My Bodyguard (1980)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Tony Bill

Writer:

Alan Ormsby (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Plot:

When a boy comes to a new school and gets harassed by a bully, he acquires the services of the school's most feared kid as a bodyguard.

Plot Keywords:

Bully | High School | Showdown | Protection Racket | Teen

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Chris Makepeace	...	Clifford
Adam Baldwin	...	Linderman
Matt Dillon	...	Moody
Paul Quandt	...	Carson
Hank Salas	...	Mike
Joan Cusack	...	Shelley
Dean R. Miller	...	Hightower
Tim Reyna	...	Koontz
Richard Bradley	...	Dubrow
Denise Baske	...	Leilani
Vicky Nelson	...	Freddy
Tom Rielly	...	Reissman
Paul Charbonneau	...	Allen
Laura Salenger	...	Girl
Bert Hoddinott	...	Burt

Runtime:

96 min | USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (1986) | Iceland:12 (1990 re-rating) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-12 (cut) (1981) | Norway:12 | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Adam Baldwin's film debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: Juxtaposition of red-haired friend and Linderman.

Quotes:

Melvin Moody: Hey, Shelly. Do you want to go to the movies?
Shelley: Sure.
Melvin Moody: Okay, have a good time while you're there.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Step by Step: My Bodyguard (#3.16)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

She's a Latin from Manhattan

"Welcome to your Sophomore year"! (Or High School itself.)

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)