Sidekicks (1992 film)

Sidekicks

Promotional film poster
Directed by Aaron Norris
Produced by Don Carmody
Written by Lou Illar
Galen Thompson
Starring Jonathan Brandis
Chuck Norris
Mako
Joe Piscopo
Beau Bridges
Music by Alan Silvestri
Cinematography Joao Fernandes
Edited by David Rawlins
Bernard Weiser
Production
company
Vision PDG
Gallery Films
Distributed by Triumph Films
Alliance Films (current)
Release dates
  • April 9, 1992
Running time
101 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $17.1 million (domestic)[1]

Sidekicks is a 1992 action film starring Jonathan Brandis and Chuck Norris.

Plot

The main protagonist is Barry Gabrewski, an asthmatic boy who lives with his widowed father, Jerry Gabrewski (Beau Bridges), in Houston, Texas. A loner, Barry has vivid daydreams about being Chuck Norris' sidekick, battling against Norris's movie enemies — who are often personified by Barry's everyday bullies such as Randy Cellini (John Buchanan). Noreen Chan (Julia Nickson-Soul), his favorite teacher, often plays the damsel in distress in his dreams.

Barry wants to be taught martial arts, but is turned down by the arrogant dojo owner Kelly Stone (Piscopo) for being too weak. Instead, he is taken on as a student by an old Chinese man called Mr. Lee (Mako), the sly uncle of his teacher. Mr. Lee teaches Barry to defend himself from the bullies and treats his asthma, increasing Barry's endurance. Barry later enters a tournament with Mr. Lee and Ms. Chan and finally sees his dreams fulfilled when Chuck Norris, originally only a guest at the tournament but persuaded by Lee to aid one of his most ardent fans, joins them as a team member.

Cast

Filming locations

This movie was filmed primarily in Houston, TX. It was the brain child of well known furniture outlet owner in partnership with Chuck Norris and his Kick Drugs out of Schools campaign, Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, produced and invested 8 million dollars on this movie.[2] It is believed his relationship with Chuck Norris, who starred in many commercials with "Mac" came to him with the idea of creating this film. In McIngvale's book, Always Think Big, he states going into film and producing was "extremely hard work".

Reception

The movie received great initial reviews but fell to negative reception from critics.[3][4][5][6][7] Based on 8 reviews gathered, the film has a 13% from Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 3.6/10.[8]

Box Office

The movie debuted at No.2 at the box office.[2][9] This movie only grossed $17,180,393 in the US,[1] but was successful in its overseas run.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Sidekicks (1993)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Welkos, Robert W. (1993-05-09). "A look inside Hollywood and the movies `SIDEKICKS' SAGA `Mattress Mack' Markets a Winner". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  3. "Sidekicks". Washington Post. 1993-04-30. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  4. "Sidekicks". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  5. "Sidekicks". Variety. 1992-12-31. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  6. Smith, Lynn (6 May 1993). "'Sidekicks' Wakes Them Up to Some Truths About Achieving Dreams". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  7. "Sidekicks". Entertainment Weekly. 1993-05-21. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  8. "Sidekicks". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  9. "Weekend Box Office : 'Proposal' Still Doing Indecent Business". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-07-14.

External links