The Flamingo Kid (1984)
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88% of critics liked it
(17 reviews) -
41% of users liked it
(5,348 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… 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
- Directed By
- Garry Marshall
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 21, 1984 Wide
- Studio
- Live Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Dillon does a good job in his fullest, least narcissistic characterization to date.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The performances compensate, with Dillon turning in a light and touching portrait of confused ambitions.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Dillon is a revelation in this movie.
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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.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Professionally made, quite entertaining, and disappointingly hollow.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Matt Dillon
as Jeffrey Willis
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Richard Crenna
as Phil Brody
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Hector Elizondo
as Arthur Willis
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Jessica Walter
as Phyllis Brody
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Fisher Stevens
as Hawk Ganz
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Brian McNamara
as Steve Dawkins
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Carole R. Davis
as Joyce Brody
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Martha Gehman
as Nikki Willis
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Molly McCarthy
as Ruth Willis
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Leon
as Fortune Smith
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Janet Jones
as Carla Samson
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Bronson Pinchot
as Alfred Schultz
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Melvin Allen
as Himself
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Seth Allen
as Jerry Berlin
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Barbarian Brothers
as Turk and Dirk
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Frank Campanella
as Col. Cal Eastland
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Peter Costa
as Peter
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Googy Gress
as Freddy
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Joe Grifasi
as Mario Minetta
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Michael C. Mahon
as Lifeguard
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Kathi Marshall
as Adventurer's Inn Hostess
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Ron McLarty
as Pat McCarty
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Irving Metzman
as Big Sid
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Novella Nelson
as Lizzy the Housekeeper
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David Paul
as Credited as The Barbarian Brother
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Peter Paul
as The Barbarian Brother
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Tracy Reiner
as Polly
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Bo Sabato
as Uncle Jack
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Richard Stahl
as Charlie Cooper
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Sharon Thomas
as Mrs. Unger
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Marisa Tomei
as Mandy
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Steven Weber
as Paul Hirsch
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Carol Williard
as Mrs. Rifkin
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Steve Witting
as Frank
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David Berry
as Steve's Father
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Eric Douglas
as Donny
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John Turturro
as Ted from Pinky's
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Scott Marshall
as Stickball Player
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Lee Steele
as Furniture Store Owner
- Margery Simkin
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Lisa Beth Ross
as Bimbette
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Leslie S. Sachs
as Big Sid's Girl
