Alan Alda double in January
Two films written, directed and starring Alan Alda - Four Seasons and Sweet Liberty - are scheduled for a UK DVD release in January from Momentum. read story>>

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Howard the Duck in February

23 December 2007

There are doubtless a few innocent souls out there under the impression that George Lucas has the golden touch at the box office. You may not have liked the second Star Wars trilogy (or the first, if you're talking chronologically), but there was no doubting the commercial success of the films, and they still have their ardent supporters. But before we stick a crown on George and call him Midas, let's take a trip back to 1986 and remind ourselves that anyone, not matter how industry savvy, can make a howling error of judgement. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Howard the Duck.

Howard the Duck DVD cover

Adapted from the comic of the same name, Howard is a sassy, wise-cracking human sized duck who is going about his day to day life on his home planet when an experiment involving a laser beam on far flung planet Earth drags him halfway across the cosmos to Cleveland, USA. Howard is understandably unsettled, but soon makes close friends with singer Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson), who helps protect him from the greedy scientists responsible for his intergalactic expedition. But matters soon turn from bad to worse, when an evil alien invader appears through the laser beam and takes possession of scientist Dr Jenning (Jeffrey Jones), leaving his assistant Phil (Tim Robbins) and the giant duck in a fight for their very existence.

Directed by Willard Huyck (his last film in this role, as it turned out), the film cost $30 million – a sizeable sum in 1986 – $2 million of which was spent on the duck costume alone and was one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year. It was, however, met with wails of dismay, a reaction that has dogged the film since, so that the kindest critical response you're likely to find is "not as bad as everyone says." Which for us makes it probably worth another look. I mean, there's no film folly like an expensive film folly, and Lucas completists absolutely owe it to themselves to see Howard in action.

Howard the Duck arrives on UK DVD on 18th February 2008 courtesy of Metrodome, and at the not too painful price of £12.99.