Litefoot

(In French, On Cable TV, August 2022) A common failure point for fantasy stories is when the premise is let down by the execution: Out of limitless possibilities presented by fantastic premises, authors have to pick a few, and it’s not uncommon for viewers seduced by infinite potential to be disappointed by what the writers end up going for. So it is that for The Indian in the Cupboard, the idea of a cupboard with the power to bring any toy to life seems custom-designed for limitless opportunities. But the film is based on a children’s book, and that book has picked “The Indian in the Cupboard” as the main plot and that’s what we go for. Within the confines of that specific premise, The Indian in the Cupboard does better than expected—for one crucial thing, the titular Indian is portrayed with decency and authenticity by actor Litefoot, and the film largely revolves around cross-cultural understanding. Yes, it’s still more than rough around the edges—but the intentions are in the right place. On the other hand, it’s worth wondering how many kids have actually enjoyed the film since it came out, since it’s not exactly a super-fun-time story: As a few reanimated First Nations and Cowboy characters bond, weighty issues are discussed, characters are mortally wounded (with a young Steve Coogan playing an English medic) and the ending isn’t all that fun either. It may end up a fantasy film for kids that is best appreciated by adults—especially considering how badly some of the special effects have aged since 1995. If you’re detecting some strong ambivalence about The Indian in the Cupboard, then you get it—the mixture of good and less-good aspects doesn’t quite work in the end.