by 20th Century Fox
Sales Rank: 25655
Price: $9.98
The son (Chris Makepeace) of a hotel manager (Martin Mull) finds himself the target of the school bully (Matt Dillon, in his breakthrough movie role). So he makes an offer to a school outcast--the biggest kid in class (Adam Baldwin), who reputedly has actually killed someone. He'll pay him to be his bodyguard against the bully. But the business arrangement turns into friendship, even as the smaller boy learns his new friend's secret shame. The first film by director-producer Tony Bill, this one comes down a little too heavily on the feel-good notes (and includes a gratingly precious appearance by Ruth Gordon in her lovable eccentric mode) but works because of strong performances by its young cast. <I>--Marshall Fine</I>
Viewer Reviews Along with a terrific cast this is a fun movie from the 1980s with decent clothes and music that doesn't age it badly. Backdrops are of Chicago and you see a couple scenes that Chicagoans will know like the loop, and the Picasso sculpture in the Civic Center Plaza. Several of the cast were kids then and have now grown including Makepeace, Baldwin, and Dillon. Be sure to keep an eye peeled for a young Jennifer Beals of "Flash Dance", not listed in the credits. This is a story about a new kid that is bullied for lunch money by a group of locals. In comes a very large and intimidating kid with stories of murder and mayhem that all the kids are afraid of but the new kid. He immediately approaches this large kid with a questionable past and ask him to be his bodyguard. It takes some convincing but he finally agrees. Don't miss this fun growing up movie. Good quality DVD with plenty of replayability. If you enjoyed this catch "Charlie Bartlett" and "The Karate Kid". - C. Luster
