Watch The Toy

The Toy (Le Jouet) is a French comedy film from 1976. Directed by Francis Veber, the movie stars Pierre Richard, Michel Bouquet, and Fabrice Greco in lead roles. The film tells the story of a wealthy businessman Édouard Leclerc (Michel Bouquet) who finds himself bored and disillusioned with his privileged life. In search of some diversion, he decides to buy a person instead of a thing.

One day, while strolling in the park, Édouard sees a man and mistakenly assumes that he is a homeless person. He impulsively asks the man if he wants to become his toy, offering him a large sum of money in return. The man in question turns out to be François Perrin (Pierre Richard), a journalist who just lost his job. François, who is also in need of money, agrees to Édouard's proposal.

From that moment on, François becomes Édouard's plaything, there to amuse him whenever he feels the need for entertainment. Despite the financial compensation, François finds the arrangement unbearable and humiliating. He tries to escape, but Édouard is not willing to let him go that easily.

As the story progresses, the viewers are taken on a hilarious and absurd journey, watching as Édouard and François engage in an unusual and sometimes dangerous games that border on the edge of madness. Along the way, François becomes increasingly more disillusioned with his situation, but a strange bond begins to form between him and Édouard's young son, Eric (Fabrice Greco).

The Toy is a classic example of a 'buddy film', where two characters come from different social classes and form an unlikely friendship. In this case, François is a middle-class man who finds himself in the company of the wealthy Édouard. At first, the two characters seem to have nothing in common, but as the story unfolds, they begin to discover that they actually have more similarities than they thought.

One of the main themes of the film is the concept of ownership. Édouard sees François as a toy to play with, a possession that he can control and manipulate. François, on the other hand, resents the way he is treated and longs to regain his independence. Through their interactions, the film explores the idea of owning another person and the impact that it can have on both the owner and the owned.

Despite its comedic tone, The Toy also touches on deeper issues such as the meaning of life, the importance of family, and the dangers of materialism. The film raises questions about the value of money and the lengths people will go to attain wealth and power.

The acting in The Toy is superb, particularly from Pierre Richard, who delivers a brilliant performance as François. His face is incredibly expressive, conveying a range of emotions from frustration, anger, and sadness to joy and love. Michel Bouquet also shines as Édouard, playing the cold and calculating businessman with ease.

In conclusion, The Toy is an entertaining and thought-provoking film that will leave viewers with much to ponder. With its strong performances, clever plot, and underlying messages, it is a true gem of French cinema.

The Toy is a 2013 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.