Time Toys (2016)

Time Toys has that breezy, crowd-pleasing spark of a kid-powered adventure where imagination is the superpower, turning a simple “what if?”—a chest of gadgets from the future—into a playful sprint of sci-fi wish fulfillment. The movie’s charm comes less from big spectacle and more from how comfortably it lets its young cast joke, bicker, and bond like real middle-schoolers, making the underdog heart of the story feel earned instead of preached. Its vibe is light, goofy, and upbeat, with just enough madcap danger to keep the momentum moving while it quietly slips in a sincere believe-in-yourself message. It’s squarely aimed at tweens (especially boys) and families looking for an easy, feel-good watch, so if you want gritty realism you won’t find it here—but if you miss the simple joy of kids saving the day with courage and creativity, this one delivers.

Time Toys is clearly aiming for a kid-friendly, Goonies-lite sci-fi romp where underdog middle schoolers find futuristic gadgets and finally get to be the heroes. The problem is it often feels like a low-budget TV movie stretching a thin premise, with uneven acting, basic dialogue, and “corporate bad guy” stakes that play more cartoonish than thrilling. If you’re an adult hoping for clever sci-fi or a family film with Pixar-level polish, this will likely test your patience. But for tween boys who just want simple wish-fulfillment, goofy gadgets, and an easy message about self-confidence, it can be harmless, breezy fun.