THE FLAMINGO KID

US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Matt Dillon, Hector Elizondo, Richard Crenna, Jessica Walter.
Directed by Garry Marshall.

The Flamingo Kid is a pleasant film with its heart in the right place. It is a contrast to the crass exploitive youth films of the early 80s - the Porkys series. It has much more relationship with such films as The Sure Thing, The Breakfast Club.

Set in 1963 before the assassination of John Kennedy, the film has Matt Dillon agreeably playing Jeffrey Willis, from a working class Brooklyn family. He gets the chance to live the fast and fancy life of the Long Island wealthy while working as a glorified parking attendant-waiter at the exclusive beachside Flamingo Club.

While the look of the film is light, the message is serious. Jeffrey has to make choices about his future.

Hector Elizondo is persuasive as Jeffrey's hard-working, principled father who has only his experience and love to offer. Richard Crenna is also very persuasive as the self-made car dealer who offers Jeffrey the fulfilment of the American dream of money and success.

The outcome is predictable but Jeffrey's coping is generally entertaining. It is all quite American, but has a wider appeal.

1. The popularity of youth movies in the 1980s? Their generally being crass and crude? This film by way of contrast? Its 1960s setting and the contrast with the 1980s? The nostalgia from the 1980s viewpoint? The changes in American society and in American youth?

2. Colour photography, the New York summer? The atmosphere of the affluent Flamingo Club? Wealthy, kitsch? The contrasts between Brooklyn homes and Long Island mansions?

3. The musical background - the popular hits of the time and their being worked into the plot? The music as a symbol of the times?

4. The title and the focus on Jeffrey? The possibility of becoming a child of the Flamingo Club set? The dreams of the Brodie family, the American dream and material success? The contrast with Jeffrey from his Brooklyn home, solid background and principles, hopes for education? Jeffrey's dilemma and choices?

5. Matt Dillon's portrait of Jeffrey: his Brooklyn background, 19, his future ahead of him, the possibility of college and education, work in an office during the summer, his friends in the supermarket? At home in the Brooklyn streets? His home life, the strong family bonds, his principled father and his love for him? His mother? The friendship with his sister? The invitation to go to the Flamingo Club, his enjoying playing cards? The attraction of the wealthy and leisurely life? The infatuation with Carla, meeting her, falling in love with, her, going home, the lyrical summer, the sexual encounter, his future relationship with her? The attraction of the wealthy families, card playing, swimming? His firing the car and getting the job? His meeting Fortune (and their friendship, the races, his helping him with money at the end)? The basketball practice, the initiation? Being accepted amongst the Cabana boys? His being invited to the Brodie home for the meal, the contrast with the meal at home and the meal out? His manners? Phil Brodie interested in him, his knowledge of cards? Brodie taking him under his wing, his philosophy of life, the self-made man, car-salesmanship, no need for education? The car-rides, the car salesman? The attraction to Jeffrey? The clash at home, his eventually leaving home? His going to the races with his friends instead of the family dinner? His father getting him out of jail? Being caught up in the atmosphere - but the disillusionment of Brodie getting him to start from the bottom? His seeing Brodie through new eyes? Discovering his cheating at cards? His challenge to him, the Gin contest and his winning? His telling the truth to the friends about Brodie? His return to his father? The reconciliation? His future?

6. The contrast of the two father figures? Arthur Willis and his solid background, honest work for an honest dollar? Plumbing? His nautical knowledge? His dreams for himself and his family? His son? Their clashes? His not being able to understand Brodie, the irony of their meeting at the club and his reaction to Brodie's philosophy? His bailing his son out of jail, hitting him? His son leaving home? The final reconciliation? Brodie and his card-playing, wealth, mansion, bored wife? His manner showing his background and upbringing? The self-made loud man? His taking a liking to Jeffrey, instructing him, offering him possibilities? His offhand regard to Jeffrey's beginning at the bottom? The cheating at cards and his come-uppance?

7. The portrait of the two families - Mrs Willis and Nicky and their support of Jeffrey? Mrs Brodie and her snobbery, affluence, bitchiness?

8. Carla and the attractive Californian girl, not caught up in the snobbery, attracted to Jeffrey, talking with him, sharing his future, the sexual encounter - their future?

9. The background of The Flamingo Club - the wealthy, the gin-rummy players, the throwing around of money? The satirical comment on American society? And the little fat boy encountering the characters all throughout the film!