Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- nostalgic
- witty
- warm
- lazy summer afternoon
- nostalgic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film good-hearted and entertaining, with appealing performances and sharp dialogue elevating a conventional, sometimes sluggish coming-of-age comedy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jeffrey resists his parents' college plans while being drawn to Phil Brody's wealth and social confidence before reassessing that ideal.
Jeffrey's summer job at the Flamingo beach club structures his first sustained encounter with work, romance, status, and adult judgment.
Phil initially appears to Jeffrey as a glamorous model of success, but a significant flaw in Phil's character changes Jeffrey's view of him.
The private club, summer resort atmosphere, gin rummy games, and 1963 setting create the film's defining nostalgic milieu.
Films like The Flamingo Kid, and why
Summer of '42
shared coming-of-age story, youthful summer setting, romance, and wistful nostalgia
The Last Picture Show
shared adolescent transition, family pressure, romantic awakening, and warm period comedy-drama
American Graffiti
shared 1960s nostalgia, young protagonist, romance, and gently satirical adult mentorship
The Heartbreak Kid
shared fish-out-of-water comedy, class aspiration, family expectations, and romantic complications
Movie Details
- Director
- Garry Marshall
- Release Date
- 1984-12-21
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (92)
Cast
- Matt Dillon
- Héctor Elizondo
- Molly McCarthy
- Martha Gehman
- Richard Crenna
- Jessica Walter
- Carole Davis
- Janet Jones
- Brian McNamara
- Fisher Stevens
Common questions
- What is The Flamingo Kid about?
- A Brooklyn teenager's summer at an exclusive beach club tests his dreams of wealth, romance, and independence against the values of home.
- What is The Flamingo Kid like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Flamingo Kid as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Flamingo Kid violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Flamingo Kid.
- What did critics think of The Flamingo Kid?
- Critics broadly found the film good-hearted and entertaining, with appealing performances and sharp dialogue elevating a conventional, sometimes sluggish coming-of-age comedy.
- Which films are like The Flamingo Kid?
- Films with a similar feel include Summer of '42, The Last Picture Show, American Graffiti, and The Heartbreak Kid.
- How long is The Flamingo Kid?
- The Flamingo Kid runs 100 minutes.
