The Flamingo Kid (Movie Review)

A young boy, James, had a strange dream about a flamingo. The flamingo said good morning to him and asked how his flossing was. James said it was fantastic, and the flamingo told him to keep up the good work.

The flamingo then whipped out some castanets and began to dance. It was the most beautiful flamenco that James had ever seen or heard. James clapped and laughed until he was exhausted. The flamingo then explained that it had been a champion flamenco dancer once upon a time. James was amazed and thanked the flamingo for such a wonderful display.

In this fish-out-of-water comedy-drama, Garry Marshall (Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve) reworks his familiar formula to create a satisfying crowd-pleaser that never flags despite its occasionally silly plot. Matt Dillon is the standout, a sweet, sensitive actor who can pull off the sometimes annoying tics of this character’s personality without letting the character become caricatured or overwrought.

Janet Jones is also excellent in her role, a tough-talking, sexy widow who’s used to getting her way and is pleasantly surprised by how much she and the boy can learn from each other. Richard Crenna, Jessica Walter, and Hector Elizondo round out the rest of the strong cast.

Flamingos are filter feeders that feed on algae, small seeds, tiny crustaceans (like brine shrimp), fly larvae and other plants and animals that live in shallow water. Their specialized bill creates a comb-like surface that allows water to rush through but traps the food inside. When the flamingos eat, they scoop up the food with their bills and then filter it back out through their tongues to eat.

The movie’s one use of the F-word is a minor issue, and that may be what keeps it from being rated R, but there’s no denying its mature subject matter. The Flamingo Kid is an amiable and enjoyable coming-of-age film that’s boosted by a great soundtrack featuring classic hits from The Impressions, Little Richard, the Chiffons, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, and more.

Kino’s Studio Classics release brings The Flamingo Kid home on a single Blu-ray disc housed in a standard keepcase. The menu is simple enough to navigate, and there are options for watching the film, selecting scenes, adjusting settings and checking out extras. A 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track are offered, as well as an English subtitle option. This is a solid release from Kino, and the film is well worth adding to your collection.