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- What Is Howard The Duck About, and Who Is In It?
- Reception to Howard The Duck
- Why Fans Have Grown to Love Howard the Duck
As a child of the ’80s, I vividly remember the cinematic spectacle that was Howard the Duck. Being a bit too young to fully grasp its irony and charm back then, it wasn’t until years later that I truly understood why this film has become a cult classic.
Back in the days before Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, and Thor graced our silver screens, there was me – Howard the Duck. It’s not always easy to gauge a movie’s quality, with critics and fans often having differing opinions. In the case of the ’80s superhero comedy I starred in, it seems to have garnered disapproval from both parties. Yet, somehow, this film has become a topic of endless conversations, viewings, re-viewings, and eventually, a newfound appreciation for its unique charm. Over nearly 40 years since its debut in 1986, I’ve managed to amass a dedicated fanbase, earning the title of a cult classic.
For some, the title “Howard the Duck” might be familiar yet they’ve never seen it. Others recall watching it in the past and are curious if it’s truly as awful as they remember. Remarkably, this movie – Marvel’s first major screen adaptation featuring a character (you read that right!) – is now available for free viewing. As of now, “Howard the Duck” can be streamed for free on Tubi, but this offer won’t last forever.
What Is Howard The Duck About, and Who Is in It?
The movie “Howard the Duck” revolves around the Marvel character, Howard the Duck, making him part of the Marvel universe on screen. Interestingly enough, this film is actually the initial appearance of a Marvel character in feature films. Remarkably, even with the negative reception it received, George Lucas was one of its producers.
The central character is a duck residing on a world called Duckworld, which mirrors Earth in many aspects but is inhabited entirely by anthropomorphic ducks. A peculiar incident sends Howard soaring into space, where he unexpectedly arrives on our planet, specifically Cleveland, Ohio. There, he observes a woman named Beverly being mistreated and intervenes with his extraordinary martial arts abilities. This act of valor catches Beverly’s attention, who invites him to her home, and they subsequently develop a romantic bond.
The film chronicles Howard’s struggle to return to his original world, even though he encounters affection on Earth. However, when he understands that his attempts are in vain, he adapts and tries to adjust to this alien planet. He finds work, gets into quarrels, and experiences romantic moments, transforming more into a human day by day – with the exception that he is actually a duck. Despite settling into his new life, Howard discovers there might be a possibility for him to return home, and optimism rekindles within him.
The plot thickens when the machine that can purportedly help fly him back home accidentally brings a creature known as the Dark Overlord of the Universe to Earth instead. Howard might be the only one who can save them from its terrifying wrath. But the cost of doing so will be life-changing for the duck-out-of-water. Stunt performer Ed Gale performs in a suit as Howard the Duck, with Jordan Prentice filming some scenes. Tim Rose, Steve Sleap, Peter Baird, Mary Wells, and Lisa Sturz are credited as the puppeteers behind the character, while Chip Zien provides his voice.
Apart from the lead characters, the ensemble is quite noteworthy. Lea Thompson, known for her roles in “Back to the Future” and “Caroline in the City,” portrays Beverly, while Tim Robbins, famed for “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Mystic River,” and “Silo,” steps into the role of Phil Blumburtt, a lab assistant that Beverly turns to for help in bringing Howard back to our world. Additionally, you’ll find Jeffrey Jones, recognized from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” David Paymer from “Mr. Saturday Night,” Paul Guilfoyle known for “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” Liz Sagal, sister of Katey Sagal from “Sons of Anarchy,” Holly Robinson Peete who starred in “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper” and “The Talk,” Tom Swerdlow from “Spaceballs,” Miguel Sandoval of “Medium,” and John Fleck known for his work on “Weeds.” In summary, there are many recognizable faces among the cast, some of whom fans might have forgotten about in this film.
In response, many of the original actors have taken the criticism of the film in stride, acknowledging its impact on their careers. Gale expressed to Rediscoverthe80s.com that Howard will forever hold a unique significance in his memories and professional history, given it was his initial major acting gig. Meanwhile, Thompson, during an interview with CBR for the movie’s 30th anniversary, shared her affection for Howard being the embodiment of “the poster child for…quirky characters” and claimed that the film is essentially a celebration of puns – making it a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted joke.
