Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- breezy
- irreverent
- 1980s movie night
- romcom double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the film lighthearted and energetic but undermined by an overly silly premise, tonal imbalance, and an overly sincere conclusion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jack rehearses pick-up lines, catalogs phone numbers, and treats dating as a repeatable con before Randy disrupts his method.
Randy's debt to Alonzo and his demand that she sleep with Fernando directly endanger her relationship with Jack.
The story moves through the Upper West Side, Coney Island, nightclubs, the museum, and Atlantic City.
Jack begins as a serial pick-up artist but starts helping Randy and caring about her circumstances.
Films like The Pick-up Artist, and why
Some Kind of Wonderful
1980s romantic comedy with a charming but immature protagonist whose relationship forces emotional growth
Moonstruck
new york romantic comedy balancing flirtation, personal dysfunction, and a heightened comic tone
The Tao of Steve
romantic comedy centered on an irresponsible womanizer confronted by a more perceptive love interest
After Hours
urban romance involving criminal pressure, eccentric personalities, and a morally compromised suitor
Movie Details
- Director
- James Toback
- Release Date
- 1987-09-18
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (207)
Cast
- Molly Ringwald
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Dennis Hopper
- Danny Aiello
- Mildred Dunnock
- Victoria Jackson
- Frederick Koehler
- Bob Gunton
- Harvey Keitel
- Christine Baranski
Common questions
- What is The Pick-up Artist about?
- A practiced New York womanizer falls for a debt-burdened museum guide and discovers that charm is no substitute for responsibility.
- What is The Pick-up Artist like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Pick-up Artist as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Pick-up Artist violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Pick-up Artist as mild.
- What did critics think of The Pick-up Artist?
- Critics generally found the film lighthearted and energetic but undermined by an overly silly premise, tonal imbalance, and an overly sincere conclusion.
- Which films are like The Pick-up Artist?
- Films with a similar feel include Some Kind of Wonderful, Moonstruck, The Tao of Steve, and After Hours.
- How long is The Pick-up Artist?
- The Pick-up Artist runs 81 minutes.
