User reviews

I recently saw this movie again and I was surprised at how well it holds up. The story isn't dated, the situations are universal and current and the acting is fine. The plots are believable, interesting and satisfying. For a sleeper of a film in 1980, it stands out as 1 of the better teen genre pieces that flooded the theaters in the 80's. The ending is a bit sappy, but it still doesn't detract from a very sweet story with characters you can actually cheer for (except, of course for Moody and Mike, but it was fun booing them as well).

This movie rings true on so many different levels. I find this a real gem because no matter how many times I watch it I find it compelling and refreshingly straightforward. Chris Makepeace is cast perfectly as a reluctant victim of extortion by Matt Dillon's high school band of thugs. Adam Baldwin relays a sense of pain, anguish, and grief that you can nearly touch. What can you say about Matt Dillon (Moody)? Anyone who has ever been bullied will squirm in their seat after watching him for just ten minutes. This is one of those special movies that will appeal to so many different people. Haven't we all been to high school? been bullied at some point? got caught up in ridiculous rumor and innuendo? if so, then definitely take time to watch this timeless classic.

Of all the teen flicks that came out of the 1980s, MY BODYGUARD is one of three that stands out as an intelligent and moving study of American adolescence that doesn't now look like a dated genre piece(THE BREAKFAST CLUB and SAY ANYTHING are the others). Sure, there's shaggy hair and all the other things that date the movie fashion-wise, but the characters shine with humanity and poignancy, and that makes the movie memorable. In fact, some could convincingly argue that the movie is all about the characters, people that movie audiences will care about. Add to that the situation of being the new kid and trying to survive the jungle of high school(something most every American teen can relate to), and you have a great little film. Chris Makepeace is the new kid who tranfers to a urban Chicago highschool from a private school and immediately runs afoul of school bully Matt Dillon. Searching for a solution to his predicament, Makepeace enlists Adam Baldwin, a silent, hulking classmate with a mysterious past, to protect him. What unfolds is a rare friendship between Makepeace and Baldwin, as we learn more about Baldwin's character and some terrible secrets he holds. Whether intentional or not, the film sends a message that the people we encounter everyday are just that, people with feelings and problems and not just the labels or stereotypes we assign them. Makepeace needs Baldwin for protection from Dillon, and Baldwin needs Makepeace's friendship to rescue him from the isolation he has endured as a result of past experiences. One unusual aspect of the movie is that several of the adult characters are sympathetic or even quirky, a rarity in teen films. Ruth Gordon shines as Makepeace's feisty grandmother, and Martin Mull puts in a turn as the bumbling but well-meaning father. And, unlike the nihilistic teens of today's current crop of movies, the teens(with the exception of Dillon and his cronies)are likable, friendly, and positive. They readily accept Makepeace and then Baldwin, after they see that the rumors about him are just that. This gives the movie a positive feel to it.

Definitely a winner. If you've ever been a teenager, wondered if you would belong, attended a high school or had to do battle with a bully, you'll find something to like about MY BODYGUARD.

This is a film I'd heard of for years and finally had a chance to view it. It is a low-key, low-budget and witty film about high school survival -- but it is far from being the usual teen film. It takes place in a decidedly urban and challenging setting, and its adult characters are as quirky as its teenaged ones.

The characters are well-drawn, the acting is good, and although the plot is insignificant, with a weak conclusion, this film manages to be realistic, present interesting characters (particularly Adam Baldwin's) and make you laugh. In other words, the quality of the writing makes it come to life.

It's one of the last of a series of excellent low-key, naturalistic films of the 70's, that specialize in fascinating characterizations.

In his debut performance, Adam Baldwin does a wonderful job portraying the alienated Ricky Linderman, who is seen as a hulking, violent "psychopath" by most of his peers. Baldwin's acting abilities are impressive and he touches the heart of the viewer by showing us Ricky's emotions.

Ruth Gordon is a joy to watch as Clifford's Gramma Peache. Her character adds the touch of humor that is needed to balance the heavy subjects addressed in this piece of work.

I am slightly disappointed with the editing; they appear to be going for dramatic pauses that don't work well and slow the pace of the scenes at times. However, I'm willing to live with that for the opportunity to see this wonderful story, which after 24 years still rings true to the reality of the cutthroat world of high school.

One of the earliest and somewhat more atypical of the '80s teen comedies later worked to a fine polish by John Hughes and company, "My Bodyguard" is a rough gem of a film, anchored by a solid central performance by a here-and-gone favorite of mine, Chris Makepeace.

