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File:Mannequin fur coat lounging.jpg

Romance, magic, and goofing around.


Mannequin is a 1987 romantic comedy written and directed by Michael Gottlieb, about a struggling old department store getting revitalized thanks to the crazy window displays designed by new employee Jonathan Switcher, and his new girlfriend Emmy Hesree, who turns into a store mannequin when other people are around.

This is 1980s High Concept, that never tries to be anything other than silly and fun. Stars Andrew McCarthy (Jonathan) and Kim Cattrall (Emmy). Also stars Estelle Getty as Claire Timkin, head of Prince & Company; James Spader as Richards, secretly working for rival store head B.J. Wert (Steve Vinovich); G.W. Bailey as incredibly inept security officer Felix Maxwell; Carole Davis as Roxy Shield, an Illustra worker aiming to have Jonathan on board; and Meshach Taylor as flamboyant Hollywood Montrose.

This seems to be based on an old episode of The Twilight Zone, but the director just came up with the idea after seeing an optical illusion in a store window that made one of the mannequins appear to move. It also shares striking similarities with the 1948 film One Touch of Venus, in which a statue of the goddess comes to life when kissed by a young window dresser.

Released by 20th Century Fox, which also released the 1991 sequel.


Contains Examples Of:[]

  • Ambiguously Gay: Arguably Mr. Richards, who, while not as flamboyant as Hollywood, has his gay moments.
  • And This Is For: Spoofed.
  • Award Bait Song: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, by Starship.
  • Camp Gay: Hollywood (that's his name).
  • Caught on Tape: The proof that Richards and Felix, now hired at Illustra, broke into Prince & Company to steal all of the female mannequins.
  • Cool Old Lady: Claire Timkin (Getty), who had only been running Prince & Company for two weeks, after her father died. Unlike Richards, she wants to keep Prince & Company going rather than selling. Having saved her against a near-disaster with an outdoor sign, she gives Jonathan a job on the spot (which leads to a Karmic Jackpot).
  • Doing It for the Art: In-Universe. Switcher gets fired for trying to be expressive in jobs that don't need it, until Prince & Company turns out to need someone like him.
  • Dude, She's Like, Out Cold In A Pile Of Trash!: Roxy clearly didn't appreciate the on-the-lips wake up kiss she got from the janitor near the end of the film.
  • The Eighties: Part of the film's charm.
  • Empty Piles of Clothing: The mummy bandages that are left after our protagonist gets whisked away magically.
  • Evil Cannot Comprehend Good / It's All About Me: Seriously, B.J., after that break-in you ordered at his workplace, what makes you think Jonathan wants to join up with you? And what makes you think Claire (the President of that very workplace) is interested in any kind of a deal with you?
    • Oh, and Roxy, when he repeatedly makes clear the solid relationship he has with his co-workers (on top of his promotion to Vice President), what makes you think Jonathan is going to endanger his position for a brand that is clearly not concerned about his best interests?
  • Improvised Weapon: In the corridor leading to the conveyor Emmy was put on, Hollywood takes a long fire hose to the security guards that had finally caught up to Jonathan.
  • Large Ham: Hollywood.
  • The Loins Sleep Tonight
  • The Mole: Richards, as indicated by his phone conversation with B.J. Wert. Claire finds this out only after she fires him and Felix.
  • Pet Homosexual: Hollywood Montrose.
  • Pretty in Mink: One scene has Emmy in a huge fur coat and then flashing her Black Bra and Panties underneath.
  • Pygmalion Plot: Almost literally.
  • Queer People Are Funny
  • Reality Ensues: Having had a CCTV system installed throughout the store once Felix and Richards were fired, Claire has a smoking gun of their break-in and orders them arrested. She also makes clear that Wert is going to be up on conspiracy charges for ordering the break-in. And since he and Hollywood were responding to that very break-in, it is not for nothing that she told the cops not to go near Jonathan.
  • Rule of Funny: They didn't even try to go for accuracy with Ancient Egypt. It was all evidently for laughs.
  • Saving the Department Store: Since he is finally able to put his creativity to use, Jonathan is designing window displays that not only impress the passing crowds but also revitalize the once-imperiled Prince & Company (and put The Rival Illustra into that very boat). This is also the key to his promotion to Vice-President (which in turn is why he refuses to join the Illustra team).
  • Starving Artist: Jonathan, particularly with regards to how his work impacts his new workplace.
  • Take My Hand: Jonathan reaches Emmy the instant she is about to be hit with the Turbine Blender effect on the rubbish conveyor.
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