Small Soldiers nearly didn't end up on this Web Page. It's primarily a live action film, and there may not be enough animated sequences in it to merit considering it as a hybrid live-action/animated film. The scale tips in its favor, however, because the film is a Dream Works production that owes a heavy debt to Pixar's A Toy Story
Actually, Small Soldiers is really a watered-down Gremlins-meets-Toy Story-meets-Child's-Play. Director Joe Dante recycles many of the motifs of his earlier Gremlins movies (which were heavily influnced by various Golden Age Looney Tunes) - but without the sense of irony that made Gremlins so much fun to watch. It's very disarming watching furry little critters lay waste to a small town on Christmas; that same joy vanishes when the "gremlins" are really violent Duke Nukem lookalikes. Most of the satire that made Gremlins a treat is missing, too, although the transformation of Barbie Dolls is a hoot to watch and a true tomboy's fantasy. Despite a few supporting characters and scattered scenes, this isn't a spoof of the toy industry at all.
The animation of the toys is as good as any computer animation around nowadays. The toys always retain the identity of toys, with understandably limited facial expressions, which adds to the realism of the film. Indeed, the toys look so much like real toys that if I didn't know better, I'd swear that this was Harryhausen-style model animation.
I'd like Small Soldiers more if more time were spent at a toy's-eye view and less time were devoted to world as seen by people. The toys (voiced by members of Spinal Tap and much of the cast of The Dirty Dozen) are more entertaining than most of the live-action cast. The war between the two clans of toys (the Soldiers and the Gorgonites) could have been much funnier if most of the humans remained unaware that the toys were alive. Having children instead of teen leads would have also added a little more childhood wonder to the happenings, although this would have prevented Dante from having the obligitory onscreen romance.
Needless to say, this isn't a film for preschoolers. Older kids will enjoy much of this movie, as will adults into Duke Nukem and collecting oversized action figures. The rest of you will want to stay away.
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