WILLARD HUYCK

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  0. 

USA, 1986.  Universal Pictures, Lucasfilm.  Screenplay by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz, based on the Marvel comics character by Steve Gerber.  Cinematography by Richard H. Kline.  Produced by Gloria Katz.  Music by John Barry.  Production Design by Peter Jamison.  Costume Design by Joe I. Tompkins.  Film Editing by Michael Chandler, Sidney Wollinsky.  

One of the most famous bombs in movie history, and rightly so.  George Lucas truly laid an egg when this multimillion dollar adaptation of the Marvel Comics character hit screens and failed immediately with audiences and critics alike.  It’s an unwatchable, unlovable mess about a smart-mouthed, bipedal duck from another planet who is transported to Earth against his will.  He meets up with a cute rock singer (Lea Thompson), is studied by a geeky scientist (Tim Robbins) and discovers that his duty is to help save humanity from an alien invader.  Hackneyed writing, charmless direction and a thoroughly unappetizing lead character, who wants to be wry but is mostly ugly and lewd, conspire for a torturous experience at the movies.  The duck’s costume alone cost two million dollars, but nothing looks like money in this debacle, and it inspires pity for everyone involved.