Childs Play

"Hi, I'm Chucky, and I'm your friend till the end. Hidey-ho."

 I have never "gotten" Child's Play. Even as a kid, whenever I would watch it it just wouldn't scare me. Chucky's attitude is just way to over the top and really, the thought of a doll overpowering someone is just funny. You see him just being carried and tossed around throughout the movie, so why in moments of struggle cant he be treated just the same? Child's Play gets lost somewhere between more serious movies like Halloween and campy cheese like Jack Frost 2 or Gingerdeadman.

We watch as Charles Lee Ray runs down the street in a fire fight with Detective Mike Norris. Charles gets tagged in the leg as he is running away, he gets up and fires back. Hiding behind the cover of a corner as bullets ricochet around he, Charles, in a desperate move, blasts the lock off of a nearby building. He rushes through the door, finding himself in a toy store. Mike pursues him, taking his time as he combs the store. The two fire at each other, Charles misses Mike, but Mikes bullet finds its mark right in Charles chest. He stumbles his way through the store, bleeding out. Mike follows the blood trail. Charles eventually collapses on a display of Good Guy dolls. Lying on the floor, his gaze meeting with the dolls, he sees his salvation. He quickly rips open the box and with blood soaked hands placed upon the doll, he begins to chant. Clouds gather above the toy store and bolts of lightning begin to tear the sky! Mike closes in. In the final moment of the chant, a bolt of lightning crashes through the glass ceiling, causing an explosion that throws Mike back. Smoke and fire engulf the store, Mike recovers. He scours the store, only to find the lifeless body of Charles Lee Ray lying on the floor. The camera focuses on the dolls eyes and fades, "Happy birthday Andy!" the banner reads.

The movie starts out so good. It builds up a lot of steam, making you wonder just what happened, and it even carries that steam for a bit when Andy first gets the doll. They way he talks to Andy only when no one is around, the way he moves around and just appears places. Its creepy and well done. But then... then he comes to life. When its all revealed that he is alive in the doll and all the mystery is taken away, the movie just loses steam. That's the point where it goes from creepy to campy.

I  could go the whole movie wondering whether or not Andy is actually doing everything because of suggestions from the doll, that would be perfect, but Chucky himself, just not scary. I'm sorry Chuck, you're just not my thing... except if I want to laugh.