With Jim Sabatini

Toy Soldiers

Rated: R for violence and language
Reviewed by: Frank and Chris
Release date: April 26, 1991

I didn't expect much from Toy Soldiers. What a pleasant surprise. It is a well-written, well directed and well acted action adventure.

Enrique Cali, a South American drug czar, is extradited to the United States, and his son, Luis, devises a plan to win his freedom. Luis takes students of an exclusive Northeastern prep school hostage, some of whom are "problem" teen age boys of wealthy and influential Americans. After a swift and brutal takeover of the campus, the most difficult to manage of the students plot to help the authorities take the campus.

Teen age boys and girls rebel from authority, usually their parents and teachers. In this film, a real cause comes along for the rebels to confront and defeat. Daniel Petrie, Jr. directed and wrote the screenplay. He has crafted a fast paced, tension-filled film laced with comic relief similar to the very successful Die Hard. As usual, a fine strong performance is turned in by Louis Gossett, Jr., as the school's dean. Sean Astin plays the leader of the rebellious group and Wil Wheaton, from Star Trek
, is the son of a Mafia leader who has dealings with Enrique Cali. The Mafia connection plays a role in the film, as does the electronics skill of one of the younger students.

You will cheer for the kids, laugh each time they foil the bad guys and squirm in your seat as the terrorist come near to uncovering the student plot.