Scott LeBrun Richard Pryor makes the most of the situation in this 1982 comedy which some viewers could continue to find distasteful. He's Jack Brown, a broke writer, supposedly working on a book, who's also been trying to get a job on a newspaper. Since work is awful hard to come boy, he takes a job as a "cleaning lady", and while goofing around in a toy store one night, he's spotted by Eric Bates (Scott Schwartz), a spoiled brat son of a pompous zillionaire (Jackie Gleason). Eric's under the impression that he can help himself to anything as long as he has the money, so Jack is hired as a plaything for the boy.Based upon the French comedy "Le Jouet", it's understandable that one would wince at various indignities to which Pryor must be subjected. But he and his fellow comic talent Gleason are able to mine a fair amount of laughs from various scenes and lines. Pryor really is at his best when reacting to other characters, while Gleason is perfect as a man who lives with his own version of reality: because he has all the wealth and power, he can make others do whatever he wants them to. Young Schwartz is appealing as the kid who must learn the movies' blatantly stated "you don't buy friends, you EARN them" message.The whole cast is great, though: Ned Beatty as sniveling flunky Morehouse, Wilfrid Hyde- White as Barkley the butler, sexy Teresa Ganzel as Gleasons' air headed trophy wife # 3, and Annazette Chase as Jacks' activist girlfriend.While not always terribly funny, there are some good gags, such as Jack marching into supposedly piranha infested water and getting his clothes cut to ribbons. The evolving relationship between Jack and Eric really is the heart and soul of the movie, though. Gleasons' activities sort of get glossed over by the end, but we can see that he is also a father who does genuinely love his son and does want to make a connection with him.If you're a fan of Pryor or Gleason, you'll likely have a good time with this.Six out of 10.

Payback1016 Now that may sound misleading since Lovecraft had nothing to do with this Pryor, Gleason and Donner comedy, but there was so much in it that would be impossible to comprehend.First let's address the elephant in the room. Yes it's a rich white Billionaire buying a black man for his kid to play with. Yes by all accounts it's modern day slavery. Yes this pretty much became severely harsher in hindsight not just from those implications, but due to the recent events surrounding human trafficking. But what I like about the movie isn't just the comedy once you get past it. But the fact that they managed to get this movie made at all in spite of the implications. If a censor today were to look at this idea, they would probably have the human equivalent to Blue Screen of Death before going insane at how they managed to get away with that. And that's why I consider it a Lovecraft movie. Because it's that F***ing crazy.

TOMASBBloodhound Yes, this is a wrong-headed and awkward little farce, but the stars are fun to watch. The Toy is the story of Richard Pryor desperately needing a job and being hired first as a cleaning LADY, and then as a playmate for the spoiled son of a tycoon. Director Richard Donner is able to showcase the tough economic times of the early 1980s and even sprinkle a little social awareness in terms of race. However the basic plot of a black man being bought or rented by a rich white man is an easy target for the race-bating crowd. Despite some scenes that might make the viewer feel uneasy, there are still a few good laughs here. Pryor is always watchable, and Gleason was unable to work much after this film. He makes his character believable, though.The film suffers from a few problems, to say the least. Scott Schwarz is certainly whiny and annoying as the boy. Yes, he is supposed to be but his performance on many levels is grating. I like one line Pryor has about him when Gleason tells him he only gets the boy for one week each year. Pryor suggests that Gleason get some better lawyers, because nobody should have to put up with that kid for as long as a week! Ha! There are a couple of uncomfortable scenes regarding the boy's German nanny coming onto to Pryor. In one scene she asks if he is brown all over while feeling him up while he's wearing spider man pajamas! Ughh! There is also an embarrassing scene where the boy asks Pryor some pointed questions about sex, while straddling a huge old cannon at a park area. Ewww. Ned Beatty is forced to drop his pants in one scene, but its nothing as graphic as the scene in Deliverance.I loved the scene where a huge outdoor Klan fund raiser is disrupted by Pryor and the kid. Actually Pryor is funny in just about every scene. The big-chested trophy wife of Gleason has some funny moments, too. I guess if you just don't take it seriously, than that is the only way to watch it. Still not a classic, if nothing else, The Toy is a curiosity best enjoyed by die hard fans of Pryor and Gleason. 5 of 10 stars.The Hound.

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