Search - The Flamingo Kid [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Suitable for Teens Movie Release: 1984 DVD Release: 08/05/2003 Format: DVD - Letterbox for TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 40 mins Studio: MGM Total Copies: 7 Genres: Comedy Drama, Romantic Comedy, Teen Movie, Coming-of-Age See Also: The Flamingo Kid

Set in 1963, The Flamingo Kid finds 18-year-old Brooklynite Matt Dillon, the son of blue-collar Hector Elizondo, getting a taste of the Good Life by joining several of his friends at "El Flamingo", a swank Long Island beach club. Wealthy car salesman Richard Crenna, the uncle of Matt's girl friend Janet Jones, befriends the boy and takes him under his wing. Thanks to Crenna's influence, Matt secures a good job at the Flamingo. The boy is bedazzled by Crenna's sumptuous lifestyle, and most especially by the older man's reputation as the Flamingo's reigning gin rummy champ. Dillon begins taking on airs, which alienates his down-to-earth father. Watch for a scene in which, while channel-surfing with his new remote control, Richard Crenna watches a fleeting clip from the old TV sitcom The Real McCoys--featuring Richard Crenna. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Matt Dillon - Jeffrey Willis
Richard Crenna - Phil Brody
Hector Elizondo - Arthur Willis
Jessica Walter - Phyllis Brody
Fisher Stevens - Hawk Ganz
Janet Jones - Carla Samson

Garry Marshall's delightful The Flamingo Kid (1984) makes its second appearance on DVD, courtesy of MGM/UA, following the latter's acquisition of ABC Films and the Worldvision library, which had previously been licensed to Anchor Bay Entertainment. The older transfer isn't available for comparison, but MGM's DVD comes in the same configuration, with the matted edition of the movie on one side (letterboxed at 1.85:1) and the full-screen version (1.33:1) on the other. As with many matted films, the letterboxing cuts off picture information from the top and bottom of the image, more than adding anything to the sides, making the choice of which side to watch a matter of taste more than anything else -- the letterboxed side feels more open and less tight at the edges. The picture itself is a decent transfer, but nothing more, on a movie that was intended as a realistic comedy set in 1963 -- it was supposed to look mundane. Both the full-frame and letterboxed versions get the same 16 chapters, and offer the same simple menu on startup, which opens automatically. There is no trailer or other bonus material. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide