# Sidekicks (1992)

### reviewed by
James Berardinelli

                                        SIDEKICKS
                           A film review by James Berardinelli
                            Copyright 1993 James Berardinelli

    Rating: 4.6 (D, *1/2)

    Date Released:  4/30/93
    Running Length:  1:41
    Rated:  PG (Cartoonish violence)

Starring: Jonathan Brandis, Beau Bridges, Joe Piscopo, Mako, Julia Nicholson-Soul, Danica McKellar, Richard Moll, Chuck Norris Director: Aaron Norris Producer: Don Carmody Screenplay: Donald G. Thompson and Lou Illar Music: Alan Silvestri Released by Triumph Releasing Corporation

Barry (Jonathan Brandis) is an asthmatic kid who lives his life through a dream world where he fights alongside Chuck Norris to rescue damsels in distress and defeat the forces of evil. In reality, Barry is so feeble that even the task of climbing a rope in gym class is daunting. With the exception of Lauren (Danica McKellar), all the kids in school make fun of him, pushing him around and bullying him as the mood suits them. In an attempt to learn how to defend himself, Barry decides to take Karate lessons. The first teacher he visits, a demanding creep named Stone (Joe Piscopo), laughs him out of his studio. His second choice, however, a man named Mr. Lee (Mako), agrees not only to teach Barry the moves, but the philosophy as well.

Subtle manipulation can sometimes make a good movie better. Overt, obvious manipulation is guaranteed to sink any endeavor. SIDEKICKS is such an example. This film goes out of its way to make the villains as nasty as possible, while lauding the assets of the heroes. Everything builds to a climax where good faces evil. Guess who wins. If you can't, maybe SIDEKICKS is your kind of picture.

I'll give the movie a little credit--it's not afraid to have some fun at its own expense. Joe Piscopo is so over-the-top that his performance has to be intended by the director. No one could possibly be this bad without someone coaching them to be...could they? There are a few humorous moments during the course of the film's one-hundred minute running time, only I'm not sure whether or not I was supposed to laugh when I did.

Often a sports-related movie will work because of a likable character, a believable script, or a strong performance. SIDEKICKS has none of these assets, so the final contest at the end is uninteresting. At least in a film like GLADIATOR (the first of many that pops into mind), while there's never any doubt who the winner will be, at least we care about the victory. In SIDEKICKS, it doesn't matter. None of the characters have enough depth for it to.

Characterization is brutal. Everyone is a stereotype, from the sage instructor to the cute girlfriend. The kids in school are all representative of the worst in an American teenager. Sure, people are often cruel to misfits, but they're nothing like what's represented here. There isn't one character in this film that I could accept as a real person. The poor quality of the acting doesn't help, but it's outdone by an embarrassing script.

Certainly some of this movie was lifted from THE KARATE KID (to be nice, I avoid the word "stolen"). Mr. Lee's sermons have a familiar sound, but they ring false in this story. THE KARATE KID had a lot more going for it than SIDEKICKS could ever hope for.

Most of the action in the film is provided by a series of dream sequences that have Chuck Norris and Barry shooting their way through various scenarios. Despite all the bullets and explosions, no one seems to get seriously injured. This is another case of live cartoon violence, and I'm of the opinion that it's not a good thing. In the real world, when shots are fired, people get injured. Not so in SIDEKICKS (and a number of other recent films). Here, death doesn't seem to be a reality.

For those that like to laugh at bad movies, this may be one to put on your list (preferably for video watching). It isn't dull, so it can be endured, but anyone who wants to take SIDEKICKS seriously is likely to be in for a major disappointment. This film is about as lame as a movie gets without being downright repulsive.

- James Berardinelli (blake7@cc.bellcore.com)

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