“Mannequin” is a masterpiece filled with love, laughter, and fantasy.

There's no way this stupid movie will be popular!

Andrew McCarthy, who played Jonathan, was a handsome actor of the time who broke out by appearing in `` St. Elmo's Fire '' (1985) and ``Pretty in Pink .'' His large number of young female fans was a deciding factor in his selection as the lead role in this work, and his refreshing smile succeeded in suppressing the otaku-ness of the character and enhancing his likability. In addition, Kim Cattrall, who played Emmy, embodies cheerfulness and healthy sex appeal, which made her a success. As you may know, he later played an active role as the main character in the TV series `` Sex and the City ''.

Let's also touch on the actors who played the villains. James Spader, who played Richard, also co-starred with McCarthy in `` Pretty in Pink '' as an uncool character, and he has co-starred with McCarthy three times, including the later ` `Less than Zero '' (1987). A face-to-face meeting. After this, he became a popular actor with the film `` Sex, Lies, and Videotape '' (1989), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. G.W. Bailey, who plays Felix, is a veteran comedy actor who is well known in Japan for his role as a mean instructor in the ` `Police Academy '' series. By the way, when he was appearing as an actor in ``Mannequin,'' he said that he thought, ``There's no way such a stupid movie could become a hit.''

"Mannequin" (c) Photofest / Getty Images

Contrary to Bailey's expectations, the film became a smash hit in the United States upon its release in February 1987. The film was made for $6 million and grossed $42 million at the box office, so it can be considered a success. Due to the positive reviews, a sequel, `` Mannequin 2 '', was produced in 1991, but the main cast of the previous film, including McCarthy and Cattrall, did not participate, which may have been a hindrance, and it was a disastrous failure at the box office. Put it away.

Lastly, I would like to touch on one more reason for the success of ``Mannequin.'' Like many youth films in the 1980s, the music was well-received. Starship's moving ending song `` Ai wa Tomaranai '' topped the U.S. Billboard chart, and also reached No. 1 on Oricon's Western music chart in Japan. I would like to add that the Starship album containing this song was in high rotation at the rental record and CD store attached to the video rental store where I was working part-time at the time.

Text: Manabu Soma 

After working as an information magazine editor, became a freelance writer. He writes articles and reviews for magazines such as ``SCREEN,'' ``DVD & Video Distribution,'' and ``Cinema Square,'' as well as theater pamphlets and the movie site ``Cinema Today.'' Currently appearing on Star Channel "GO! Theater". I host club events as a hobby.

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