Customer Reviews

My Bodyguard

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For some reason, I always thought this movie took place in New York, but seeing it recently, and seeing the scene where the boys ride around Daley Plaza, I realized it takes place in Chicago. Pretty sad considering I grew up just north of Chicago and a few famous landmarks are visibly present within a number of scenes.

Anyway, Clifford Peache (Chris Makepeace) has a problem besides his really bad mushroomed shaped harido. Having just transferred from a private to public school, Clifford has run afoul of a gang of toughs, led by Moody (Matt Dillon) whose main source of income is extorting money from kids under the premise of protection from another kid, Ricky Linderman (Alec Baldwin). See, legend has it that Ricky, a boy larger than most, has done all kinds of things from killing a kid, raping a teacher, to shooting a cop. Moody and his gang claim to provide protection from Ricky, but, really, they are only providing protection against themselves, because not paying Moody would result in a beating from Moody or any of his cronies. Clifford angers Moody and his goons by refusing to pay, which results in all kinds of harassment.

Clifford, seeing that even the bullies are afraid of Ricky, approaches Ricky to try and make a deal to get him to be his bodyguard. Ricky agrees initially, but backs out as Clifford tries to learn more about Ricky, about his past and why he's so feared. I've noticed some reviewers have tried to infer some sort of burgeoning homoerotic relationship between these two characters, but I really didn't see it. It's sad that two male characters in a movie can't develop a close friendship without some people labeling it as something other than what it is...I actually found that notion a little offensive and silly as this is a charming little movie that portrays one boy, who shut nearly shut everything out after a tragic event opening up to a friend. In the end, the boys develop a friendship, but also get more in that Clifford learns how to stand up for himself and Ricky seems to come to terms with a past event that isolated him and made him feared throughout the school.

Look for appearances by Martin Mull, Ruth Gordon, Joan Cusack, John Houseman, George Wendt, Tim Kazurinsky, and Jennifer Beals. The movie is presented in full screen and wide screen formats, and looks really good. The audio is solid, but there are English subtitles if needed. One of the many things I appreciated about this movie was the use of real teenagers to portray teens on the screen. It really annoys me seeing some twenty something being passed off as a high school student as seems fairly common nowadays. Also, it seemed the entire movie was shot on location in Chicago, rather than on a soundstage, providing a bit of a gritty, realistic feel. This was a nice, subtle touch that served to make a great movie that much better. Overall, an excellent movie I would recommend to most anyone.

It's a commentary on the Year 2001 (and not a pleasant one) that My Bodyguard, made in 1980, now seems almost as old-fashioned as Boy's Town. Sure, an occasional curse word crosses the lips of the teen characters in this movie, and boogers and toilets are mentioned in passing. But even the school bully isn't a sex-crazed moron, and no one is shown doing distasteful things to mice, apple pies or hair mousse. It's just the sweet, likable story of Clifford Peache, a nice, smart kid bullied by a nasty school clique led by the loathsome Melvin Moody, and Ricky Linderman, the hulking loner with a violent reputation whom Clifford hires to protect him from Moody and his thugs. Clifford and Linderman become pals, Clifford learns Linderman's dark secret, and both learn a great deal from each other about friendship and courage when Moody tries to double-cross them. That's all there is to the movie, except for a subplot about Clifford's harried hotel-manager father (Martin Mull) and raffish grandmother (Ruth Gordon). It's no masterpiece, but it is pleasant and surprisingly memorable, thanks largely to the touchingly real performances of the teen stars. Adam Baldwin, who made his film debut here, is outstanding as Linderman; why he hasn't had a better subsequent career is utterly beyond me. I also have no idea why Chris Makepeace's career was essentially over by 1985. Only Matt Dillon has had a real star career--undoubtedly because he was the only one with leading-man looks. Director Tony Bill makes good use of the Chicago locations, and Joan Cusack also had her film debut here in a small role.

This is a terrific movie. The plot concerns a boy named Clifford (Chris Makepeace) who's new to a Chicago high school. He quickly becomes the target of Moody, the school bully (Matt Dillon). Rather than put up with Moody and his friends, Clifford gets Linderman (Adam Baldwin) to be his bodyguard. Everyone at the school is terrified of Linderman, but he and Clifford become close friends. There are also a few scenes with Martin Mull as Clifford's father, a hotel manager, and Ruth Gordon as his grandmother. It's a very sweet film with superb performances from all the actors. I would recommend it to just about anyone, although there is a little bit of swearing and some mild violence. Overall, though, it's a great film.

My Bodyguard is an absolute joy of a film. When it came out 24 years ago my friends and I went to see it about 5-6 times. I'd not seen it in 24 years until recently purchasing it. Watching it was like opening a time capsule: everything was still fresh and true with tremendous performances from a terrific ensemble cast.

The standout performance belongs to Adam Baldwin. 17 when this was filmed, Baldwin's performance is nothing short of astonishing. His Linderman is classic "tough guy" on the outside, frightened loner beneath the surface. Properly fearful looking (the whole school is scared of this guy) Baldwin nonetheless makes it impossible for you not to feel for this kid and when, out of his greasy, shapeless clothes and cleaned up and dressed for dinner at the hotel, his smile and demeanor

Chris Makepeace shines as the tale's protagonist, Clifford and his persistence in courting friendship with Linderman is a turning point in the film: a bond is formed, and people start opening up. When, at dinner a secret Linderman is embarassed of surfaces, Cliff's Grandma holds his arm and says "You're among friends, Ricky, you're among friends"

As that Grandma, Ruth Gordon is simultaneously touching and predictably hilarious ("Bats, bats!") whether getting tipsy and flirting with married guests or dispensing relationship advice to her grandson ("never hit a woman . . . men think they want that but they're wrong!" )

One forgets how young and fresh Matt Dillon, Joan Cusack were when they started and both are terrific here. Many other recognizable faces and names pop up throughout the movie.

