Mannequin (1987)

A young artist, searching for his vocation, makes a mannequin so perfect he falls in love with it. Finding the mannequin in a store window, he gets a job there and his creation comes to life.

Director:

Michael Gottlieb

Writers:

Edward Rugoff, Michael Gottlieb

Stars:

Andrew McCarthy, Kim Cattrall, Estelle Getty

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew McCarthy	...	Jonathan Switcher
Kim Cattrall	...	Emmy
Estelle Getty	...	Claire Timkin
James Spader	...	Richards
G.W. Bailey	...	Felix
Carole Davis	...	Roxie
Steve Vinovich	...	B.J. Wert (as Stephen Vinovich)
Christopher Maher	...	Armand
Meshach Taylor	...	Hollywood
Phyllis Newman	...	Emmy's Mother
Phil Rubenstein	...	Mannequin Factory Boss
Jeffrey Lampert	...	Factory Worker
Kenneth Lloyd	...	Superdad
Jake Jundef	...	Superkid (as Jake Jundeff)
Harvey Levine	...	Balloon Boss

Storyline

Jonathan Switcher is a young artist. He just doesn't seem to last in any job he does. But when he builds a mannequin, he makes it so perfect, he falls in love with it. It is the first thing he has made that makes him feel like a real artist. The mannequin ends up in the window of a big department store. When he saves the life of an old lady who happens to be the owner of that store, he is rewarded by getting a job at the store as stock boy. Later the mannequin comes to life as Emmy, who was an ancient Egyptian living in the year 2514BC. The two redesign the window display to make it most eye catching in town. The store competitors are not happy and will do anything to stop them!

---

Plot Keywords:

mannequin | mannequin comes to life | department store | window display | window dresser | 

---

Taglines:

Some guys have all the luck!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Perfect Timing

Filming Locations:

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,001,208, 16 February 1987, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$42,721,196

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gladden Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The working title for the film was Perfect Timing.

---

Goofs

When Felix and Richards are chasing Jonathan's motorcycle through the streets, the road surface alternates between completely wet, completely dry and partly dry with puddles.

---

Quotes

Felix: [handing Mr. Richards a tin of shoe polish] Here, Mr. Richards. You better put some camouflage on, sir.
Mr. Richards: I am not going to put shoe polish on my face, thank you.

---

Connections

Referenced in How I Met Your Mother: Last Forever: Part Two (2014)

---

Soundtracks

In My Wildest Dreams
Performed by Belinda Carlisle
Produced by Bob Crewe and Jerry Corbetta
Courtesy of IRS Records
Words & Music by Bob Crewe, Jerry Corbetta and Charlotte Caffey

User Reviews

Underrated Romantic Comedy

Frivolous, fun romantic comedy from the '80s. The basic plot is that a girl (Kim Cattrall) in Ancient Egypt is being forced into a marriage she doesn't want. So she prays to the gods and is magically transported/reincarnated/whatever to the future, where she becomes a mannequin that only comes to life for Andrew McCarthy.

I know this movie is almost universally derided but I can't help but love it. It's a sweet, funny, innocently goofy movie that always puts a smile on my face. McCarthy and Cattrall are adorably likable leads. They're helped by a great supporting cast, including Estelle Getty and Meshach Taylor. Not to mention a soundtrack of great '80s songs. In a lot of ways, this movie reminds me of old comedies from the 1930s or 40s. It doesn't care if every little detail of the fantasy plot makes sense. It's just trying to show the audience a good time and, in my case at least, it accomplishes that.