The Pick-Up Artist (1987)

55% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(7,253 ratings)

With this rote but well-cast romantic comedy, writer-director James Toback began his long association with actor Robert Downey, Jr. The latter stars as Jack Jericho, a grade school teacher and smooth operator who zealously polishes his cliched pick-up lines in front of a mirror. Jack's come-ons even… More With this rote but well-cast romantic comedy, writer-director James Toback began his long association with actor Robert Downey, Jr. The latter stars as Jack Jericho, a grade school teacher and smooth operator who zealously polishes his cliched pick-up lines in front of a mirror. Jack's come-ons even work on Randy Jensen (Molly Ringwald), a redheaded museum tour guide who dishes up a stream of retorts, matching Jack's verbal banter. After quickly trysting in the back of Jack's car, Randy flatly thanks him and walks off. Realizing that Randy is his soul mate, Jack gets his pal Phil (Danny Aiello) to find her. She's in Atlantic City, desperately trying to win $25,000 with her paycheck. Her father, Flash (Dennis Hopper), is an inveterate alcoholic who owes the money to a mobster, Alonzo (Harvey Keitel). Alonzo is willing to erase the debt if Randy will sleep with a South American kingpin, so she's trying to hit a jackpot that will get her and Flash off the hook. With a deadline of tomorrow, Jack sets out to get Randy's money and convince her that he's Mr. Right. The Pick-Up Artist was the final film appearance of actress Mildred Dunnock, who played Jack's grandmother. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 21 min.
Directed By: James Toback
Written By: James Toback
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Sep 18, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Dec 16, 2003
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
James Toback's long-gestating portrait of a one-track mind becomes bogged down in unconvincing plot mechanics.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
The film roams from the Upper West Side to Coney Island to Atlantic City, maintaining a lighthearted style that doesn't quite match the hints of obsessiveness in Mr. Toback's screenplay.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This is an appallingly silly movie, from its juvenile comic overture to its dreadfully sincere conclusion.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A light and fairly innocuous youth picture.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Pickup's 'little more' is in its quirky characters and its intentionally goofy melodrama.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Downey, who worked for one season on Saturday Night Live, has just the right emotional weight for the role of Jack, and the right touch of goofy boyishness to soften his aggressiveness.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Toback has devised an interesting premise that draws parallels between risking one's heart and one's wallet, but the picture itself risks little.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Features Robert Downey Jr. as a smooth-talking womanizer who meets his match.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A very challenging movie. Downey Jr and Ringwald sizzle.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

The story is kind of a mish-mash of two different stories, and the dialogue is horrible, but there are a bunch of great actors in the movie. The actors are the only reason to watch it, and they can't even help the movie that much. Overall, it's not a good movie.
Conner R

Nothing special, but this really finds its own in the second half. The first half is just a little too happy go lucky and silly, but when the love story kicks in between Robert Downey Jr. and Molly Ringwald, it's smooth sailing. The premise is interesting and natural for its… More
Nothing special, but this really finds its own in the second half. The first half is just a little too happy go lucky and silly, but when the love story kicks in between Robert Downey Jr. and Molly Ringwald, it's smooth sailing. The premise is interesting and natural for its release period. It takes the term ladies man and takes it to a more extreme level. RDJ holds all the cards here, his performance is comedic gold with a touch of genuine dramatic acting.
Alexis N

Your typical Boy Meet Girl.. girl sleep with boy then ditches boy, boy tries to get girl back by stalking girl and paying girl's father's gambling debts. Cute.
Dean M

Ladies' man Robert Downey Jr. puts the make on gutsy Molly Ringwald with lines Cleopatra would have recognised. Downey displays as much charisma as a pot plant and would have trouble picking up a cold. Proof positive that it is possible to have Danny Aiello, Dennis Hopper and… More
Ladies' man Robert Downey Jr. puts the make on gutsy Molly Ringwald with lines Cleopatra would have recognised. Downey displays as much charisma as a pot plant and would have trouble picking up a cold. Proof positive that it is possible to have Danny Aiello, Dennis Hopper and Harvey Keitel in a film and for it still to be unbearably tedious.
Leigh R

Good movie.

Cast

            Molly Ringwald as Randy Jensen

            Robert Downey Jr. as Jack Jericho

            Dennis Hopper as Flash Jensen

            Danny Aiello as Phil

            Mildred Dunnock as Nellie Jack's Grandmother

            Harvey Keitel as Alonzo

            Brian Hamill as Mike

            Tamara Bruno as Karen

            Vanessa L. Williams as Rae

            Angie Kempf as Jack's Student

            Polly Draper as Pat

            Frederick Koehler as Richie

            Robert Towne as Stan

            Victoria Jackson as Lulu

            Lorraine Bracco as Carla

            Bob Gunton as Portacarrero

            Clem Caserta as Clem

            Christine Baranski as Harriet

            Joe Spinell as Eddie

            Tony Conforti as Tony

            Jilly Rizzo as Floor Manager

            Tom Signorelli as Mary

            Reni Santoni
            
            Anne Bobby
            
            Alexis Cruz
            
            Isabel Lorca
            
            Max Raven as Vinnie Costanza

            James Toback
            
See full cast