I didn’t much
like The Indian in the Cupboard when
it came out, and I found it somewhat tiresome to watch 20-years later. Part of
the problem with this unfortunate children’s book adaptation is that it came
out the same year as a far more exciting and successful adaptation: Jumanji. The Indian in the Cupboard, by comparison, is slow-paced and
unfortunately cast. While Jumanji had
the performance from a young Kirsten Dunst, The
Indian in the Cupboard has the awkward Hal Scardino, whose credits ended
soon after this performance. Even with Frank Oz as the director, there is no
sense of humor and minimal excitement to make this movie memorable or even
enjoyable.
This was one of
those movies that seemed set up for success, including collaboration by many
writers and producers who had worked on E.T. together. Then again, it had the
established structure of the book that it was adapting, which had only brief
moments of excitement to begin with. Add to that a handful of unconvincing
child actors and it is no wonder that The
Indian in the Cupboard is so forgetful, not to mention horribly outdated
and slightly offensive (or at the very least, culturally insensitive). Frank Oz
admitted that he wasn’t much of a children’s film director, and his hesitance
to direct this film is apparent in the final product.
The story
follows a 9-year-old named Omri (Scardino) and a magical cupboard given to him
as a birthday gift. Omri doesn’t seem to have many friends and he doesn’t have the
same interests as his brother. Perhaps this is because his parents gave him
such a pretentious name. Whatever the reason, Omri soon discovers that he can
create his own friends by placing toys into his cupboard, which has the amazing
ability to bring inanimate objects to life. For whatever reason, Omri stays
focused on a toy Indian, despite having Star
Wars, Jurassic Park
Omri builds a
friendship with the toy-sized Indian, a 19th Century Iroquois
warrior named Little Bear (Litefoot), despite essentially treating the
miniature person like one of his belongings. Eventually Omri makes friends with
another young boy at school, though his insitance upon putting a cowboy into
the cupboard brings the expected results. Throw in a loose rat and the missing
cupboard key and that is the closest that The
Indian in the Cupboard has to a climax.
In an attempt to
cross-promote the new Goosebumps movie, the extras include a sneak peek, as
well as the cast discussing their memories of The Indian in the Cupboard. Also exclusive to this Anniversary
Edition Blu-ray release is a retrospective featurette, as well as an archival
one and the film’s original theatrical trailers. Previously released but also
included in this package is a commentary track from director Frank Oz. The
Blu-ray disc is mastered in 4K, though there is not nearly enough visual
excitement to make this impressive.
Entertainment Value:
5.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6/10
Historical
Significance: 5/10
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