The young Griffin O'Neal wants to follow in the footsteps of his late father, a famous magician who is considered legendary, and O'Neal definitely has the talent and the guts to make it. He's a crafty kid, charming and funny yet sweet and cunning, all at the same time. Basically, he could steal your wallet and make you laugh while doing it so you give in and let him keep it. While he didn't become a big star, this did lead to other things, and had he done nothing else, I would still remember him distinctly for this.
He is surrounded by a great ensemble which includes Raul Julia, looking almost exactly as he did as Gomez Addams a decade later, not the most respectful character here, for one you can take your eyes off of. As the son of the local mayor, played by none other than Desi Arnaz, he is always a thorn in his dad's side, and like O'Neal, if he wants to, he can turn you into getting what he wants. Arnaz, here with a full head of white hair, looks as dashing as ever, and he makes the most of the small supporting role, billed comically as Desiderio.
Joan Hackett is fabulous as his aunt, and there's also a few of the original Bowery Boys in memorable cameos. This is a charming film that shows the danger of the profession that O'Neal wants to get into, and the period detail truly makes it visually a pleasure. Like so many other films of the '80s, it house managed to get a small cult following, and at the ripe old age of 40 now, it seems fresher than ever.
He is surrounded by a great ensemble which includes Raul Julia, looking almost exactly as he did as Gomez Addams a decade later, not the most respectful character here, for one you can take your eyes off of. As the son of the local mayor, played by none other than Desi Arnaz, he is always a thorn in his dad's side, and like O'Neal, if he wants to, he can turn you into getting what he wants. Arnaz, here with a full head of white hair, looks as dashing as ever, and he makes the most of the small supporting role, billed comically as Desiderio.
Joan Hackett is fabulous as his aunt, and there's also a few of the original Bowery Boys in memorable cameos. This is a charming film that shows the danger of the profession that O'Neal wants to get into, and the period detail truly makes it visually a pleasure. Like so many other films of the '80s, it house managed to get a small cult following, and at the ripe old age of 40 now, it seems fresher than ever.