'Howard the Duck': The Misunderstood Marvel Movie

Hi, and welcome back to Second Chances where I defend the maligned, the forgotten... oh, who am I kidding? No one forgot this one.

I knew I had to talk about this one. Ever since I mentioned it when I looked at the film scores of John Barry, I knew I had to explain why I like (or, even, how I could like) the 1986 George Lucas-produced bomb Howard the Duck. The very first theatrical film based on a Marvel Comics character, Howard the Duck is a permanent resident on lists of the worst movies ever made. In fact, it even shows up on a deck of playing cards I have dedicated to the worst movies ever made. However, I just can't agree. This is a movie that I watched so much as a kid that my mother can't even look at the case anymore. Watching it again recently, it still has plenty going for it that many people overlook. No, this one shouldn't be counted as part of the MCU, but it shouldn't be fed to a Dark Overlord, either.

Once again, like when I reviewed Lifeforce, I must mention that I know next to nothing about the source material. I never read any of the Howard the Duck comics (though I probably should at some point since I understand they're very surreal). I've heard the complaints issued by fans of the comics about how much the film deviates, but that doesn't concern me. I am judging this movie just on its own.

The plot revolves around the title character who was accidentally yanked off his own planet (where ducks are the dominant species) and dropped into Cleveland. He saves a young struggling rocker named Beverly and starts his own struggle to find his way home. After learning about the device that brought him here, it accidentally brings down a demon, and Howard becomes the only hope to save Earth from galactic conquest. While numerous people complain about the story dragging, not knowing when to stop, yadda-yadda-yadda, I don't agree. I stayed involved as it went along. The intensity ramped up at a natural pace. It made sense to devote time to Howard's struggles on a new world before bringing the Dark Overlord into the picture. While the tone is very dark for a PG-rated comic book movie, I don't see it as any darker than many other movies from that time. Watch this movie, then watch Watership Down, and tell me that Howard the Duck went too far. I will admit this movie should've been a PG-13 due to some things that are definitely questionable (like the infamous shot of a topless female duck in a bathtub).

The effects largely hold up, even in HD. I was actually amazed at how much expression the tech guys were able to give Howard's animatronic head. Sure, the movements of his bill don't always correspond well to what the voice actor Chip Zien was saying, but his facial expressions were right on the money. The lighting effects still look awesome; Industrial Light & Magic earned their keep there. Finally, the stop-motion for the true form of the Dark Overlord can still induce nightmares even now. Just look at that pic up there and think of it in motion. I also have to give props once again to John Barry's score. The jazz riff at the opening set a great ambiance, and the triumphant score during the final battle is very energized. I do wish more time went to John Barry's score than Thomas Dolby's pop songs, but at least Lea Thompson showed off her impressive pipes for those.

The performances are actually good for the most part. Chip Zien's snarky delivery of Howard's lines got me chuckling plenty. Yes, Lea Thompson does play Beverly as a bit of an airhead, but she still stays likable. I will admit there were parts that were cringe-worthy. The scene where Beverly came on to Howard came across as warped, even when I was a kid; not even great shots of Lea in lingerie saved that. Tim Robbins was terrible as the not-quite-scientist Phil Blumburtt. I can tell Robbins couldn't do comedy; his routines were forced and overblown. The only Blumburtt scenes that worked involved him spouting technobabble near the end. However, Jeffrey Jones stole the show as Dr. Jenning. He was dignified and likable early on and became maniacal yet hypnotic after being taken over by the Dark Overlord. He switched between the two personalities effortlessly. Jeffrey Jones is awesome in every movie he's in from Ferris Bueller to Sleepy Hollow, and Howard the Duck is no exception.

Does Howard the Duck have problems? Yes. Can it be too dark and scary for kids? Maybe. Is it one of the worst movies of all time? Absolutely not. I've reviewed gamesin the past where the reputations were worse than the games themselves, and Howard the Duck is a film that has the same issue. Despite the comic book origin, George Lucas, Willard Huyck, and Gloria Katz took it seriously and created a film that deserved more props than it got. I actually give thanks to this movie for helping me form my own rather warped sense of humor; so, I will always hold a soft spot for it. If you haven't seen it yet, give it a chance. It may not be The Avengers, but it's a far cry from Batman & Robin.

Disagree? Have a suggestion for something else that deserves another look? Send me a Tweet, and rock on!