I remember seeing TV adverts for this film when it was released, around the same time as Jumanji and Toy Story, it was beaten at the box-office by movies like Batman Forever, Pocahontas and Apollo 13, but it was rated well, and I was told it was worthwhile, so I looked forward to it, directed by Frank Oz (The Dark Crystal, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Little Shop of Horrors, Bowfinger). Basically in Brooklyn, on his ninth birthday, Omri (Hal Scardino) receives an old cupboard from his brother Gillon (Vincent Kartheiser) and a little Native American "Indian" figure made of plastic from his best friend Patrick (Rishi Bhat). That night, Omri goes through his mother's old box of keys to find one that will open the cupboard, he finds a gold-coloured key with a red ribbon that fits the keyhole, he can only fit his Indian figurine inside. In the morning, Omri hears a tapping coming from inside the cupboard, he opens it up and finds a small living person hiding in the corner. It is the Indian figurine who has magically come to life in human form, the Indian is frightened by his large acquaintance and stabs him in the finger with his small knife. Omri's father Victor (Richard Jenkins) comes into the room to help him get ready for school, the child locks the cupboard and keeps the Indian a secret. When Omri returns home from school, he is upset to find the Indian figurine has returned to its original form as a toy, he locks the cupboard again. In bed, Omri once again hears tapping, he opens the cupboard and finds the Indian alive once again, the Indian is again frightened, but they start talking and slowly form a friendship. The Indian reveals himself as an English-speaking, 18th-century Iroquois Indian named Little Bear (Litefoot) who was fighting in the French and Indian War alongside the British. Omri does some research and learns a lot about the Iroquois and learns that Little Bear has a deceased wife. Omri takes Little Bear outside, but he is hurt by a pigeon, Omri brings to life a figurine of a First World War British Army medic named Tommy Atkins (Steve Coogan) to treat Little Bear's wound. As time goes by, Omri and Little Bear become closer as friends, the boy gives him tools to build a longhouse, they share stories, and Omri decides to surprise him, bringing to life a Chieftain Indian figure. But the shock of seeing a large boy causes the old man to suffer a heart attack, seeing his confusion, Little Bear realises that Omri really is a child, and not a great spirit as he assumed, he warns Omri not to tamper with magic he does not understand. Omri has a bit of friction with his father, about using his tools without permission, they make amends, and Omri tries to show his maturity by buying some tools for his father from the store. At the store, Omri runs into his friend Patrick, who is carrying a plastic figurine of a cowboy riding a horse. Omri eventually reveals his secret to Patrick, but Little Bear is hiding, and begs the boy to send him home. Ignoring Omri protesting, Patrick brings his cowboy figurine "Boohoo" Boone (David Keith) to life, the cowboy and the Indian are initially hostile towards each another but are told to behave themselves. Omri reluctantly accepts Patrick's request to bring Little Bear and Boone to school, the two boys have an argument in the hallway and almost get caught by a teacher (Nestor Serrano), but they fool him the teacher and reconcile. Back home, Omri intends to bring to life a female Indian figurine to give Little Bear a new wife, but he finds the key to the cupboard is missing, brother Gillon confesses he dropped the key in the crawlspace, to get back at him. That night, Omri and Patrick, along with Little Bear and Boone, watch television, and a cowboys and Indians show, Boone is enthusiastic, while Little Bear watches in horror, and in confusion hearing gunshots he fires an arrow into Boone's chest. Later that night, Omri and Patrick find the key jammed between two floor boards, Little Bear goes under the floor and finds the key, just before he is nearly killed by the escaped pet rat. In the cupboard, Omri brings Tommy Atkins back to life to treat Boone's wounds, Omri comes to the realisation it is time to return Little Bear and Boone to their respective time periods where they belong. After Tommy Atkins returns to his own time, Boone awakens and forgives Little Bear, Omri wants to bring to life a female Indian figurine, so he is not alone, but agrees not to do so. The next morning, Omri and Patrick say their goodbyes to their friends before locking them back in the cupboard, sending them home and turning them back into figurines. In the end, Omri returns to school, he will never know where or how Little Bear may be, but he does not worry about him anymore. Also starring Lindsay Crouse as Jane, Lucas Tejwani and Leon Tejwani as Baby Martin and Sakina Jaffrey as Lucy. It is a very simple tale, a little boy with a magical cupboard that when locked can bring any toy figure to life, rap artist Litefoot gives a good performance as the transformed toy Indian, and Keith and Coogan are likeable when they are on, the small and large worlds clashing format is well done, there are good special effects, it is sweet-natured and has good messages about responsibility, and it makes you laugh and emotional at the right moments, one for all the family, a most watchable fantasy adventure. Very good!
Review of The Indian in the Cupboard
