Review of Howard the Duck (1986) by Luke S — 28 Feb 2012

I taped this movie off cable when I was a kid and used to watch it obsessively. The whole thing is based on a comic book and was produced by George Lucas, released way back in 1986. The story revolves around a walking, talking duck named Howard, who is pulled from his home planet to Earth, thanks to a space research device drummed up by some human scientists.

Howard is stranded and all alone on an alien world, where nobody will give him a break, they just point and laugh at the poor guy, thinking it's just a guy in a suit. The only person who gives him a break is Beverly, a hard rocking chick who has her own band and is waiting to hit the big time.

She takes Howard in and gives him shelter, then asks her scientist friend Phil to try and help out. Convening with the other scientists who accidentally brought Howard to Earth, they come up with a plan to send him back by reversing the original process.

However, before the procedure begins the device malfunctions and accidentally brings another being to Earth . . . a Dark Overlord that eons ago had been banished to a far reaching sector of space!! This being takes control of the lead scientist, Dr.

Jenning's body, who then takes Beverly captive, planning to bring more of his Dark Overlord cohorts to Earth and using her body as a vessel. It's up to the alien duck Howard and the nerdy scientist Phil to save the day .

. . but just how will they counter the might of a Dark Overlord? It was so awesome seeing this movie again all these years later! It is every bit as good as I remember it. I love the gritty tones of the movie, drinking beer, a bit of sex, hanging out in the back alleys of Cleveland, then battling a monster alien in the confines of a scientific research facility, this is all right up my alley! Although the effects are a bit dated it doesn't take anything away from the movie, it actually helps to enhance it and make it more memorable.

And that Lea Thompson back in the day, she sure made the Beverly character a sexy one . . . meow. Why did it take me all these years to watch this movie again!?