The Pick-up Artist (1987)

Director:

James Toback

Writer:

James Toback (written by)

Release Date:

18 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The Pick-Up Artist... has finally met his match.

Plot:

A womanizer meets his match when he falls for the daughter of a mobster. |

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Love | Atlantic City New Jersey | Blackjack | Camaro

Cast

Molly Ringwald	...	Randy Jensen
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Jack Jericho (as Robert Downey)
Dennis Hopper	...	Flash Jensen
Danny Aiello	...	Phil Harper
Mildred Dunnock	...	Nellie
Harvey Keitel	...	Alonzo Scolara
Brian Hamill	...	Mike
Tamara Bruno	...	Karen
Vanessa Williams	...	Rae, Girl with Dog
Angie Kempf	...	Jack's Student
Polly Draper	...	Pat, Jack's Colleague
Frederick Koehler	...	Richie
Robert Towne	...	Stan
Victoria Jackson	...	Lulu
Lorraine Bracco	...	Carla

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Netherlands:MG6 | UK:15 (video rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #27920) | Spain:T | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Amercent Films

Trivia:

Toback based the character of Jack on himself.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: During the most of the movie, Randy wears a blouse is buttoned up to the neck and a necklace over the top of it. Except for the scene where she is exiting the casino after her big loss, as she walks out and her blouse is unbuttoned at the neck and she is not wearing the necklace. However, in the next scene the blouse is buttoned again and necklace returns. The description of an apparent discontinuity is accurate; however, in the shot with open blouse and sans necklace, Randy is also not wearing her jacket. In the following shot, as she emerges from the casino with Jack after her devastating setback, she has donned her jacket, buttoned her blouse, and restored her necklace. The apparent costume discontinuity dissolves in the brief lapse of unrecorded time.

Quotes:

Jack Jericho: Did anyone ever tell you that you have the face of a Botticelli and the body of a Degas?

Movie Connections:

References "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Susie Darlin'

Worth watching for the cast...

Incorrigible womanizer Jack Jericho (Robert Downey, Jr.) who pursues practically every attractive woman he sees on the street, meets his match in strong-willed Randy Jensen (Molly Ringwald), a museum tour guide with an alcoholic loser father (Dennis Hopper) who owes a mobster (Harvey Keitel) a LOT of money. You could say that he gets in over his head.

Hard to categorize this film as it tries to be both a romantic comedy and a seedy drama. The cast is good enough to keep it watchable, and it moves along well enough. Downey, Jr. and Ringwald are impressive, especially Downey - then again, when has he ever delivered a truly BAD performance? His talent has never been in doubt. Overall, it's interesting, maybe not quite what I would call a GOOD movie, but I kind of liked it, and it is full of familiar faces. It is also a surprisingly short movie at 82 minutes.

The one scene that I thought made no sense was the mugger (or was he a mugger?) who sings like Elvis. What on Earth was the point of that scene???

5/10