The Toy

1982 "When Jackie Gleason told his son he could have any present he wanted, he picked the most outrageous gift of all...Richard Pryor."
5.8| 1h42m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 10 December 1982 Released
Producted By: Columbia Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

On one of his bratty son Eric's annual visits, the plutocrat U.S. Bates takes him to his department store and offers him anything in it as a gift. Eric chooses a black janitor who has made him laugh with his antics. At first the man suffers many indignities as Eric's "toy", but gradually teaches the lonely boy what it is like to have and to be a friend.

... View More
Stream Online

Stream with Max

Director

Producted By

Columbia Pictures

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime. Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Reviews

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.
Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Paynbob It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
gwnightscream Richard Pryor, Jackie Gleason, Scott Shwartz, Teresa Ganzel and Ned Beatty star in Richard Donner's 1982 comedy. Jack Brown (Pryor) is a writer who needs a job to make a down payment on his house and wants to be a reporter for millionaire, U.S. Bates (Gleason). He gets a job working as a cleaner for U.S. until his spoiled son, Eric (Schwartz) notices him goofing around and decides to buy him as a toy. U.S. learns what Eric has done and makes a deal with Jack to play with Eric for a week earning $10,000. Jack gets practical jokes thrown at him, but gets close with Eric and helps him and U.S. with their troubled relationship in the process. Ganzel plays Eric's stepmother, Fancy and Beatty plays Morehouse, one of U.S.' right hand men. I've liked this since I was a kid, Richard and Jackie were great in it together and I recommend this good 80's comedy.
Kristine I know there was a lot of controversy around this film, due to the fact we have a rich white man buying a black man for his son, but I think that people just took this film way too seriously. Richard Pryor is one of the best comedians of all time, so I definitely became interested in seeing this film after I saw it on VH1's "I love the 80's" show, once again though, it seemed like they were giving the film a hard time. Well, I saw this at a store and figured for 5 dollars, what the heck? It's the rental price, if I liked the movie, I might as well own it. Well, I watched it this morning, I have to say that I thought that this was a very cute film that I'm sure if you have an open mind, you'll definitely enjoy it.Jack is a journalist looking for a job, he's not getting anything though, at first he starts as a cleaning lady, but is fired by a snobby rich man. Then he's security at a toy store where the snobby rich man's son is shopping for anything he wants, he sees Jack and thinks he is funny, he wants him as the toy. When offered enough money to save his house, Jack agrees to it, but he's getting just a bit humiliated when he is constantly mocked, understandably. But when he gives the little boy a chance, they end up becoming great friends.The Toy is just a fun movie that I'm sure you'll get a kick out of if you just give it a shot. It's a definite 80's classic that had great comedy in it, Richard was absolutely hilarious. He and Scott Schwartz were very adorable together and looked like they had so much fun together. I would recommend this film for a fun comedy, you're guaranteed a few laughs.7/10
nerfball_king I saw this movie in the theatres when I was a kid. I knew I was maturing when I wanted to leave the theatre instead of enduring this trash. The movie is not funny, it's pacing is dull, and overall offensive for everyone. Particularly the most galling scene of the movie is at the very end, when Pryor is shot in the head with suction darts, then runs down the street at super-speed (a la Benny Hill).Do yourself a favor and avoid this turkey.
Carpetman When I was a kid I actually loved this movie, but now that I'm a man, I'm kinda horrified by "The Toy." A rich white man buys a black man for his spoiled son? Or at least rents a black man for his son. And they take baths together? Yikes! I love Pryor, but I have to assume he took this gig for the money to feed his notorious crack habit. Moral of this movie? If you're a rich white man you can buy a black man for your son. Can you imagine the firestorm of protest if this movie came out today? And oh yeah, the kid became a real life porn star!!!