Sidekicks

Meet your idols.

I think it's never too late to pay homage to your childhood stars. With the recent passing of Chuck Norris, I realized I never reviewed any of his films, even though I've seen them all, and some I've seen more than once. Yet, there is something special about Sidekicks, one of the worst rated flicks from his filmography that makes up for a fitting tribute. In a nutshell, Sidekicks is about a young school kid with asthma that daydreams of one day meeting his hero Chuck Norris. This kid has rewatched his films on VHS tape more times than anybody else, and the passion goes as far as daydreaming in school and being nicknamed "Barry the dreamer" by some of his bully classmates. 

First of all, the film features a stellar cast of names widely recognized if you grew up in the 80s. Beau Bridges, Danica McKellar, Julia Nickson-Soul, and of course Jonathan Brandis in the lead plus Chuck Norris as himself.  

I've got Chuck, you've got nothing.

Barry Gabrewski is a troubled and bullied asthmatic boy who lives with his widowed father, Jerry, in Houston, Texas. A loner, Barry has vivid daydreams about being Chuck Norris' sidekick, and about battling against Norris' movie enemies. Said foes are often personified by Barry's everyday nemeses, such as class bully Randy Cellini; Coach Horn, their loudmouthed and demanding PE instructor; and apathetic English teacher Mapes. Noreen Chan, Barry's favorite teacher, often plays the damsel-in-distress in these daydreams, most of which parody assorted Chuck Norris films (notably Missing in Action, The Delta Force, and The Hitman).  However, the execution of those dreams make the film seem dated, as one would easily think this kid has developed some sort of autistic/psychological condition that requires treatment, instead of the usual 80s it's-just-a-phase advice. Of course, these dreams serve the purpose of allowing the viewer to see Chuck Norris reprising some of his famous roles while holding no connection to the world in which Barry lives. On the other hand, we could agree these dreams represent the naivety of the teenage protagonist. He's neither a grown man, nor is he looking forward to that. These dreams keep him going, since school isn't the friendliest place to be. 

Chuck Norris, a real action hero.

This kid is everyone's kid in the late 80s/ early 90s.

Later, and thanks to the power of cinema magic, his favorite teacher, Miss Noreen Chan, receives the visit from uncle Lee, who's coming to town to manage the restaurant her late parents inherited her. This leads our teacher into thinking she could lend a hand helping Barry achieve his dream of becoming a martial artist. After the typical trials in the style of Karate Kid, Kickboxer and many other 80s films, the kid is ready to be trained in martial arts.

Sidekicks was filmed primarily in Houston, TX. It was the pet project of well-known Houston furniture outlet owner Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, who (in partnership with Chuck Norris and his "Kick Drugs out of Schools" campaign) invested 8 million dollars in producing this movie. Chuck Norris, who had appeared in many local television commercials for McIngvale, suggested the idea of creating this film, and McIngvale agreed to finance and produce it. 

Plotwise, the story doesn't distance itself from hundreds of films following the hero's journey narrative. I've always wondered if all these flicks pushed the bully presence in schools as something that is as American as baring guns.There are no teenage films without them, since they clearly serve a purpose of making the viewer feel unease and disgusted by the presence of these annoying characters who ultimately get what they deserve in the hands of their victims. 

 

Losers never get the girl.

Heroes on the other hand...

The supporting cast is modest. We have Miss Chan, her uncle Mr. Lee, Barry's father and Lauren. The teacher being a key character, as she aids Barry into transforming his dreams into reality. As any good education professional, she believes in change. Mr. Lee serves as a mild comic relief while also being Barry's martial arts master. Lauren, serves as the love interest yet is a character that didn't age well. In a  nutshell, she hangs out with Barry because she feels sorry for him. Once things change and Barry kicks the bully's ass in the school's gym, for no reason at all she's surprised he can fight, and so she decides he is a fit candidate for whatever it is you want that when in school. Her role is stereotyped and dated by today's standards. 

In a nutshell, Sidekicks, serves both as a homage to Chuck Norris career, and a cautionary tale about bullying that never gets old. Moreover, the mentoring figure theme is also quite strong. Of course, in these days where we have millions of influencers trying to tell you what to do with your life and money, having a mentor may seem irrelevant, but back then having someone to look up to, had a whole different meaning. 

Rest in peace Chuck Norris...