Makepeace plays Clifford Peache, who finds himself in a new school when his father (Martin Mull) is made manager of the Ambassador East Hotel, site of the legendary Pump Room. Clifford lives a life of relative luxury without being rich himself, having no airs even if he is driven to school in a limo. He finds trouble anyway when classmate Melvin Moody (Matt Dillon) singles him out for abuse and demands for "protection money". Clifford figures there must be a better way, and finds it in sullen tough guy Ricky Linderman (Adam Baldwin), whom he diligently recruits for real protection services - against Moody.

What's great about "My Bodyguard" outweighs what's not great about it, but it's a surprisingly tight battle right up to the end. You have two films here: one of which (Clifford in school, dealing with Moody and Linderman) is a solid tough-nosed teen drama with some light comedic banter; the other a goofy Clifford-at-home piece featuring his father's efforts to stay employed despite the antics of a fun-loving grandma (Ruth Gordon) and a weasely assistant. Believe it or not, more people knew Martin Mull than Matt Dillon in 1980, and the film caters to this reality more than it needs to.

The result, as "moonspinner55" notes in his review, is "lumpy...and occasionally very awkward". But it was a new decade, and new rules were being made. It's not a far distance from kooky Grammy Ruth flirting up a storm at the bar to Long Duk Dong teasing Molly Ringwald in "Sixteen Candles". Unlike the rest of the '80s teen comedies that followed, there's no romantic angle here. Also different is the urban setting. Director Tony Bill gets some of his best visuals following Clifford around the city, with big overhead shots that emphasize Clifford's smallness amid the tall buildings.

Bill also had the good sense of putting Makepeace at the film's center. With his big blue eyes and wild hair, Makepeace made for a weirdly charismatic underdog in films like this and "Meatballs", his other big role. He also nicely underplays his scenes, giving Clifford a believable strength when, for example, he flatly tells Moody: "I'm not going to give you my lunch money. I've got to eat."

Even this small stand has consequences, as word of Clifford's defiance gets out and Moody and his goons work on him harder. School authorities are no help. "Don't cry wolf every time someone looks at you crosseyed," says the principal (Richard Cusack, whose daughter Joan plays a student). He tells Clifford things are less "sheltered" at this high school, a point Bill also gets across with his shots of the school's dank, ugly interior.

Baldwin definitely looks the part of Linderman, a giant cloud hanging over his head as he shuffles around the school looking haunted. With his menacing bearing, his moments with Clifford seem less edgy than they should. But the pair also help deliver the best parts of the movie, the showdowns with Moody which lead up to the big finale with Moody's own bodyguard, Mike (Hank Salas), who's one really scary dude.

You don't see many honest teen movies, and the honesty of "Bodyguard's" fight scenes especially really jump out at you. If only the film did more with the one storyline and dispensed with the other.

A group of teen-age thugs run a 'protection' agency at their school. After being roughed up, one boy gets his own bodyguard, a boy named Lenderman. Lenderman, an emotionally troubled child, is feared by the bullies because of rumors concerning his violent tendencies. Things look up for a while until the thugs turn the tables and once again spread fear in the school. While not a 'deep' film, it was a pleasant way to spend an hour and a half.

'My bodyguard' is one of those movies--like 'Breaking away'--that you remember long after the credits end. If you saw it as a kid like I did, the movie hit you in the gut. It is just 'real.' The film offers a slice of teen life that you can definitely relate to, whether you've been bullied or not. It includes wonderful performances all around. Chris Makepeace is really great in this movie--and so is Matt Dillon! I don't know why it's been rated so low--it's a great film and I'd highly recommend it. There's that sense of teen angst and finding your place in the world, and it resonates and works on lots of levels. All sorts of crappy movies get higher ratings, go figure!

My Bodyguard is the story of a school kid being teased by a bunch of tough guys in a Chicago high school. You'll find yourself involved with the characters even though you probably won't feel particularly close to them. Nothing deep here folks but teens will really enjoy the constant threats and confrontations by the characters. Matt Dillon does his usual great job as the leader of a bunch of bullies.Ruth Gordon lights up the screen the few times she appears.

