The Flamingo Kid
Performance & Direction: The Flamingo Kid Review
Last updated: February 2, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Flamingo Kid (1984) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Flamingo Kid features a noteworthy lineup led by Matt Dillon . Supported by the likes of Héctor Elizondo and Molly McCarthy , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Flamingo Kid
Quick Plot Summary: The Flamingo Kid is a Comedy, Drama, Romance film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: The Flamingo Kid
Ending Breakdown: The Flamingo Kid concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Flamingo Kid reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Flamingo Kid?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Top Cast: The Flamingo Kid
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Where to Watch The Flamingo Kid Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
OldflixThe Flamingo Kid Parents Guide & Age Rating
1984 AdvisoryWondering about The Flamingo Kid age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Flamingo Kid is 100 minutes (1h 40m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.0/10, and global performance metrics, The Flamingo Kid is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1984 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Flamingo Kid worth watching?
The Flamingo Kid is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Flamingo Kid parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Flamingo Kid identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Flamingo Kid?
The total duration of The Flamingo Kid is 100 minutes, which is approximately 1h 40m long.
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How The Flamingo Kid Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Flamingo Kid
***Matt Dillon's summer as a cabana boy at a private beach club on Long Island*** Released in 1984, "The Flamingo Kid" is a coming-of-age beach flick. What occasionally draws me to these types of films is their youthful energy and fun spirit, as well as the oceanic locations and the women. It brings one back in time to the carefree era of his/her coming-of-age years. Thankfully, "The Flamingo Kid" shoots for something deeper than just a shallow beach flick, which the best ones do, e.g. the original “Gidget” (1959). The story takes place in 1963 where 18-year-old Jeffrey (Matt Dillon), a plumber's son from Brooklyn, gets a summer job at a private beach club on Long Island called the El Flamingo. This was his final summer of carefree fun before going off to college, but his experiences at the club change his plans. He makes loads of money on tips, meets a beautiful blonde and becomes fascinated by a new mentor, a fast-talking businessman and card shark, Phil Brody (Richard Crenna). Brody convinces Jeffrey that there are easier, faster (i.e. dishonest) ways to make loads of money than going off to college for years on end. When Jeffry cancels his college plans and moves out of his house it naturally creates friction with his father (Hector Elizondo). Will he go on to become the next generation's fast-talking businessman/card shark? Almost the entire film was shot on location at a Queens’ beach club with loads of gorgeous females on hand, including Jeffrey's girlfriend in the story, Carla played by Janet Jones, whose body is so well sculptured she could’ve been Wonder Woman (the movie even jokes about this). Carole Davis also shines as Brody’s brunette daughter, Joyce, a low-key part. Cutie Marisa Tomei even has a cameo. The bottom line is that "The Flamingo Kid" offers everything you'd want in such a film and more, including an interesting story where you care about the outcome. And, thankfully, there's NO RAUNCH (well, maybe a flash). In addition, the soundtrack includes numerous early 60's hits like "Runaround Sue," etc. What's not to like? The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes. GRADE: B+/A-
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
