Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

The Flamingo Kid Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 1, 2017

For his second directorial outing, Garry Marshall taps into the golden memories of his youth. 1984’s The Flamingo Kid” feels like autobiographical work from Marshall (who co-scripts with Neal Marshall), helming a low-energy coming-of-age dramedy that’s thick with atmosphere and generally attentive to characterization. There’s plenty of charm to go around in the feature, which hits on all the teen horndog trends of the era, but does so with restraint and good taste (earning the distinction of becoming the first movie to be rated PG-13 in the process), finding Marshall more interested in perfecting the screen details of the setting, stepping away from crude hijinks to make a sincere endeavor. Granted, Marshall’s oeuvre isn’t littered with gems, but “The Flamingo Kid” is one of his best pictures, showing a relaxed approach to jokes, relationships, and setting, making it catnip for viewers who enjoy nostalgia and tales of dented maturity.

Raised in Brooklyn by his loving family, including his father, plumber Arthur (Hector Elizondo), Jeffrey (Matt Dillion) is now 18 years old and ready to begin his life. Trouble is, there’s nowhere to go in the neighborhood, inspiring Jeffrey to accept an invitation from his pals to visit the El Flamingo Club, which is packed with rich families, available girls, and games of Gin Rummy. Loving the atmosphere, Jeffery hastily takes a car valet job to retain access to the resort, proving his worth with mechanical knowhow and friendliness to the members. Hoping to impress Phil (Richard Crenna), a Gin Rummy champ and car dealer tycoon, Jeffrey sets out to make himself useful, finding a distraction in Carla (Janet Jones), a bombshell who takes kindly to the new hire. Sensing opportunities, Jeffrey abandons his family values, turning his back on Arthur’s wisdom and protection to acquire vocational opportunities he hasn’t earned.

“The Flamingo Kid” doesn’t have much of a budget to work with, but Marshall knows how to sell the electricity of the setting, or at least the heat of the summer. The tale is set in 1963 during a brutally hot season in Brooklyn, following Jeffrey’s aimless ways in the city, facing the dawn of his adulthood as he prepares for an office internship and a future at college, living up to expectations set by his parents and fulfilling his promise as a bright kid with a Gin Rummy addiction. Of course, when the option to hang out by the beach all day is presented to him, Jeffrey seizes the opportunity, trading boiling streets and brick buildings for an ocean view and girls in bikinis, finding a new home at the El Flamingo Club, where he normally wouldn’t be welcomed without help from his friends. The production is strong with introductions, careful to preserve Jeffrey’s intelligence as it’s challenged by more visceral delights, establishing his awareness of the journey ahead while remaining powerless to its pleasures, mostly contained to gambling and the golden glow of Carla, who’s immediately smitten with the grounded car valet.

Marshall doesn’t drill to the core of adolescent concerns, keeping “The Flamingo Kid” light enough to retain mass appeal. Jeffrey’s trials of maturity aren’t particularly profound, sticking with social integration and employment shenanigans, as most of movie is devoted to his pursuit of Phil’s attention, marveling over the man’s near mastery of Gin Rummy, with some of his doofus friends (including Fisher Stevens and Bronson Pinchot) believing him to be psychic as he predicts moves and plays perfect hands. It’s here where “The Flamingo Kid” also touches on the impact of influence, watching Jeffery become caught up in the rush of opportunity, scoring a promise of employment from Phil, which he treasures, beginning to view his family life back in Brooklyn as an embarrassment. There’s a distinct fathers-and-sons vibe to the screenwriting that’s played beautifully by Elizondo, who precisely captures the helplessness of a parent forced to relinquish control of their adult child, watching him make impulsive decisions after an upbringing that’s taught patience and respect. It’s a rich subplot that’s not given enough time to marinate, but the intent is clear, showcasing Jeffrey’s temporary blindness when exposed to the world beyond Brooklyn, where fortunes can be made seemingly without the need for any surplus education.

Characterization is vivid but simple, as Marshall enjoys the broadness of club shenanigans and the chaos of the clientele, having fun observing the tightly wound members interact with the employees, creating a time and place with relative ease. The writing gets a little cartoonish at times, but enjoyably so, with Jeffery’s gang identifying guests through defining traits, adding a little pre-“Goodfellas” vibe to the endeavor. Costuming and music is there to set the mood (use of a modern tune for the main titles and closing credits is a bad idea, perhaps a concession to studio demands), and there are scenes devoted to basic interactions, creating a “hang” to the picture that’s perhaps more interesting to watch than the plot, which eventually goes for bigness with a showdown finale, keeping in line with Marshall’s craving for smooth entertainment and a tidy ending. It’s a not necessarily a bad instinct, but “The Flamingo Kid” could use a bit more grit when exploring Jeffrey’s choices and youthful failures.

The Flamingo Kid Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation has not been refreshed for the movie's Blu-ray debut. Restrained by an older scan, detail is softened throughout, providing only the basics of bodily particulars and beach sights. Textures fight to be seen but aren't completely erased, with a few close-ups passable, but never remarkable. Colors are on the muted side, but it's hard to stamp out this summery palette, which survives with brighter pinks and blues. The ample amount of skintones also makes an impression, delivering bronzed bodies and more urban pinkness. Delineation is adequate, threatening solidification during a few evening scenes. Grain becomes periodically zombified, as found on the "Prizzi's Honor" release, missing a natural structure that allows for a more filmic viewing experience. Source is in decent shape.

The Flamingo Kid Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix supplies welcome clarity to the feature, but it's mostly a frontal affair, lacking anything truly exciting or immersive in the surrounds. Dialogue exchanges are clear, rising above crowd bustle that infests most scenes. Soundtrack selections are varied, but older tunes are comfortable, without shrillness, and newer tunes deliver some low-end response. Atmospherics are basic, capturing beach action and neighborhood commotion.

The Flamingo Kid Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features actor/filmmaker Pat Healy and film curator Jim Healy.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

The Flamingo Kid Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Marshall isn't known for creating complex entertainment, and he's personally responsible for some of the worst movies around ("Georgia Rule," "Raising Helen," "Exit to Eden"), but when he finds a pocket of charm and production detail, he does just fine, and he's usually good about casting, finding ways to make Dillion appealing (not always an easy task), and Crenna is strong as the Gin Rummy shark ready to make and break Jeffery's dreams of instant independence. "The Flamingo Kid" goes down easy, avoiding sharper edges of adolescent awakening to play Jeffrey's odyssey with a breezy vibe, but there's plenty of heartfelt material to keep the picture endearing, and there's always the sights and sounds of resort life in 1963 to sustain interest in the effort.