The Flamingo Kid

A young Matt Dillon stars as "The Flamingo Kid" in this warm and charming coming-of-age movie from Garry Marshall, who would go on to direct mega-hit "Pretty Woman" at the end of the 80's.

Matt's character is 18 year old Jeffrey Willis, a plumber's son from Brooklyn who ends up working at the 'exclusive' Long Island "El Flamingo Beach Club" in the summer of 1963.

Here, he finds himself in a very different environment and mixing with people very different from the proud and uncomplicated friends and family he has back home. Inevitably, he meets and falls in love with the beautiful and intelligent Carla who is charmingly played by Janet Jones.

As you might expect, Carla is from a priviliged background and as is a recurring theme in the 80's, Jeffrey finds it difficult to be accepted by Carla's wealthy friends and family. Only her smooth talking salesman uncle, Phil Brodie -"The King", played with great charisma by Richard Crenna (famous as Col. Troutman in the Rambo series), takes any real interest in this bright new addition to Carla's life.

Jeffrey is very taken with "The King" and succumbs totally to his flattery, charm and talk of a future in his employ, much to the dismay of his proud father (Hector Elizondo), who, as a plumber, believes in the honesty of a hard days work.

Any of you who have seen "Pretty Woman" (ie probably all of you!) will remember the Hotel Manager character, played by Hector Elizondo, for which he won a Golden Globe. Hector plays Dillon's father in "The Flamingo Kid" and brings the same qualities to this role. [see trivia]

Like any coming-of-age movie worth it's salt, The Flamingo Kid is full of interesting and colorful characters and situations. It is a very warm hearted film that will remind anyone of that period in their life where they took their first, tentative steps into the world and often found themselves at odds with their parents in persuing love and their dreams.

Garry Marshall both co-wrote the screenplay with Neal Marshall and directed the film, as is his trademark, with a fantastic and genuine warmth.