Review of Howard the Duck (1986) by Pablo B — 13 Jul 2012

I loved it. Still do! Sure it was an 80's flick, and it had some questionable dialog for the script, but since I had a pretty damn good imagination for the open-minded experience, this film does it damn good.

We find, Howard, just your typical american duck, living his life, on his homeworld, then suddenly and drastically, being ripped away from his duck planet and thrown into ours. And Beverly, who is befriended by Howard, is the first realistic human being that Howard encounters. With her skirmish with a bunch of hoodlum punks out of the way, thanks to Howard, they become fast friends overnight.

After he and beverly meet up with a scientist assistant, named phil, and another scientist, Dr. Jennings, and ends up finding out how he got to earth. Howard ends up wanting to go back home, and doesn't realize how dire the situtaion becomes when he encounters, "The Dark Overlord (of the universe)" thru Dr. Jennings, which the DOL has taken control of, like an energy parasite with very destructive powers. This entity that takes over Dr. Jennings, he ends up running rampant in an 18 wheeler with Beverly kidnapped in tow, and heads towards Dyna-Technics with the special code-key in hand, to activate the Laser Spectre-Scope, to bring down more of his evil D.O.L. companions.

Howard & Phil race against the cops in a flying hobby plane after running away from Dyna-Technics for being accused of being an illegal alien, and phil for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time (charges wheren't mentioned as far as I could tell for Phil). But as they get to Dyna-Technics Lab after losing the police during the chase, they realize that the DOL is really beyond super intellegent and powerful, and is getting ready to setup the laser to literally, bring hell to earth. Beverly being strapped down to the lab table, below the laser scope, is being prepared for a injection *of sorts* of one of the DOL's, into Beverly's body, in order to help the DOL grow.

Phil helps Howard, by stealing a proto-type military weapon called a Neutron Desintegrator to fight against the DOL. Phil mentions that theroretically it is possible to destroy the DOL, he mentions that it wasn't tested because of finacial issues. Howard and Phil eventually surprise the DOL by accidently starting up the motorized cart which Howard uses to ride around the large lab work area. Essentially being a big fighting arena.

Howard uses the proto type weapon against Dr. Jenning's DOL, and in a violent explosion, it literally knocks out the DOL monster out of Dr. Jennings body. Finally, after Jennings returns to normal, he realizes and tells howard they are still in grave danger, and must leave. Then finally, we get to see what the real monster looks like, and everyone is terrified by his looks (which he mentions before in the resturaunt to be HIDEOUS AND REVOLTING). So begins the DOL's activation of the laser and the countdown to bring down the other DOL's from the region of space called the Nexus of Sominus. During the 4 minute fight, the DOL uses his powers to weaken and almost vaporize Howards friends into oblivion. Yet, howard seemingly almost helpless against all odds, whips up the courage and uses the weapon once again, this time destroying the DOL monster for good. Phil and Beverly, nearly almost dying from being attacked by the DOL, finally return to normal only to realize that the Laser Spectre scope is still counting down, and needs to be destroyed; before all hell breaks loose in the lab and eventually on earth.

After being told to destroy the LSS, by Jennings, and Phil, Howard, has one brief moment with beverly, being told that if he destroys the laser he won't get back home. Howard taking a couple seconds to think about it, realizes that its just no good to see this world destroyed. Howard then yells to his friends to duck, hide and cover. Within a couple seconds, Howard stands up on top of the motorcart, puts the Neutron Desintegrator on his shoulder, like a rocket launcher, and zapps the LSS. In an instant, the entire LSS is electricified, and explodes so violently, that nearly the entire lab is destroyed from the blast. Yet as it goes up, we see the DOL's in the laser beam, comming down, into the lab, are thrown back out into space, and seemingly during the explosion, being somewhat vaporized in the process and destroyed.

The movie finally comes to a close with the "Cherry Bomb" Band becoming famous, and have their first live concert, with Howard being the manager of the band, standing behind the curtains, and phil being the stage director for the band. Howard ends up getting on stage by accident, and is handed a guitar by phil, and Howard begins to start jamming away with the rest of the band. The crowd goes wild and the story ends with a kicks ass song. what a blast!!

As I've said before there is a hell of a lot you have to take in, and let your imagination run with the movie. It's fantastic for teenagers and adults, not so much for kids, unless a parent is with them during the movie. I give it 5 out 5 for originality, sci-fi fun, and some heartwarming comedy from time to time. Definite 5 out of 5! ***Thanks George Lucas for a great 80's movie***.