Dillon does a good job in his fullest, least narcissistic characterization to date.
The Flamingo Kid
A legend in his own neighborhood.
1984 · 1h 40m · PG-13
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed by
Garry Marshall
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The Flamingo Kid
Overview
Brooklyn teenager Jeffrey Willis, thoroughly unhappy with his modest homestead, embraces the other-world aspects of his summer job at the posh Flamingo Club. He spurns his father in favor of the patronage of smooth-talking Phil Brody and is seduced by the ample bikini charms of club member Carla Samson. But thanks to a couple of late-summer hard lessons, the teen eventually realizes that family should always come first.
Director and cast
- Garry Marshall Director
- Matt Dillon as Jeffrey Willis
- Héctor Elizondo as Arthur Willis
- Molly McCarthy as Ruth Willis
- Martha Gehman as Nikki Willis
- Richard Crenna as Phil Brody
- Jessica Walter as Phyllis Brody
- Carole Davis as Joyce Brody
- Janet Jones as Carla Samson
- Brian McNamara as Steve Dawkins
- Fisher Stevens as Hawk Ganz
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
The performances compensate, with Dillon turning in a light and touching portrait of confused ambitions.
Dillon is a revelation in this movie.
Even if The Flamingo Kid comes out of sit-com country, the character and the performance effortlessly rise above their origins.
Professionally made, quite entertaining, and disappointingly hollow.
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