Colombian terrorist Luis Cali is ruthless in trying to rescue his drug lord father Enrique Cali but he's been secretly sent to America. His group infiltrates into the US to take over The Regis School for boys run by the Headmaster (Denholm Elliott). One of the kids is the son of the judge presiding over Cali's trial but he's been taken into protective custody. However the terrorists find other sons of powerful men. One of them is mobster's son Joey Trotta (Wil Wheaton). Dean Parker (Louis Gossett Jr.) is outside with the police. Billy Tepper (Sean Astin) is the lead delinquent in a school full of delinquents.

The terrorists release all the staff except the headmaster. Also they give the kids just enough freedom. All of it is aim to jerry-rig the situation where the kids make a plan to overcome the terrorists. I don't think any terrorist would just let their hostages walk around. It's a kiddie John McClane with a lot of unlikely twists and turns. The plot is unrealistic but it's still a watchable thriller.

"The Regis School (better known as the 'Rejects School') is where America's most powerful families send their wayward sons after they've been kicked out of the better prep schools. But faced with certain death at the hands of the terrorists, the toughest of the troublemakers surprise the dean (Louis Gossett, Jr.) with a brilliant and daring plan to save their classmates. Led by Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton and Keith Coogan, the 'Rejects' show their true colors, using both brains and brawn in a fatal race to defuse the terrorists' explosives," according to the synopsis scribers at TriStar Home Entertainment.

Catch the step-son and grandson of two "Addams Family" stars in one film (one picking his nose)...

Except for a sad scene (or two),this is a funny and suspenseful thriller. The script is sometimes stupid, but the characters somehow ring true - climbing into rooms through the roof and drinking alcohol from mouthwash bottles in a school basement are still being done. And, the situation regarding terrorists taking a university should be considered a realistic premise, as well as students becoming part of the solution; more implausible scenarios have happened since "Toy Soldiers" premiered. Director Daniel Petrie Jr. does a great job keeping the excitement up, in his first feature - why doesn't he direct more?

******** Toy Soldiers (4/26/91) Daniel Petrie Jr. ~ Sean Astin, Louis Gossett Jr., Wil Wheaton, Keith Coogan

This came as a huge surprise for me. I had never heard of this movie when I first saw it, and the title really pointed towards something else than a great terrorist/hostage situation at a high school. Toy Soldiers has the best from it's time period of the early 90's, where action movies were light-hearted and very enjoyable. The action is good, the plot is interesting and way over the top, the bad guy is a one-dimensional hateful douchebag (which is great),Louis Gossett Jr. is in it, it's simply a feel-good movie which I thoroughly enjoyed.

You can't go wrong with this one if you like action. I give it a solid rating of 8/10.