2021 marked a special milestone for me as a fan, celebrating the 35th anniversary of a movie that I’ve always held dear – “Howard the Duck”. I couldn’t help but feel elated seeing how people have come to appreciate this film in the same spirit it was created. It was a groundbreaking, iconoclastic piece. A movie for the little rebels who aren’t afraid to stand out. Initially, it was an easy target for mockery. And that’s why I often say my “Howard the Duck” fans are truly special because they didn’t just hop on the bandwagon; they earned their fandom. They embraced this unique film with open hearts.
Reception to Howard The Duck
Regardless of whether the actors have chosen to acknowledge their involvement with the film or not, the fact remains that Howard the Duck continues to divide audiences. A significant portion of viewers find it utterly abysmal. To describe the initial and subsequent reactions to Howard the Duck as merely lukewarm would be overly kind. The film, which cost between $30-37 million to produce, managed to earn only $38 million at the box office.
The criticism for this production was quite intense, covering aspects ranging from acting abilities to its fluctuating mood and even the appearance of the title character, which left many feeling uneasy or disturbed. However, it’s worth noting that the special effects and soundtrack were highly commended. Originally, Howard was envisioned as a completely digital character, but in the ’80s, achieving this was technically challenging. As a result, he ended up being an actor in a suit, with his on-screen presence being a blend of animatronic suits, costumes, and puppetry.
In lists of the most dismal movies ever produced, Howard the Duck garnered quite a few mentions and ended up winning four Razzie Awards out of seven nominations. The Razzies, also known as Golden Raspberry Awards, are an annual event that celebrates the year’s cinematic flops. Being nominated is considered a slight, but many seem to accept it with a shrug.
Regarding reviews and audience feedback, the film “Howard the Duck” fares poorly on Rotten Tomatoes, with just 13% approval among critics and only slightly better at 38% from viewers, based on over 50,000 ratings. In essence, it seems that very few people consider this movie to be of high quality. Moreover, “Howard the Duck” holds the unfortunate record as the lowest-rated production from Lucasfilm.
In a humorous turn of phrase, James Berardinelli of ReelViews remarks, “This film was dreadful upon its release, it’s still dreadful now, and I have no doubt it will remain dreadful even after our planet has disappeared.” Brandon Collins of Medium Popcorn finds the design of the film disturbing, while Robert W. Butler from Kansas City Star states that it lacks any semblance of a genuine plot or believable characters.
Following various appearances in Disney+ series “What If…?”, Guardians of the Galaxy, and its sequel, as well as a brief background role in Avengers: Endgame, there’s a possibility that the once overlooked Marvel character may make a comeback. Thompson proposed a reboot idea to Marvel Studios after noticing the film was trending on Twitter, which they found appealing, albeit with different plans for other characters. This suggests that fans might still catch glimpses of this forgotten Marvel character in future projects.
Why Fans Have Grown to Love Howard the Duck
Reflecting on the advancements in special effects and character creation within the movie industry since its release, fans can’t help but speculate if the reception for “Howard the Duck” might have been more favorable with a different approach to the character design. Despite this, there is an undeniably quirky charm to the film. As Joe Leydon of The Moving Picture Show puts it, it’s “a wacky comedy-adventure.” Felix Vasquez Jr. from Cinema Crazed describes it as a “fun and fast-paced piece of eighties junk cinema.
This film is a judge-it-yourself type, perfect for enjoying with friends while laughing at its outlandishness. Despite some harsh criticism, it has earned a cult following on platforms like Reddit. A Reddit user named Deus_Payne acknowledges that compared to the comics it’s based on, the movie might not meet expectations. However, they recommend giving this often overlooked gem a chance and not taking it too seriously since it offers fun, practical effects, and an enjoyable atmosphere in the end.
Tuxhoss shares their enduring affection for the movie by displaying a framed poster in their home cinema. The film’s soundtrack is particularly commendable, with some viewers arguing that it makes the movie worth watching solely for this aspect. However, it’s important to note that the content might not be suitable for all audiences due to its adult humor and explicit scenes.
If you have a faint recollection of the movie “Howard the Duck” and are intrigued by its infamous, yet brilliantly terrible charm, it’s definitely worth another look. For those who haven’t seen it yet, given that “Howard the Duck” was actually the first Marvel character to appear on the big screen, it’s essential viewing for die-hard Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans who pride themselves on having watched every MCU film. As we look back and see how far the franchise has progressed, this movie didn’t tarnish the Marvel brand. Regardless of personal opinions about the film, it holds a significant place in MCU history. You can watch Howard the Duck for free on Tubi.
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2024-10-27 02:32