"Toy Soldiers" is an example of a very good cast — primarily young Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton and Keith Coogan in the film's main roles and Louis Gossett Jr. and Denholm Elliott as their supervising adults — forced to go through a by-the-numbers routine.
The plot here has a drug lord demanding his father's release from prison. His ace in the hole is taking over a prep school filled with young boys whose fathers are all prominent figures.
But it's all little more than an excuse to present cat-and-mouse games between the kids — in particular Astin, who has the nominal lead here as a troubled youngster out to prove himself — and the terrorists.
On the outside the military threatens to storm the place, but Gossett is sure Astin and friends will save the day.
There are a few good moments here and there, some nicely choreographed action scenes, but for the most part this is warmed-over "Taps" on a B-movie level.
There is also an especially tasteless phone-sex sequence early in the film that amounts to vulgarity overkill.
"Toy Soldiers" might do for an evening out at the dollar theaters in a few weeks (or as a $1 video rental in a few months), but it's nothing special.
"Toy Soldiers" is rated R for considerable violence, profanity and vulgarity, with a brief nude scene.