Rebeldes e Heróis

This came as a huge surprise for me. I had never heard of this movie when I first saw it, and the title really pointed towards something else than a great terrorist/hostage situation at a high school. Toy Soldiers has the best from it's time period of the early 90's, where action movies were light-hearted and very enjoyable. The action is good, the plot is interesting and way over the top, the bad guy is a one-dimensional hateful douchebag (which is great), Louis Gossett Jr. is in it, it's simply a feel-good movie which I thoroughly enjoyed.

You can't go wrong with this one if you like action. I give it a solid rating of 8/10.

Colombian terrorist Luis Cali is ruthless in trying to rescue his drug lord father Enrique Cali but he's been secretly sent to America. His group infiltrates into the US to take over The Regis School for boys run by the Headmaster (Denholm Elliott). One of the kids is the son of the judge presiding over Cali's trial but he's been taken into protective custody. However the terrorists find other sons of powerful men. One of them is mobster's son Joey Trotta (Wil Wheaton). Dean Parker (Louis Gossett Jr.) is outside with the police. Billy Tepper (Sean Astin) is the lead delinquent in a school full of delinquents.

The terrorists release all the staff except the headmaster. Also they give the kids just enough freedom. All of it is aim to jerry-rig the situation where the kids make a plan to overcome the terrorists. I don't think any terrorist would just let their hostages walk around. It's a kiddie John McClane with a lot of unlikely twists and turns. The plot is unrealistic but it's still a watchable thriller.

We are kept on edge in many scenes as there is genuine danger if something doesn't happen just the right way. And this isn't one of those movies where everything is guaranteed to turn out all right, though the violence is not excessive or graphic. Innocent people die, though that' mainly in Colombia. There is a chance someone you care about might not make it.

At the same time, it is interesting to watch the teenage boys figuring out how to get out of their situation. And quite exciting when their plans turn into action.

This movie is not entirely without comedy. In fact, it is a comedy in the first scenes at the school, before the terrorists arrive. There are a few more funny moments after that.

Louis Gossett Jr. Shows why he he has won at least one Oscar. Although he could surely have been the man in charge, he was perfectly suited for the role of the strict but patient and caring Dean Parker.

Sean Astin does a good job too. Although not the smartest in some ways, he certainly comes across as the leader and the one who can figure things out.

It is to be expected that this movie's target audience was teenage boys, and even back then, the music boys liked wasn't what I would call music. But there wasn't too much of that. The background music was good, and I was almost certain I heard a few notes of a certain Martika song. Even though that song had the same title as the movie, her recording was not used.

Was this family friendly? Once cleaned up for TV, this had a TV-PG with a V when I saw it. I guess that was appropriate, though it does have this one funny scene where a telephone sex worker wants to take off her clothes. There were obvious substitutions of cleaner words. And I mentioned the violence wasn't graphic, though innocent people do die. That's more implied than anything else.

Formula? Maybe. I like the formula.

I remember seeing this when it first came out in theatres and wondering why it wasn't a bigger hit at the time. Writer/director Daniel Petrie Jr. and his co-writer David Koepp have done an excellent job of taking a basically far-fetched comic-book plot and then getting us to go along for the ride. The acting is generally good all-around, with special kudos going to Andrew Divoff as the smooth, suave villain. Smart, fast paced, action-packed and exciting....a perfect popcorn picture.

This is one of the best "Bloke" movies from the early 90's and whilst slightly dated, its one of those movies that would never get made today, which makes it very special! In fact, a very similar movie was made in the 90's called "Masterminds" and it was a PG variation on the same theme, but it was nowhere near as fun or realistic for that matter.

So what's so special about this film? It's the comradre between the main characters and the against all odds theme of the film. Sean Astin is very likable and has starred in some of the most memorable films of the 80/90's, particularly "The Goonies". He also went onto greater things with "Rudy" and "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy, but "Encino Man" is a good trip down memory lane. Will Wheaton from "Stand by Me" lends nice support to the film and Andrew Divoff is a terrific villain. Louis Gossett Jr sleepwalks in his role, but he does add some brevity to the film, particularly his relationship with Astin's rebellious nature.

So how's the action? By today's standards, it's rather tedious and cheap looking, almost like a TV movie, but the production values are good and the violence is actually quite nasty for a film involving school students. However, the director makes up for the limited budget with some nicely suspenseful moments and well placed humor.

So park your brain at the door and enjoy this fondly remembered action flick, but don't expect Oscar material!