The Tin Soldier (1995)

The magic is largely missing from the Showtime film The Tin Soldier, despite its guise as an updated fairy tale. Morose little Billy (Trenton Knight) is coping with the death of his father, the grief of his mother (Ally Sheedy), his new school insecurities, and his fear of two gangs. Just when things get overwhelming, a kindly toy maker (Dom DeLuise) gives Billy a tin soldier which comes to man-size life as...Jon Voight. Fake Irish accent notwithstanding, Voight gives a virtually colorless performance as a quasi-guardian angel who teaches Billy about life. As director, he doesn't do much better, turning these lessons into a talkathon that seems to last much longer than its 99 minutes. C