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Howard the Duck (1986)
In the George Lucas-produced sci-fi comedy about a
humanoid duck (based upon the Marvel Comics' character):
- the clever opening credits sequence set in Howard
T. Duck's Marshington DC apartment (3636 Lakeside Dr.) located
on a "duck" version of Earth (Duckworld), with duck-versions
of everything ("Rolling Egg" Magazine, a film poster
for "Breeders of the Lost Stork" with Indiana Drake,
Mae Nest and W.C. Fowls in a My Little Chickadee film poster,
a centerfold in Playduck Magazine, etc.)
- the sudden expulsion of Howard from his armchair through
the length of his building (through the hallway and other people's
residences, including through a bathroom with a topless duck in a
bathtub) into outer space - and eventually landing in Cleveland
- the scene of the interstellar duck Howard saving the
life of Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson), a musician in a struggling
punk rock band known as Cherry Bomb, by declaring: ("That's
it, no more Mr. Nice Duck"), and fighting off mean street thugs
with strange martial arts: ("Let the female creature go! Every
duck's got his limit, and you scum have pushed me over the line...No
one laughs at a master of quack-fu")
- the sequence of Howard the Duck having a "brewski"
at Beverly's apartment, and admitting that he was having an identity
crisis: ("What I don't know is what the hell I'm doing here!
It's like a bad trip. I mean, talk about an identity crisis"),
and then when he fell asleep, Beverly's peek into his wallet, where
she found his ID, photos, credit cards (MallardCard and Bloomingducks),
cash bills with a duck President, and a condom!
- the hilarious scene in the Ohio Bureau of Employment
Services where Howard was advised about finding a job by a large
and outspoken counselor named Cora Mae (Virginia Capers) - warning
that she didn't like dealing with a "slacker" or "misfit" like
him: ("They think that by trapsing in here and looking outlandish,
they are not gonna be able to find work....Do you think that by looking
controversial, you is never gonna find a job and just go on coIlecting
unemployment and living happy on the public dole. Well, dude, you've
got another thing coming! Because Cora Mae always places her interviewee.
I'm gonna find your ass a job that'll wipe that snarl right off your
face, little - whatever you is. In fact, I think I got just the position
for you! I got a feeling you're gonna take to this job like a duck
to water")
Howard the Duck in Bed with Beverly
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- the strange seduction scene in Beverly's apartment
when Howard complimented her figure: ("I have developed a
greater appreciation for the female version of the human anatomy");
he joined her in bed to watch David Letterman on television, as
he suggestively remarked: ("Maybe it's not a man you should
be looking for"); she wondered: ("Do you think I might
find happiness in the animal kingdom, duckie?") and he proposed:
("Like they say, doll, love's strange. We could always give
it a try. Hmm?"); she called his bluff and began unbuttoning
the front of Howard's shirt - as the feathers in the middle of
his head flared up: ("OK, let's go for it, Mr. Macho...It's
just that you're so incredibly soft and cuddly...I just can't resist
your intense animal magnetism"); he expressed his worry: ("Anyway,
where will it all lead? Marriage? Kids? A house in the suburbs?"),
and as she began to remove her blouse: ("Let's just face it,
it's fate"), he shied away from intimacy although she proposed
to the nervous duckie: "Just one goodnight kiss, sweet duckie";
- they shared a few short kisses (on his extended duck bill), seen
in silhouette after she turned out the light; however, three intruders
interrupted them; when Carter (Miles Chapin) witnessed what was
going on, he stated: "My God, this relationship defies all
the laws of nature."
- the long extended scenes (about getting Howard back
home with a reversed cosmic ray) involving multiple chase scenes
and lots of explosions, including Howard and scientist/janitor Phil's
(Tim Robbins) ride in an ultralight aircraft
- the character of researcher Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones)
becoming possessed while driving: ("Listen, an evil has landed.
The world is in great danger...It feels like something inside me
gnawing at my guts! What's wrong with me?..The pain. It's like I'm
transforming inside. I'm afraid I'm about to become something else...Something's
growing inside me...It's replicating and superceding all my internal
organs!...That monster's shape I saw...It's inside my body...The
end of the world is coming, and I will be the cause of it...I'm not
Jenning any more. The transformation is complete. I am now someone
else")
- the scene in Joe Roma's Cajun Sushi restaurant, when
the waitress asked the possessed Dr. Jenning about his food order:
("What do you think he'd like to eat?"), with his reply:
("I no longer need human food...You are about to witness the
end of the old world and the birth of the new"); then he explained
his transformation into the Dark Overlord: ("I told you, bird
brain, I am not Jenning any more! I am now one of the Dark Overlords
of the universe... Tonight the laser beam hit the Nexus of Sominus...It
lies beyond the planets. It is a region of demons to which we Dark
Overlords were exiled eons ago...Just as you were brought down here
accidentally. Tonight, the laser beam released me from that region
of demons and pulled me down into that lab...During the explosion,
I entered Jenning's body. So, I have disguised my true form which
would be considered hideous and revoIting here...This will mean the
extinction of all existing life forms...My powers are growing");
he then showed them the code-key - that he would soon use that night
to activate the laser spectra scope to bring down the other Dark
Overlords; he ended with the threat: ("Soon the Dark Overlords
will engulf the Earth - Nothing human will remain here") - and
he soon destroyed much of the diner: ("If you can't stand the
heat, get out of the kitchen")
- and the scene of the possessed Dr. Jenning driving
a truck with Beverly as his hostage - and at one point - using his
extended tongue to extract power from the vehicle's dashboard cigarette
lighter; he then entered an Exhaust Emissions Testing area, where
he used a laser-beam blast from his eyes to obliterate other cars
- and then joked: "Smog inspection!"
- the sequence of the Dark Overlord of the Universe
(created by George Lucas' special effects division) transforming
into a monstrous scorpion-like creature
- Howard's coming to the saving rescue and defeating
the monstrous creature by blowing it to smithereens with an experimental "neutron
disintegrator" laser
- the film's conclusion with Howard (strumming a red
electric guitar) and Beverly on-stage and singing together: "Howard
the Duck"
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Opening Credits
Howard in Arm-chair with Playduck Magazine
Landing in Cleveland
Job-Hunting Howard
Kisses - Interrupted
Chase Sequence
Possessed Dr. Jenning
Scorpion-Like Monster
Destruction of Creature with Laser
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