The Flamingo Kid (1984)

88% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(5,267 ratings)

Set in 1963, The Flamingo Kid finds 18-year-old Brooklynite Matt Dillon, the son of blue-collar Hector Elizondo, getting a taste of the Good Life by joining several of his friends at "El Flamingo", a swank Long Island beach club. Wealthy car salesman Richard Crenna, the uncle of Matt's girl friend… More Set in 1963, The Flamingo Kid finds 18-year-old Brooklynite Matt Dillon, the son of blue-collar Hector Elizondo, getting a taste of the Good Life by joining several of his friends at "El Flamingo", a swank Long Island beach club. Wealthy car salesman Richard Crenna, the uncle of Matt's girl friend Janet Jones, befriends the boy and takes him under his wing. Thanks to Crenna's influence, Matt secures a good job at the Flamingo. The boy is bedazzled by Crenna's sumptuous lifestyle, and most especially by the older man's reputation as the Flamingo's reigning gin rummy champ. Dillon begins taking on airs, which alienates his down-to-earth father. Watch for a scene in which, while channel-surfing with his new remote control, Richard Crenna watches a fleeting clip from the old TV sitcom The Real McCoys--featuring Richard Crenna. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Garry Marshall
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 21, 1984 Wide
On DVD: Feb 8, 2000
Studio: Live Home Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Dillon does a good job in his fullest, least narcissistic characterization to date.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Dillon is a revelation in this movie.
Andre Sennwald, New York Times
Even if The Flamingo Kid comes out of sit-com country, the character and the performance effortlessly rise above their origins.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Professionally made, quite entertaining, and disappointingly hollow.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The performances compensate, with Dillon turning in a light and touching portrait of confused ambitions.
Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com
As coming-of-age stories go, this one is an underrated treasure with Dillon and Crenna doing fantastic work.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Winning comedy about a have-not among the haves.
Erik Childress, Apollo Guide
The Flamingo Kid is one of those rare films that follows a traditional method of coming-of-age storytelling and then shakes it up by not dealing us mere caricatures and stereotypes.
, Film4
The Sixties setting seems a shade gratuitous and its attitude to easy money is ambiguous, but the characters are well drawn and the story is sensitively handled.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassie H

This movie is funny,and cute,and Matt Dillion is so ADORABLE!!!
Christopher O

One of Gary Marshall's best films and one of Matt Dillon's best performances. It is a study of upper vs. working class and features superb performances from Hector Elizondo and Richard Crenna. Dillon plays Jeffery a kid from Queens who gets a job working at a posh summer… More
One of Gary Marshall's best films and one of Matt Dillon's best performances. It is a study of upper vs. working class and features superb performances from Hector Elizondo and Richard Crenna. Dillon plays Jeffery a kid from Queens who gets a job working at a posh summer club the El Flamingo. Jefferey finds love in the form of Janet Jones whose Uncle Richard Crenna is a car dealership owner and resident king GIn Player at the club. Crenna befriends Jeffrey and this overides his close relationship with his own father a hardworking plumber, Hector Elizondo. THe story is well filmed and directed and it has a satisfying end.

Cast

            Matt Dillon as Jeffrey Willis

            Richard Crenna as Phil Brody

            Hector Elizondo as Arthur Willis

            Jessica Walter as Phyllis Brody

            Fisher Stevens as Hawk Ganz

            Brian McNamara as Steve Dawkins

            Carole R. Davis as Joyce Brody

            Martha Gehman as Nikki Willis

            Molly McCarthy as Ruth Willis

            Leon as Fortune Smith

            Janet Jones as Carla Samson

            Bronson Pinchot as Alfred Schultz

            Melvin Allen as Himself

            Seth Allen as Jerry Berlin

            Barbarian Brothers as Turk and Dirk

            Frank Campanella as Col. Cal Eastland

            Peter Costa as Peter

            Googy Gress as Freddy

            Joe Grifasi as Mario Minetta

            Michael C. Mahon as Lifeguard

            Kathi Marshall as Adventurer's Inn Hostess

            Ron McLarty as Pat McCarty

            Irving Metzman as Big Sid

            Novella Nelson as Lizzy the Housekeeper

            David Paul as Credited as The Barbarian Brother

            Peter Paul as The Barbarian Brother

            Tracy Reiner as Polly

            Bo Sabato as Uncle Jack

            Richard Stahl as Charlie Cooper

            Sharon Thomas as Mrs. Unger

            Marisa Tomei as Mandy

            Steven Weber as Paul Hirsch

            Carol Williard as Mrs. Rifkin

            Steve Witting as Frank

            David Berry as Steve's Father

            Eric Douglas as Donny

            John Turturro as Ted from Pinky's

            Scott Marshall as Stickball Player

            Lee Steele as Furniture Store Owner

            Margery Simkin
            
            Lisa Beth Ross as Bimbette

            Leslie S. Sachs as Big Sid's Girl
See full cast