What a really terrific little movie this is!

"My Bodyguard" is the touching story of two young mens' awakening to their burgeoning homosexuality. The love scenes are handled tenderly by the director and the two pretty actors, Chris Makepeace and Adam Baldwin. I've never seen a boy's homosexual awakening treated so sensitively before this film...

JUST KIDDING, FOLKS! The reviewers who see "subtle hints" in the film of Clifford and Ricky's relationship being "more than friendship" must've seen another film than I did. Please share with the rest of us the "evidence" you see which suggests a homosexual relationship between the characters. Until then, I'll continue to believe Clifford and Ricky are straight. (Note how they use a telescope to spy on a young woman across the street; Clifford refers to her and her ilk as "heavenly bodies." If that's not the behavior of a heterosexual teenage male, I don't know what is.)

I don't know where those other reviewers are coming from. Perhaps it's all in the eye of the beholder; gay filmgoers seeing what they want to see.

A good film. I loved it as a kid and I still like it now.

At last "My Bodygaurd" is being released on DVD. I got turned on to this movie as a kid, when it was shown on HBO 3 times a day. I watched it every time.
For me the most memorable character is "Mike" He is "Moody"'s
bodygaurd. He's bald, big and tough...I remember thinking as a kid that one of the scariest people I could come accross at a new school or neighborhood would be "Mike"...
Matt Dillon says "Heeeey Miiike..."
Mike- "hey Linderman, you pickin on my friend Moody again? hear your a real tough...huh?....huh?...real tough guy...huh? break teacher's legs? Rape old ladies? yeah your a real tough guy. I want to see how tough you are. What's this? a chain? what's this chain gonna make you tough...come on..let's see what you got...
Hey killa...hey killa, why you on your knee's? you queer or something?...i'm gonna give you and your friends 3 seconds to get out of here...ah, without the bike, it's Moody's now...
one........tew."
Seriously check this out...Chris Makepeace is also a great actor. Awesome soundtrack too. Besides the delights of Mike, Matt Dillons awesome as "Moody", and in al seriousness this a a great movie. tew

The movie is well done with a fine cast. What makes it unusual is the manner in which it deals with some fundamental elements in the "coming of age process." One of the themes one can chart throughout a life cycle is the evolution of the concept of power. One finds that in the elementary grades where power is physical and individualistic. The mindset atthis point is "whose the tuffest kid in the class." As one moves towards high school the notion of power becomes redefined into a more social framework such as team sports (football, basketball, etc.). It still deals with the physical domain of power, but more social (team efforts sanctioned by the institutional structure, i.e., the school). However there is a class divide that exists within the schools. Those who come from middle class families are more readily moved forward towards college and the professions. Those who are disenfranchised do not. The realization of this on the part of the disenfranchised can lead to hostility expressed in the form of physical threats. This is the nub of the movie. A bright student comes to an inner city school and finds himself the target of a formidable group of bullies. Realizing that he is no physical match he decides that the way to deal with this delemma is trump his tormentors by finding someone even more menacing. At first the potential bodyguard is reticent and dismisses the offer, but eventually the two are drawn together by circumstances and become friends. The result of the friendship is the focus of the movie: the evolution of each of these characters as a result of their interaction with one anther. Needless to say, the bullies are vanquished in the end and the two main characters (the "geek" and his bodyguard)continue to evolve well beyond the point of their first encounter. The movie is also a bit unusual in the sense that it treats the psychological motiviation of the "bodyguard" at a deeper level that one might expect from a teen movie. It's well done and the cast is excellent with a story told in a very believable fashion.

As the seventies slipped into the eighties,We as a generation were surrendering the innocence of Benji,The Love Bug, and Witch Mountain to the harsh realities of cliques,bullies and class lines--the banes of our adolecent existence.Filmed several years before teen films would become as much about their soundtracks as they were their content,this is an outstanding example of a coming-of-age film done right.Filled with actors rather than stars portraying characters rather than stereotypes.It manages to hit it's mark,simply and quietly.Sure, the production is dated,but it's message is timeless.A great film to pop in when your child has had a bad day at school to show that,Yes we've all been there and we all get through it!

I wont go into a synopsis because that has already been done in many reviews here. There really is no bad acting in this movie. It is either good or great. Also, the storyline is very realistic and down to earth which in a way served to make me feel like a silent participant in the film.

I remember reading the book in 4th grade which was adapted from the movie. I finally saw the movie some years later and it really was like another viewer said, opening a time capsule. Not only opening a time capsule for me personally, but also a time capsule for life in general in 1980. Tt was a much different world then. Not many movies do that for me. The bad part is it makes me realize how old I am getting and how fast that is happening.

Anyway, it is a great movie.

Not bad, though it's fairly predictable. A high school kid (Chris Makepeace) enters a Chicago public school, coming from a well-to-do academy. Right away he comes up against a gang of extortionists (led by Matt Dillon); they threaten him, but he refuses to pay. Instead he befriends the toughest kid in the school, a loner, who agrees to become his bodyguard. This kid (Adam Baldwin) has had a legend grow around him (raped teachers, killed people); what he's really guilty of, however, is accidentally shooting his brother, which he's been unable to confront. But through his friendship with Makepeace, Baldwin comes out of his shell in a climactic finale involving a fight with the extortionists. It's a teenage feel-good movie, funny at times and pretty accurate of the age group - but there's something amateurish about it, too, with more of the flavor of a made-for-TV movie than a Hollywood production. The adults don't matter, which is great; even Ruth Gordon's old lady lush routine is here just for comic asides. It's a pretty good movie, though, worth a watch.