Comedy,Drama,Romance
United States of America
The Flamingo Kid is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall and released in 1984. The film starred Matt Dillon as Jeffrey Willis, a young man living in Brooklyn, New York, who was looking for more out of life than what his blue-collar background could provide. Jeffrey dreams of leaving his modest family and rising to a higher social status.
One summer, he gets a job as a cabana boy at the Flamingo Club, a posh beach club in the upscale Long Island community of Westhampton. The club is run by Phil Brody (Richard Crenna), a smooth-talking man who takes Jeffrey under his wing and introduces him to the world of wealth and exclusivity. Jeffrey becomes entranced by the lifestyle of the club's members, especially its beautiful women, including Carla Samson (Hector Elizondo) who takes a liking to the young teenager.
At first, Jeffrey is thrilled with his new-found status and the glamorous people he is meeting. He spends lavishly, using his summer salary to buy expensive clothes and a fancy car. But as the summer wears on, he begins to see the darker side of the wealthy lifestyle. One wealthy member of the club offers him a bribe to throw a championship table tennis match, while others engage in shady business deals. Jeffrey begins to realize that the wealthy are not necessarily happier or more fulfilled than he is.
The final blow comes when Jeffrey's father is cheated by one of Brody's shady business deals. Jeffrey confronts Brody and realizes that his supposed mentor is not a good man. Jeffrey quits the Flamingo Club and returns home, where he reconciles with his father and begins to understand the value of family and hard work. He ends up as a better person, enriched by his experiences over that summer.
The Flamingo Kid received positive reviews from critics for its combination of comedy and drama. It was also a box office success, grossing more than $23 million domestically. The film is now considered a cult classic and a favorite of many coming-of-age film enthusiasts.
