Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Small Soldiers is a 1998 movie in which soldier toys powered by advanced military technology come to life and wreak havoc on anyone they consider to be their enemy. The "soldiers" of the title are ruthless killing machines in the body of dolls who attack everyone around them with every means at their disposal, which means taking common household objects and garage tools and converting them into weaponry, such as nail guns, pointed nail files, flaming tennis balls. There is some peril: teens and an older man are tied up by the toys, and one is held hostage, and a boy hanging from an electrical pole could either fall to his death or die of electrocution. Profanity includes "crap," "damn," "hell," "ass," "sucks." The commando toys make sexist comments about the female Barbie-esque dolls they bring to life. The overall themes, satirizing the military industrial complex, violent war-themed toys, and the negative influence of multinational corporations, make this best for tweens and teens capable of understanding the topics being satirized.

Sexual Content

Flirtation and a passionate kiss. The commando toys make sexist comments about the female Barbie-esque dolls they bring to life.

Violence

Living toys are chewed up in a disposal and otherwise tortured. They use power tools and explosives to attack humans. Some peril: A boy risks falling to his death or dying from electrocution while on top of a pole with a power generator. Toys arm themselves with nail guns, staple guns, various explosives, and set fire to tennis balls shot from a tennis ball server.

Language

Some profanity. "Crap." "Damn." "Hell." "Ass." "Sucks." A teen has a poster in his room of a band called "REO Speed Dealer" and at the bottom of the poster is the word "Honky."

Social Behavior

This movie satirizes the military industrial complex, violent toys, and the pernicious influence of multinational corporations.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

A mom asks her son, "Are you on crank?" then proceeds to ask if he is on other drugs. Parents drink from a glass of gin and tonic that is drugged with sleeping pills. A teen boy has a poster in his room of a band called "REO Speed Dealer."