Howard the Duck [Howard: A New Breed of Hero] * (1986, Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins) – Classic Movie Review 7853

Writer-director Willard Huyck’s 1986 comedy Howard the Duck [aka Howard: A New Breed of Hero] is a big bucks mega-flop (known affectionately as Howard the Turkey) from producers George Lucas and co-writer Gloria Katz, who sanitise Steve Gerber’s Marvel Comics high-living comic-book character into a cute midget ET to try to appeal to youngsters.

The sarcastic humanoid, cigar-smoking drake Howard the Duck (Ed Gale, voice of Chip Zien) is laser-blasted into Cleveland. He rescues rock singer Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson), who then returns the favour by trying with Phil Blumburtt (Tim Robbins) to save Howard from the heavy hand of the authorities.

This numbingly predictable, formula chase comedy, with desperately frantic performances and plain desperate direction can boast nothing remotely special, except perhaps the costly special effects from Lucas’s Industrial Light and Magic company. The film is not for young children, but it might just be passable for older kids.

Jeffrey Jones goes from his great Emperor Joseph II in Amadeus in 1984 to Dr Walter Jenning in this! He reflected: ‘I’m proud of it and I’m happy with my part in it. Onto the next.’

Also in the cast are Paul Guilfoyle, Tim Robbins, Holly Robinson [Holly Robinson Peete], Miles Chapin, Virginia Capers, David Paymer, Thomas Dolby, Liz Sagal and Dominique Davalos.

It won four Razzie awards for Worst Picture, Worst Screenplay, Worst New Star and Worst Visual Effects, and was a nominee for Worst Picture of the Decade.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7853

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com