Director Tony Bill's uneven "My Bodyguard" feels lumpy, half-stewed, and occasionally very awkward...still, it's not a bad little movie and has a good cast and many good ingredients. Chris Makepeace (the moony-eyed kid from "Meatballs") is a highly intelligent, thoughtful young actor with a nice grasp of character; though his role here (as the new kid in school who immediately runs afoul of the local bully) isn't at all fresh, Makepeace does well with the over-written lines and gives the picture a nicely grounded base. Matt Dillon glowers convincingly enough as Moody, the punk with slicked-back hair (this was Dillon's third movie after "Over the Edge" and "Little Darlings", and his career was on a roll, with the future-star showing a nice sense of selection picking quirky, unusual teen-oriented films to start off with). Adam Baldwin plays the hulking, scary loner Linderman whom Makepeace pays to be his bodyguard, and their friendship doesn't feel nearly as contrived as the basic set-up, leading to an absorbing second-half. On the other hand, Makepeace's home life (with dad Martin Mull running a swanky Chicago hotel and grandma Ruth Gordon causing her usual mischief) DOES feel contrived; Bill's rhythm is really off in these instances, and if he's trying for laughs here he certainly doesn't get them. Any comedy with Ruth Gordon in the cast should be a partial hoot (at least), but Bill doesn't seem to know what to do with his adult actors and they often look anxious for help. I'm not sure what message the finale is sending out (or attempting to send out), however the kids are rarely a pain and most of them do solid work, particularly Joan Cusack as another joyful oddball. Jennifer Beals, pre-"Flashdance", has a non-speaking part as a student yet really stands out from the crowd (and Bill's camera is obviously in love with her angelic face). ** from ****

When My Bodyguard was released in the summer of 1980, the teen movie genre was in its infancy. We would soon be assaulted with countless flicks about horny teens and their libidos. This film stands above that pack. Anyone attending high school during this period (as I was) will feel for Clifford Peache. An outstanding teen movie, it launched the careers of Joan Cusack, Adam Baldwin, and in a tiny and unfortunately uncredited role, Jennifer Beals. The adults also shine in their roles (especially Ruth Gordon, in one of her last screen appearances). The story holds up and is believable. The one small complaint I have is the film somehow feels like one of those ABC Afterschool Specials. Anyway, if you want to see a teen movie before the genre imploded with vulgarity, rent My Bodyguard. You won't be disappointed.

Bullies -- a recurring theme and excellent choice for the antagonist, yet how often do you have a bodyguard, not the best friend, as the protagonist?? Boys will be boys . . . with a positive influence. A story of friendship, survival, and growing up.

MY BODYGUARD is a reminder of the bully types we've all known that like to mess with teen-agers during those dangerous years at school and beyond. It takes a serious subject and turns it around by making it all appear to be a light-hearted look at the sport of being a school bully. However, in doing so it manages to be absorbing and pleasant entertainment with touches of humor at unexpected moments.

What could be criticized is the over-the-top fight that resolves the problem for our hero and causes the story to lose a sense of reality before it reaches a knockdown climactic fight at the conclusion.

Performances are all first rate--especially the comic turn by Ruth Gordon in one of her last film roles. Chris Makepiece does nicely in the central role as the innocent victim of all the taunting and Adam Baldwin (no relation to the Baldwin brothers) is intriguing and enigmatic as the strong guy he hopes will be his bodyguard.

A coming of age film that is easy to watch--if not always quite believable. It's guaranteed to bring shudders to those who were unfortunate enough to go through this kind of punishment during their teen years.

The new kid Clifford Peache (Chris Makepiece) has a dad (Martin Mull) who manages the snazzy hotel the Ambassador East. His grandma (Ruth Gordon) is trying to pick up married men in the bar. His real problem though is in the new school a gang of bullies lead by Moody (Matt Dillon) is after him to pay them $1 a day so they will protect him. Against who? Themselves. Clifford won't pay the bullies, but turns to crazy classmate Ricky Linderman (Adam Baldwin) to be his bodyguard against this group.

Very enjoyable flick with a really great cast and great messages about friendships. Might work as a good double bill with another film I just reviewed LITTLE DARLINGS made the same year. Also starring Joan Cusack in her film debut (her father Dick plays the principal of the school), John Houseman and George Wendt.

"My Bodyguard" is a wonderful film that has a charming story which doesnt have to have people getting blown up or killed. The movie also has a nice moral too it. I remember watching this as a kid and this was one of my favorite films growing up. It teaches kids about friendship, devotion and loyalty and standing up for what you believe in ... its a classic compared to some of the trash like 8 mile thats out there today.

