Product Details

• Actors: Richard Pryor, Jackie Gleason, Ned Beatty, Scott Schwartz, Teresa Ganzel
• Directors: Richard Donner
• Writers: Carol Sobieski, Francis Veber
• Producers: Margaret Booth, Phil Feldman, Ray Stark
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: August 6, 1996
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303589146
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,461 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This well-packaged 1983 remake of the French comedy Le Jouet features two legendary actors in an unlikely pairing. Richard Pryor (Live on the Sunset Strip, Stir Crazy) plays a down on his luck writer who is talked into taking a job as a plaything for the spoiled rich kid of billionaire Jackie Gleason (The Hustler), who just can't communicate with his own son. Amidst a constant stream of abuse and slapstick adventures, Pryor manages to bring out the heart in both father and son and bring them closer together, as he fights to retain his own dignity. Director Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon) concentrates on the outlandish set pieces and wisely leaves the comic timing up to the two old pros, making The Toy an entertaining diversion. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great movie, September 13, 2000

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A lot of people don't like "The Toy" for some reason, but I did. I didn't see what's not to like about the movie. Jack (Richard Pryor) is a journalist who is trying to find a good job. Eric (Scott Schwartz) is a boy who gets everything he wants, but is struggling to get along with his father. Therefore, Eric gets his dad (Jackie Gleason) to buy Jack as his toy because that's what he wants. Jack and Eric turn out to be great friends and Jack becomes a role model for Eric and teaches him some great lessons.

"The Toy" is a great movie. Parts of it are hilarious and some parts have a lot of meaning to them. I recommend anybody to get "The Toy."

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comedy Classic Plain and Simple, May 27, 2003

By 

TIM B "tbro1971" (Rosemont, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Toy (DVD)

So many people try to turn this movie into a battle about race. Lest we forget that Richard Pryor is the hero in this movie teaching the boy NOT to be racist, arrogant or judge people. In the end the Klan and the other racists get what they have coming to them. So enjoy this movie for what it is; Lighthearted, simple, fun and hysterical, nothing more and nothing less.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a childhood classic,comedy at its finest., March 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Toy (DVD)

This movie is not about Jackie Gleason being a slave driver to Richard Pryor,it is just the opposite.Jack accepts the job of being erics "toy" for a good sum of money.The movie is a good flick i have enjoyed watching since I was a kid back in '83.I enjoyed it then and I still enjoy it now.I must have seen this movie at least 50 times and I havent gotten tired of it yet.Its like a fine wine,gets better with age.