A recent high-school graduate unsure of his future gets a summer job at the Flamingo beach club, and meets the charismatic Phil Brody.
Cast:
- Matt Dillon as Jeffrey Willis
- Héctor Elizondo as Arthur Willis
- Richard Crenna as Phil Brody
- Jessica Walter as Phyllis Brody
- Janet Jones as Carla Samson
- Brian McNamara as Steve Dawkins
- Fisher Stevens as Hawk Ganz
- Bronson Pinchot as Alfred Shultz
- Marisa Tomei as Mandy
1984 memories
One of my sisters rented this movie so I sat down and watched it with her. At the time all I knew about Matt Dillon was his role in The Outsiders form the previous year. He’s probably the reason my sister rented the movie in the first place.
I thought it was a good movie and it had some decent songs from the 60s.
I don’t really recall the plot though, about all I remember is Matt Dillon is a valet at a country club. Other than that, it’s a mystery.
Let’s see what this movie is about…
40th Anniversary Re-watch
Set in 1960s New York, The Flamingo Kid stars Matt Dillon as Jeffrey Willis a kid from Brooklyn hoping to make a better life for himself. He and his friends go to the El Flamingo Club over the 4th of July weekend for a gin rummy tournament and he sees how the other half lives.
Jeffrey quickly gets a job a the El Flamingo Club and moves up to a cabana steward with the help of his mentor, Phil Brody (Richard Crenna). While at the club Jeffrey meets the girl of his dreams Carla Sampson (Janet Jones, in her film debut).
Jeffrey is caught up in the slick-talking, fast-buck world of Brody and decides he doesn’t need to go to college, he can work as a salesman for Brody.
When Jeffrey accepts the salesman job he is rebuked by Brody saying he needs to start as a stock boy, not a salesman. Jeffrey is disillusioned with Brody and refuses the job.
Meanwhile he is getting more serious with Carla, but she is heading back to California to finish college.
As Jeffrey’s life is seemingly falling apart he learns Brody is the gin rummy champ because he is cheating. Jeffrey enters the final gin rummy tournament and beats Brody, winning all his money back lost over the summer. Brody is impressed and offers him the salesman job, which Jeffrey refuses.
Knowing he has been a jerk to his family during his pursuit of the fast buck, Jeffrey goes back to Brooklyn to make amends.
Matt Dillon does a great job as Jeffrey. He plays the kid who thinks he needs something better in life prefect. And he has the New York look. Richard Crenna is fantastic, as always. From Colonel Trautman in the Rambo franchise, to Brody in this movie to the arrogant sailing champ in Summer Rental; he never disappoints.
Favorite Line:
Listen, Pal, I’ll have you know that I know Jujitsu, Karate, Judo, and some other big words, so don’t mess with me alright?
Héctor Elizondo is good as Jeffrey’s father and Janet Jones does a good job in her movie debut as well. Along with Janet Jones, Marisa Tomei also made her film debut in The Flamingo Kid.
If you can find a copy of The Flamingo Kid it’s worth watching. I have it on DVD but can’t find it streaming anywhere.
The Flamingo Kid was released on 21 December 1984. It grabbed $23.8 million on a $10 million budget.
Did you watch The Flamingo Kid? If so let me know your thoughts in the comments below or on X(Twitter). The main Geekster channel is @GeeksterMedia and I’m @MileHighSamurai You can also find me on Bluesky @MileHighSamurai
6/10 stars
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