MovieChat Forums > 52 Pick-Up (1986) Discussion > So dumb

So dumb

posted 5 years ago by Adam60z (3774)
9 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this one again after a long time and realized how utterly ridiculous it is. The characters were all caracatures and the script was unintentionally dumb and seems to have come off an assembly line of this type. The music was that '80s electronic crap too. Way below the standard of a Frankenheimer film and the actors. But...it was cutting edge as far as showing sex in a nonporn film and the character I loved was Clarence Williams the III: hilariously crazy MF! And the dude who played David Berkowitz hammed it up too to a satirical level.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 5 years ago

What was good was that Schneider didn't have one of those convoluted plans that depend on others doing exactly what the plan requires. He put a plan in motion that didn't quite work out so he had to react to the plan not working. Like in real ife

[–] Adam60z (3774) 4 years ago

Actually that's exactly the type of plan that he DID have at the end. Everything depended on what Glover would do.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 5 years ago

And you are dead on correct about the aspects you liked.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (18085) 5 years ago

The villains' dynamic with each other was the best part. John Glover and Clarence Williams were both very sleazy creepy guys.

[–] Adam60z (3774) 5 years ago

Well I thought Clarence Williams III (better known as Link in the Mod Squad) was hilarious as that psycho. But John Glover was so unappealing I just saw no redeeming quality at all, not even camp!

[–] Roguemail (1615) 4 years ago

But Glover was supposed to be unappealing, he was the main villain. Why would you be expected to like him?

You are supposed to find him irritating, in the same way Scheiders character does.

And in much the same way that Joe Pesci's character in Goodfellas is a despicable character with no redeeming qualities. Yet he is one of the most iconic characters ever.

[–] Tabbycat (894) 4 years ago

Cutting edge sex in mainstream thriller ... check.
Bad 80’s music ... check. Awful.
Clarence Williams III as hilariously crazy (and scary) mo-fo ... check.
My favorite performance.

John Glover as one of the nastiest yet believable on-screen bad guys ever ... check.

I thought David Berkowitz was believable despite, as you say, hamming it up.
There are guys just like that, and what helped immensely there was ...

Great costume design — especially for Leo.
And Vanity. Great lingerie for one of the most beautiful and alluring women of the time.
RIP dark angel.

[–] Adam60z (3774) 4 years ago

Yes, Vanity was great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsMrCz_N8AQ
I don't agree that Glover was believable because he was way too over the top.
Schneider was good as usual, but he made lots of schlock.
Ann-Margret is my favorite; hated seeing her in this role as the victim.

[–] yatzo376 (7721) 2 years ago

Sleazy dark noir from the 80s
I love it , entertaining from start to finish , like a good lurid comic book