally wanted the cast of Predator (1987) to voice the Commando Elite.”
• “The soldiers are credited as ‘The Original Dirty Dozen’ and the Gorgonites are credited as ‘Spinal Tap’. Many of the character voices actually come from those two movies.”
• “The film makes numerous references to other war movies such as Patton, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now.”

🖥️ How to Watch Small Soldiers?

As of today, October 26, 2023, “Small Soldiers” is available for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability, as these options can change.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Small Soldiers, you might like these similar films:

• Toy Story (1995): Direct comparison, both explore the idea of toys coming to life and having adventures when humans aren’t around.
• Gremlins (1984): Directed by Joe Dante, it has similar themes of chaos erupting in a small town due to seemingly harmless creatures turning dangerous.
• Child’s Play (1988): Shares the theme of toys coming to life and becoming malevolent, though with a horror element absent in Small Soldiers.
• Transformers (2007): Modern equivalent with advanced technology bringing toys (robots) to life and engaging in large-scale battles.

🛒 Small Soldiers Related Products

• Small Soldiers: Commando Elite Action Figure Set: A limited-edition set featuring Major Chip Hazard and the Commando Elite, each figure meticulously detailed with accurate accessories. Comes in a retro-style packaging.
• Small Soldiers: Gorgonites Plush Set: Includes plush versions of Archer, Ocula, and Troglokhan, perfect for fans of the peaceful Gorgonites. Soft, cuddly and highly detailed.
• Small Soldiers Movie Poster (Limited Edition): A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster, printed on archival paper. Numbered and limited to 500 copies.
• Small Soldiers: The Battle Begins (Video Game Soundtrack): The complete original score by Jerry Goldsmith, plus bonus tracks and remixes inspired by the movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

Small Soldiers features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “War” – performed by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony with Henry Rollins, Tom Morello & Flea
• “Another Brick in the Wall” – performed by Class Of ’98
• “Tom Sawyer” – performed by Rush

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Small Soldiers | War for the Nekron

Get ready for an epic battle as Small Soldiers are brought to life with cutting-edge graphics. This fan-made trailer will make you wish for a modern adaptation of this beloved movie.

Phil Hartman’s hilarious scenes in Small Soldiers

Prepare to laugh out loud as we relive Phil Hartman’s funniest moments from Small Soldiers. His impeccable comedic timing and witty delivery will leave you craving for more.

SMALL SOLDIERS Behind-the-Scenes Puppet Battle Rehearsal

Go behind the scenes with the talented team at Stan Winston School as they bring Small Soldiers to life with intricate puppetry. Watch as the puppeteers rehearse the epic battles that make this film so memorable.

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