Howard the Duck Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A duck gets teleported to Cleveland, hits on Lea Thompson, and fights a possessed Jeffrey Jones…basically the 80s in a nutshell.

🍿 Howard the Duck: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Howard’s Arrival on Earth

Howard, a sarcastic, cigar-smoking duck from the planet Duckworld, is unexpectedly pulled through a dimensional portal and lands in Cleveland, Ohio. Disoriented and out of place, he quickly encounters the harsh realities of Earth life. This abrupt displacement sets the stage for his fish-out-of-water adventures and the challenges he faces adapting to a new world.

Meeting Beverly and Facing Prejudice

Howard saves Beverly Switzler, a struggling rock singer, from a group of thugs, forming an unlikely friendship. Beverly takes Howard in, and he experiences both kindness and prejudice as people react to his unique appearance. This section explores themes of acceptance, prejudice, and the bonds formed between outcasts.

The Dark Overlord and the Threat to Earth

Dr. Walter Jenning’s scientific experiment goes awry, inadvertently bringing not only Howard to Earth but also a malevolent entity known as the Dark Overlord. Possessing Dr. Jenning, the Overlord plots to summon more of his kind to conquer Earth, escalating the stakes and transforming the film into a sci-fi action-comedy. Howard, Beverly, and Phil Blumburtt, a quirky lab assistant, must now band together to stop the impending invasion.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Howard T. Duck (Chip Zien (voice), Ed Gale (physical)): A sarcastic, cigar-smoking humanoid duck from Duckworld who is unwillingly transported to Earth and becomes humanity’s unlikely savior.
• Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson): A struggling rock singer who befriends Howard and helps him adapt to Earth while also falling for him.
• Dr. Walter Jenning / Dark Overlord (Jeffrey Jones): A scientist whose body is possessed by the Dark Overlord, an alien being attempting to invade Earth.
• Phil Blumburtt (Tim Robbins): A goofy and well-meaning lab assistant who aids Howard and Beverly in their fight against the Dark Overlord.
• Tim Rose (Tim Rose): An actor and puppeteer that assisted to bring Howard T. Duck to life.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Howard T. Duck: “Maximum duckage!” – Howard’s catchphrase, used when wanting to go ‘all out’.
• Howard T. Duck: “You’re crowding my space.” – Howard’s expression of discomfort when people get too close.
• Howard T. Duck: “Cleveland. Perfectly weird name for this planet.” – Howard’s observation upon arriving on Earth.
• Beverly: “I never even had any pets, they seems like a lot of hassle you feeding them cleaning up after them.” – Beverly trying to explain how she is not used to caring for others, after Howard moves in.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $37,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $16,295,774
• Worldwide Gross: $37,962,774

💥 Howard the Duck Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘Howard the Duck’ isn’t a masterpiece, but I have a soft spot for it. I remember watching it as a kid and being strangely fascinated by the talking duck and the 80s vibes. Sure, the plot is bonkers, and the effects are dated, but there’s a certain charm to its ridiculousness. When Howard is being chased by the Dark Overlord, it’s both scary and hilarious at the same time. Lea Thompson rocks in this film. I enjoyed it for what it is, a weird, funny, and ultimately entertaining movie.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of campy 80s movies”
  • “Viewers interested in cult films and infamous flops”
  • “Those who enjoy quirky science fiction comedies”
  • “Marvel fans who appreciate Howard’s cameo appearances in the MCU”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild language”
  • “Suggestive themes and innuendo”
  • “Scenes of violence and monster imagery”
  • “Some dated special effects that might be disturbing to younger viewers”
  • “Brief partial nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “A bizarre misfire, Howard the Duck suffers from a tonally inconsistent story, uneven performances, and unconvincing special effects. The story feels disjointed, the humor rarely lands, and the overall experience is underwhelming. A true cinematic oddity.
• Common Sense Media: “Howard the Duck has violence, suggestive humor, and mild language. The plot is strange, with a duck from another planet landing in Cleveland and fighting an alien. It has potential, but falls short due to its awkward tone.
• AllMovie: “Despite the name recognition and Lucas’s clout, Howard the Duck was a critical and commercial disaster. In spite of its ambitious nature, and the presence of Lea Thompson and Tim Robbins in key roles, Howard the Duck emerges as an interesting curio rather than a good film.

Audience Reactions

The sheer absurdity and campy nature of the film are what many viewers find endearing.: Despite its flaws, some people find ‘Howard the Duck’ entertaining and even consider it a cult classic for its uniqueness.

Many viewers fondly remember seeing it as children and are nostalgic for its 80s aesthetics.: It’s a flawed movie, but has a sort of nostalgic value for some people.

Overall Consensus: A notorious box-office bomb, ‘Howard the Duck’ is generally considered a poorly executed and tonally inconsistent film, though it has gained a cult following for its campy and bizarre nature.

Awards

1. Razzie Award (Worst New Star)- 1987
2. Razzie Award (Worst Screenplay)- 1987
3. Razzie Award (Worst Film)- 1987
4. Razzie Award (Worst Special Effects)- 1987

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “George Lucas, who served as executive producer, reportedly sold off his newly-launched CGI animation division (later Pixar Animation Studios) due to the film’s poor performance.”
• “Several actors and puppeteers collaborated to bring Howard to life, including Ed Gale (in the suit) and Chip Zien (voice).”
• “Paula Abdul, Kim Basinger, Belinda Carlisle, Jodi Benson, Tori Amos, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lori Singer all tried out for the role of Beverly Switzler, but Thompson got the role.”

🖥️ How to Watch Howard the Duck?

As of today, “Howard the Duck” is available for purchase or rent on various digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability in your region. Unfortunately it is not streaming with a subscription at this time.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Howard the Duck, you might like these similar films:

• Spaceballs (1987): Similar in its comedic approach to science fiction and use of slapstick humor.
• Men in Black (1997): Features a quirky partnership dealing with alien threats on Earth, blending comedy with sci-fi action.
• Flash Gordon (1980): A campy sci-fi adventure with over-the-top villains and a sense of fun, sharing a similar tone to ‘Howard the Duck’.
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): A modern space opera with a comedic tone and a group of misfit heroes, similar to the unlikely pairing of Howard and Beverly.
• Earth Girls Are Easy (1988): A cult classic comedy with aliens integrating into human society and finding romance, appealing to fans of unusual pairings and lighthearted humor.

🛒 Howard the Duck Related Products

• Howard the Duck (Marvel Premiere Classic): A retro-cool Marvel Premiere Classic comic featuring Howard the Duck’s early adventures, perfect for fans of the character’s origins.
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Blu-ray): Blu-ray edition of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, featuring Howard the Duck’s cameo in the post-credits scene.
• Howard the Duck Movie Poster: Original movie poster. A unique piece of film history.
• Retro 80s T-Shirt: Vintage-style T-shirt with ‘Howard the Duck’ graphics, capturing the essence of the 80s.

🎧 Soundtrack

Howard the Duck features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Hunger City” – performed by Lea Thompson
• “Howard the Duck” – performed by The George Clinton Band

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Howard the Duck – Nostalgia Critic

Ever wonder why ‘Howard the Duck’ is considered one of the worst movies ever? The Nostalgia Critic breaks it down with his signature humor. You might find yourself agreeing with his points!

10 Things You Didn’t Know About HowardTheDuck

Think you know everything about Howard the Duck? This video reveals 10 surprising facts that you probably didn’t know. I was shocked by number 7!

The Origin And History Of Howard The Duck

Want to know the *real* story of Howard the Duck, beyond the movie? This documentary dives into his comic book origins and even the legal battles that shaped his existence. Super interesting stuff!

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