Howard the Duck

1986

1h 50m

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

12 Videos

99+ Images

Fantasy

Comedy

Action

Adventure

Romance

Science Fiction

A scientific experiment unknowingly brings extraterrestrial life forms to the Earth through a laser beam. First is the cigar-smoking drake, Howard, from the duck's planet. A few kids try to keep him from the greedy scientists and help him back to his planet, but then a much less friendly being arrives through the beam...

Directors

Willard Huyck

Writers

Willard Huyck(screenplay by)

Gloria Katz(screenplay by)

Steve Gerber(characters by)

Stars

Lea Thompson

Jeffrey Jones

Tim Robbins

See production, box office & company info

Videos12

Photos109

Top cast

Beverly Switzler

Dr. Walter Jenning

Phil Blumburtt

Howard T. Duck

Howard T. Duck (voice)

Howard T. Duck

Howard T. Duck

Howard T. Duck

Howard T. Duck

Howard T. Duck

Howard T. Duck

Lieutenant Welker

Ronette

Cal

K.C.

Ginger Moss

Ritchie

Carter

Directors

Willard Huyck

Writers

Willard Huyck(screenplay by)

Gloria Katz(screenplay by)

Steve Gerber(characters by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews2

Review

Featured review

5/10

_**The infamous film version of Steve Gerber’s intelligent, wise-cracking waterfowl from another world**_ An English-speaking duck from another planet is somehow transported to Cleveland, Ohio, where he befriends a rock group leader (Lea Thompson). She introduces him to her friend, a quirky lab assistant (Tim Robbins), to figure out what happened, but the situation is complicated when a doctor at the lab is possessed by a “dark overlord of the universe” (Jeffrey Jones). "Howard the Duck" (1986) is the film version of Marvel Comics’ anthropomorphic waterfowl created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik with the Duck’s first appearance being in Adventures into Fear #19 featuring the Man-Thing, which debuted in March, 1974 (cover date Dec. 1973). While the cartoonish character was atypical for Marvel, he was a surprise hit, which led to this movie a dozen years later. It’s made in the mold of “Ghostbusters” (1984) and obviously influenced “Men in Black” (1997), but it’s the least of these and notoriously bombed at the box office. It begins well enough, both intriguing and amusing, but starts to lose its mojo in the second act before spiraling into a loud, frantic last act with loads of colorful special effects. The problem is that, after the first act, the flick abandons the characters for action-oriented zaniness and it loses the attention of the viewer. Creator Steve Gerber plainly said the movie “sucked” and was dissatisfied with the duck’s bland voice and costume. Howard’s face just isn’t animated enough and his eyes are too cute & innocent for Gerber’s ill-tempered, wise-cracking waterfowl. That said, there are enough entertaining elements in the “Ghostbusters” / “Men in black” vein to enjoy the movie to some degree as you revisit 1985 America when it was shot. But you have to be able to accept it as a cinematic alternative to Gerber’s original concept. I’m not big on Lea Thompson, but she’s winsome enough as Beverly on the female front, although she didn’t exactly fit Gerber’s version of the Duck’s babelicious pal. Liz Sagal is also notable as Ronette in a minor role. The film runs 1 hour, 50 minutes, and was obviously shot in the Bay area of Northern California, NOT Cleveland, Ohio. GRADE: C

Wuchak24 Nov, 2021