Well,when I saw,"My Bodyguard",i wasn't a High School sophomore but had actually just entered Jr. High..which isn't much different except for age. It's almost needless to say that,having put up with bullies and tormentors in nearly every grade of school to that point (and into high school) you'd win the bet that I absolutely loved this movie! At the time of release I was 12 and the idea of hiring a great big person like that for protection at school appealed to me.
Adam Baldwin does an accurate portrayal of a teen that grows up in less than ideal surroundings. Chris Makepeace brings us easily into feeling sympathetic to his cause. Matt Dillon,in only his 3rd movie,is the perfect chip on his shoulder bully,who gets some sick pleasure out of making others feel terrible by insulting them or beating them up if they dare to talk back at him. As well as he & his friends,basically,extorting other kids' lunch money. The other teens act just the way teens in that generation did. (They actually represent my oldest brother's time in High School '78-'82.)
The adults Martin Mull as Clifford's Dad,who manages the hotel where they also live. Ruth Gordon (who always was hilarious) is a treasure and does what she does best,playing the feisty Grandma who never grew up. Look for a less than 90 sec. cameo by a then unknown George Wendt,playing a hotel Engineer/Repairman.
My favorite scene besides the climactic "fight in the park",is when Clifford goes into the local hangout and squirts mustard/pours drinks over his tormentors! Hilarious! They chase him across the street,followed by the other teens and Cliff introduces them to "his Bodyguard.
The deeper undertones of the film,that are about Linderman are a way of saying,"you think Clifford has problems,look at Linderman." Meaning,there's a lot worse that can happen in the world and things in your own life aren't as bad as they might seem. Especially when you're younger.
Overall,the whole movie works,I don't care how it's edited,as long as it makes sense and has a point. Point being,you have to do for yourself in this world because,not everyone will help you all the time. It almost makes you wish today's school problems were "this" easy to handle. Along with "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" And "The Breakfast Club",I wish all movies about teens in the 1980's had been this good,instead of the more mindless "teen-sex" films that I found very insulting to my intelligence! (END)
Adam Baldwin does an accurate portrayal of a teen that grows up in less than ideal surroundings. Chris Makepeace brings us easily into feeling sympathetic to his cause. Matt Dillon,in only his 3rd movie,is the perfect chip on his shoulder bully,who gets some sick pleasure out of making others feel terrible by insulting them or beating them up if they dare to talk back at him. As well as he & his friends,basically,extorting other kids' lunch money. The other teens act just the way teens in that generation did. (They actually represent my oldest brother's time in High School '78-'82.)
The adults Martin Mull as Clifford's Dad,who manages the hotel where they also live. Ruth Gordon (who always was hilarious) is a treasure and does what she does best,playing the feisty Grandma who never grew up. Look for a less than 90 sec. cameo by a then unknown George Wendt,playing a hotel Engineer/Repairman.
My favorite scene besides the climactic "fight in the park",is when Clifford goes into the local hangout and squirts mustard/pours drinks over his tormentors! Hilarious! They chase him across the street,followed by the other teens and Cliff introduces them to "his Bodyguard.
The deeper undertones of the film,that are about Linderman are a way of saying,"you think Clifford has problems,look at Linderman." Meaning,there's a lot worse that can happen in the world and things in your own life aren't as bad as they might seem. Especially when you're younger.
Overall,the whole movie works,I don't care how it's edited,as long as it makes sense and has a point. Point being,you have to do for yourself in this world because,not everyone will help you all the time. It almost makes you wish today's school problems were "this" easy to handle. Along with "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" And "The Breakfast Club",I wish all movies about teens in the 1980's had been this good,instead of the more mindless "teen-sex" films that I found very insulting to my intelligence! (END)