Chris Makepeace is excellent but Matt Dillon is truly fantastic as the school bully. I highly reccommend this type of movie for your kids.

I liked it when it first came out and still like it now. Matt Dillon plays the perfect jerk in this movie. You are so glad when he gets his in the end. The friendship seemed real between Chris Makepeace and Adam Baldwin. This film also included a very young, braces wearing, Joan Cusack. I highly recommend this one.

I remember loving this movie when I saw it as a grade school kid growing up. It remains a classic, and to me, is more satisfying with each viewing. Perhaps it's because this may just be the most realistic movie about kids, friendship, and growing up I've ever seen. It's refreshing to know that they can make movies about young kids without portraying them as sex maniacs, criminals, or drug users.

My Bodyguard is about a high school student, oddly named Clifford Peache (Chris Makepeace), who is encountering trouble at school. After unwisely insulting a school bully nicknamed "Moody," (played wonderfully by Matt Dillon) he becomes a target. They want him to give them their lunch money, for protection. From who? "From themselves, of course, but that's not what they say.." no, indeed. They tell him they're trying to protect him from a big, tough kid named Ricky Linderman (played by Adam Baldwin in his film debut).

Clifford is somewhat small, he doesn't know how to fight, and he's not very intimidating, thus, he can't really defend himself. So, what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in intelligence and cleverness. He decides that he wants to pay Ricky Linderman "to be my bodyguard." This is where the movie really begins, and makes an excellent turn.

Linderman is somewhat of an outcast and a loner at school, presumably because of his size, and some unkind rumors milling about the school. He has a reputation for being a psychopathic menace, but as it turns out, he's just a normal kid who experienced a tragic event. Clifford decides to get back at Moody with Linderman watching his back. Linderman is at first a little hesitant to accept Clifford's attempt at creating their friendship. Then, one day after Clifford is caught following his "bodyguard" home, their wonderful, unlikely friendship begins. The bonding sequence between these two unlikely companions is really satisfying to watch.

Not only does Linderman help Cliff, Cliff helps Linderman. Linderman begins to open up, alleviate his shyness, and relate better to people. He begins to understand that there are friends out there, and we all need support. This character transition that Baldwin makes is extremely well-acted and very convincing.

Clifford, we later learn, isn't the only one with tricks up his sleeve. Some scenes later in the movie, like Linderman getting pushed around by another tough kid, are a little difficult and painful to watch. The scenes about Cliff's grandmother (played by the wonderfully funny Ruth Gordon) and Martin Mull as his father trying to keep her under control in the bar of the hotel he manages, don't really go with the other scenes, and are almost like a film-within-a-film. That's easily forgiven and forgotten, though, because of the brilliance of the other parts, especially a great fight scene where everything comes together at the end. I haven't seen too many movies where I've liked the ending as much as this one.

The most gratifying thing about this movie, is perhaps the lessons that can be learned. I loved the scene where Clifford discusses the rumors about Linderman with one of the teachers, who more or less implies that we should judge people and form our own opinions instead of listening to rumors and gossip. Clifford is wise enough not to listen to the rumors. It's nice to know that people can be friends, despite differences in their backgrounds, economic status, or social circles. It reminded me of a line from On Golden Pond spoken by Katherine Hepburn: "Sometimes you have to look hard at a person, and realize they're doing the best they can." My Bodyguard does exactly that.

This is a very suitable film as well as great learning material for any teenager, teacher, or parent. The film is perfectly cast and the performances by the teenagers as well as the adults are fantastic. I liked the performance of Adam Baldwin the best, he starts out looking a little sloppy, scruffy, and primitive, but later goes through a transformation to a well-mannered, polite, affable, approachable young man. He is very convincing playing a kid who is tough, scared, sad, and angry at the same time. To make a treasure and a classic movie like this about teenagers and high school was some kind of miracle, and wonderful.

At his new school, fifteen-year-old Chris Makepeace is bullied, so he decides to hire the one guy everyone is scared of, Adam Baldwin, as his bodyguard. The business relationship soon develops into a friendship as their limits are severely tested. The film doesn't quite know what to do with the premise. It crams a few too many plot elements into the erratically told story and waivers between serious drama and light-hearted comedy. There is much promise here, but ultimately very little pay-off. Solid performances, especially from Ruth Gordon as Makepeace's grandmother, make for an entertaining film, but it's kind of sad to think what it could have been.