The Pick-up Artist

Robert Downey Jr. is husky and young and wiry as a streetwise ladies' man who does more striking-out than scoring, but his attempts are colorful (you can sense he turns women on just by attempting); Molly Ringwald is a good screen-match for Downey playing sassy tour guide whose alcoholic father is in trouble with the mob. So far, so good--and early on director James Toback displays a sweet, screwball side that was never apparent in his works prior to this--but, unfortunately, the convoluted script gets all gummed-up by the second-half, and the leads go back and forth with each other so much that it all becomes fairly ridiculous. Some pre-release dubbing was obviously done to cover the saltier dialogue passages; it looks sloppy, but that's nothing compared to listening to Downey and Ringwald having sex (what was she in real-life, 17?). These two look good together but are far too young for this scenario, which is by turns cartoonishly sordid and melodramatically soapy. *1/2 from ****

source: The Pick-up Artist

Trailer—The Pick-up Artist

The Pick-up Artist

The essence of this film, contrary to other statements at this site, is dealing with addiction. Each of the central characters has an addiction - alcohol, violence, gambling, womanizing. The Pickup Artist deals with the consequences and self-destructive nature of these specific addictions, as well as addictions in general. The dialogue is extremely witty. The acting is superb; four actors in this film have won, or been nominated for, Academy Awards - including Robert Downey, who is one of only a handful of actors that could have portrayed Charlie Chaplin - the greatest comic genius of all time.

The only thing you will probably get from this film are some decent pick up lines. Downey does okay with his role as the pick up artist but does things that I don't see anyone ever doing. Molly did great with the part she was given but this is one of her last teen films. This film got the PG-13 rating but at times you might be curious as to how. Molly is aloud to say one word that I don't think is aloud in this rating anymore. The only other thing I did not like was the whole idea of luck, chances, and the thought that it can happen to you. This might be a SPOILER: How can you say it is right to gamble to pay off a gambling debt? Is this not just a catch 22? If I'm bored one night I might take another chance on this film. Otherwise I will definitely find something better to watch.

I can very vaguely remember some talk about this movie when it first came out in theaters. None of it was good, so I wasn't really expecting much when I watched it for the first time recently. And I didn't really get much. It's hard to put your finger on what exactly is wrong with this movie, though one might suspect it has something to do with the ridiculous storyline involving Randy's(Ringwald)alcoholic, gambling addicted father. The plot involving Jack(Downey)struggling with his womanizing ways after meeting the girl of his dreams could have been achieved without a convoluted plotline like what's provided. This isn't Ringwald's best effort, though she's decent enough and makes do with what she's given. Downey's performance is not pleasant to watch. While I suspect his character was supposed to come across as sweetly charming, I perceived him as manically sleazy. Watch if you're a fan of one of the actors, otherwise save yourself the time and energy.

I watched this movie and found it to be entertaining. I have found Molly Ringwald to be a very good actress plus she is pretty attractive. Robert Downey Jr. is good enough in this one, he has since gotten better. Molly keeps trying to win enough money to get her dad out of debt to a loan shark. Downey plays a roue who is always after any woman that he can get. He uses the same line and it does work on some. That is until he meets Molly, she does have sex with him the first time but tries to shun after. Downey becomes infatuated with her and chases her all over. They end up going to Atlantic City where she bets her paycheck up to $13,000. She then bets it all trying to get her father out of debt. She fails. Then Downey comes along and wins more than her dad owes, pays off her dad's debt and then they apparently hook up for good. Dennis Hopper plays the dad and he is a drunk and a gambler but gives up the booze at the end.

Robert Downey Jr. (In his first starring role) as womanizer elementary school gym teacher who meet his match with the lovely Molly Ringwald who's museum guide and tried to save her alcoholic father (Dennis Hopper) from mob (Harvey Keitel) who own them debt. The movie has weak storyline, it not hitting. Robert and Molly chemistry is okay but they deserves a better movie than this. It plays a lot of oldies music and feature familiar faces. I think you rather skip this movie and watch any good rom-comedy. Watch for Vanessa Williams at the beginning as one the woman that Downey Jr. tried to hit on while she walking with her dog named Caligula (!!!).

In NYC, Jack Jericho (Robert Downey Jr.) is an unabashed pick up artist. He spends his time chasing after every girl on the streets. Alonzo Scolara (Harvey Keitel) is gun wielding criminal. Flash Jensen (Dennis Hopper) owes him money and his daughter Randy (Molly Ringwald) has to pay. Jack has no long term relationships other than his grandmother and Randy is even more reluctant. She's a museum tour guide and he's a grade school teacher. He becomes obsessed with her. This movie struggles to find the rom-com feel. These two actors are the most likable actors of that era. They have a nice back and forth banter. The scary criminal gambling story doesn't really fit. The tone is all over the place. The old fashion music doesn't fit either. I would really have loved RDJ and Molly Ringwald in a more straight forward rom-com. Jack is a rather horrible character. This seems to be written for older worn-out characters. James Toback is simply not the rom-com type.