The Pick-up Artist (1987)

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Director:

James Toback

Writer:

James Toback (written by)

Release Date:

18 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The Pick-Up Artist... has finally met his match.

Plot:

A womanizer meets his match when he falls for the daughter of a mobster. |

Plot Keywords:

Gym Teacher | Camaro | Blackjack | Planetarium | Museum

Cast

Molly Ringwald	...	Randy Jensen
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Jack Jericho (as Robert Downey)
Dennis Hopper	...	Flash Jensen
Danny Aiello	...	Phil Harper
Mildred Dunnock	...	Nellie
Harvey Keitel	...	Alonzo Scolara
Brian Hamill	...	Mike
Tamara Bruno	...	Karen
Vanessa Williams	...	Rae, Girl with Dog
Angie Kempf	...	Jack's Student
Polly Draper	...	Pat, Jack's Colleague
Frederick Koehler	...	Richie
Robert Towne	...	Stan
Victoria Jackson	...	Lulu
Lorraine Bracco	...	Carla

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | Netherlands:MG6 | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #27920) | Iceland:L | Spain:T | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Amercent Films

Trivia:

DIRCAMEO: James Toback as Jack's landlord.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: During the most of the movie, Randy wears a blouse is buttoned up to the neck and a necklace over the top of it. Except for the scene where she is exiting the casino after her big loss, as she walks out and her blouse is unbuttoned at the neck and she is not wearing the necklace. However, in the next scene the blouse is buttoned again and necklace returns. The description of an apparent discontinuity is accurate; however, in the shot with open blouse and sans necklace, Randy is also not wearing her jacket. In the following shot, as she emerges from the casino with Jack after her devastating setback, she has donned her jacket, buttoned her blouse, and restored her necklace. The apparent costume discontinuity dissolves in the brief lapse of unrecorded time.

Quotes:

Jack Jericho: Did anyone ever tell you you're too good to be true?
Randy Jensen: No only that I'm too truthful to be good.

Movie Connections:

References "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Lonely Boy

a delightful, truthful, touching motion picture

The essence of this film, contrary to other statements at this site, is dealing with addiction. Each of the central characters has an addiction - alcohol, violence, gambling, womanizing. The Pickup Artist deals with the consequences and self-destructive nature of these specific addictions, as well as addictions in general. The dialogue is extremely witty. The acting is superb; four actors in this film have won, or been nominated for, Academy Awards - including Robert Downey, who is one of only a handful of actors that could have portrayed Charlie Chaplin - the greatest comic genius of all time.