Small Soldiers 4K Steelbook review by Bobby Blakey
Director Joe Dante has brought us some great flicks throughout his career including Gremlins, Piranha, The Howling, and The ‘Burbs to name a few. In 1998 he took on a different kind of flick with Small Soldiers starring Kirsten Dunst, Denis Leary, Jay Mohr, David Cross, Gregory Smith, Robert Picardo and the late Phil Hartman as well as the voices of Tommy Lee Jones, Frank Langella, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, George Kennedy, Bruce Dern, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Christina Ricci.
Small Soldiers follows fifteen-year-old Alan Abernathy, the son of a toy store owner, who tries out some new action figures: The Commando Elite versus The Gorgonites. But three months ago, a toy company believes it is onto something when it employs the latest government military technology in a series of action figures, enabling them to talk. They underestimate the power of the special microchips they've employed, however, as the two opposing sides of the toy line start thinking for themselves and engaging in real combat! The Commando Elite vow to wipe out the Gorgonites in a suburban neighborhood. Alan, his neighbor Christy Fimple, (on whom he has a massive crush) with the help of the kind Gorgonites, must protect his home and family from the Commandos.
I remember seeing this film when it came out and thinking what the hell is this. The more I sat with it the more I realized I had enjoyed it. Over time it became a guilty pleasure that I eventually introduced to my kids. I hadn’t sat down to revisit in years since my VHS copy so getting to check it out with fresh eyes was fun, but also worrisome if it would hold up in any way and to my surprise it does it all its bizarreness.
The biggest thing going for this film was the original tone to it, even though it was essentially a blend of Puppet Master and Gremlins wrapped in a family friendly kids flick. The effects were impressive back then and to my surprise still hold up well. The story is simple and effective with plenty of ridiculous moments to help it stand out. It still surprises me that this movie even got made just giving the idea and with such a great cast, but that’s why it works.
Everyone takes it seriously instead of just going with the silliness. There is clearly a hint of something not so kid friendly at times with it taking some dark turns that could have easily turned into a full-on horror film. It always finds itself back on track and keeps it family friendly outside of the action element and a fun flick that I hope finds a new audience with this new release.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including bloopers and behind the scenes featurette. Grab your copy of Small Soldiers when it hits 4K Steelbook for the first time available now from Paramount.