Howard the Duck (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
I KNOW 'Howard the Duck' (directed by Willard Huyck) is a critically derided movie -- I get it. That said, I saw this movie when I was 6 yrs. old, loved it, watched it hundreds of times, & can enjoy it even today when viewed through the lens of that 6 yr. old boy. At the film's start, we meet Howard, who lives on a planet like Earth which is populated by highly evolved fellow ducks; who wear clothes, hold jobs, go to the movies, drink, smoke, & do anything else that Earthlings do. When we 1st see Howard, he has arrived home after a long day at work, listens to messages on his phone, & looks through an issue of Playduck {boy}.
Just then, he's blasted into outer space by a wayfaring laser beam. After a tormentous intergalactic ride, he lands in Cleveland, Ohio, haha. The rest of this movie chronicles the adventures of the cynical, unsociable, yet still loveable duck as he copes with Cleveland; and vice-versa. A man named Phil (Tim Robbins) attempts to communicate with him by speaking in a Donald Duck voice -- a ridiculous scene, but it made me chuckle as a kid & now. Mainly, Howard just wants to get back to his planet, but along the way he must battle a super-powered Dark Overlord {I know, WHAT!?} & save Earth from certain destruction. Bada bing, bada boom.
Amazingly, Howard is a Marvel Comics character in a film that surfaced 22 yrs. before Iron Man graced movie screens! To that, along with the abundant action, there is humor {corny quips, charming wise-cracks} which pepper the script. The special effects are really special, I'd say. Sure, plenty look dated NOW looking back, but the mix of practical effects & CGI is pretty astounding to me. i.e., the Dark Overlord launches laser-like fireballs from his demonic eyes while the good guys, caught in his evil rays, shimmer & glisten. One particularly effective sequence shows a scientist, Dr. Jenning (good 'ole Jeffrey Jones) gradually metamorphosing into the grotesque Dark Overlord; reminding me of Sigourney Weaver's transformation in Ghostbusters.
And I simply loved the touching, sometimes-hilarious Fay Wray-King Kong-type relationship btwn. Howard & sexy rock singer Beverly (Lea Thompson, my 1980's crush thanks to this film, Jaws 3 & Back to the Future) who, in the beginning of the film, he saves from some bullies. Their love/hate relationship is intriguing because Thompson always keeps us guessing about her character's true feelings for the cranky duck -- could a human really care for or even love such a creature? I say, yes -- as is evidenced by the catchy rock song "Howard the Duck" that she belts out on stage in the end scene.
Watching Howard play scenes with humans, I felt great nostalgia - not only for my childhood - but to experience the wonder I felt as a kid when seeing animals in cartoons moving & talking as if they were real people. Sure, our Howard is just a small actor in a duck suit. But the likeness is incredible; I felt like Howard was a real duck from another planet inhabited by human-like ducks. I loved 'Howard the Duck' as a kid & I did not cringe nearly as much as I thought I would re-visiting it now in 2019. Despite it being geared towards children and it having its innocent delights, there's also a wackadoo zaniness to it. There are cheeky innuendos, sexual-oriented jokes & double entendres, as well. And I just appreciated this fond look back, immensely.
Just then, he's blasted into outer space by a wayfaring laser beam. After a tormentous intergalactic ride, he lands in Cleveland, Ohio, haha. The rest of this movie chronicles the adventures of the cynical, unsociable, yet still loveable duck as he copes with Cleveland; and vice-versa. A man named Phil (Tim Robbins) attempts to communicate with him by speaking in a Donald Duck voice -- a ridiculous scene, but it made me chuckle as a kid & now. Mainly, Howard just wants to get back to his planet, but along the way he must battle a super-powered Dark Overlord {I know, WHAT!?} & save Earth from certain destruction. Bada bing, bada boom.
Amazingly, Howard is a Marvel Comics character in a film that surfaced 22 yrs. before Iron Man graced movie screens! To that, along with the abundant action, there is humor {corny quips, charming wise-cracks} which pepper the script. The special effects are really special, I'd say. Sure, plenty look dated NOW looking back, but the mix of practical effects & CGI is pretty astounding to me. i.e., the Dark Overlord launches laser-like fireballs from his demonic eyes while the good guys, caught in his evil rays, shimmer & glisten. One particularly effective sequence shows a scientist, Dr. Jenning (good 'ole Jeffrey Jones) gradually metamorphosing into the grotesque Dark Overlord; reminding me of Sigourney Weaver's transformation in Ghostbusters.
And I simply loved the touching, sometimes-hilarious Fay Wray-King Kong-type relationship btwn. Howard & sexy rock singer Beverly (Lea Thompson, my 1980's crush thanks to this film, Jaws 3 & Back to the Future) who, in the beginning of the film, he saves from some bullies. Their love/hate relationship is intriguing because Thompson always keeps us guessing about her character's true feelings for the cranky duck -- could a human really care for or even love such a creature? I say, yes -- as is evidenced by the catchy rock song "Howard the Duck" that she belts out on stage in the end scene.
Watching Howard play scenes with humans, I felt great nostalgia - not only for my childhood - but to experience the wonder I felt as a kid when seeing animals in cartoons moving & talking as if they were real people. Sure, our Howard is just a small actor in a duck suit. But the likeness is incredible; I felt like Howard was a real duck from another planet inhabited by human-like ducks. I loved 'Howard the Duck' as a kid & I did not cringe nearly as much as I thought I would re-visiting it now in 2019. Despite it being geared towards children and it having its innocent delights, there's also a wackadoo zaniness to it. There are cheeky innuendos, sexual-oriented jokes & double entendres, as well. And I just appreciated this fond look back, immensely.