Toys (1992)
Directed by Barry Levinson
***
Allegories can be fun. Unfortunately, they can also have that "obvious" quality — sometimes, if you get the connection early on, the point becomes overdone rather than more powerful. That's what happens in this otherwise-very-visually-creative movie about a toy store, its whimsical young creative director and the company's militaristic owner. Let's just say pacifism has never been so vocal. With sets inspired by Magritte, Mondrian, Escher, and a host of others, the eye candy quotient is right up there. With silly performances by Robin Williams and Joan Cusack, and even a lovable role from Robin Wright (why did her career not skyrocket?), it also definitely has its moments (some really brilliant moments, actually. I was reminded of some of the innovations in music videos in the late 90s while watching this. The whole just isn't as great as the sum of those parts.
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