Tony Bill's "My Bodyguard" seems to be a film that has been forgotten. Thanks to the Fox cable channel, it turned up the other night. It doesn't seem possible this movie is twenty five years old already. Not having seen it when it was released, we took a chance and it paid off handsomely.

The film addresses the bullying in schools, a nightmare for those students that appear weak, or easy marks for these predators to make a name for themselves among their peers, at the others expense. Unfortunately, no one pays attention to the ones being abused and Hollywood, in general, takes the bully's side in many occasions, at the expense of the nerd, or the ones suffering the harassment.

"My Bodyguard" shows some of today's familiar faces as they looked in those years. Some have gone to careers of their own, such as Matt Dillon, Adam Baldwin, Joan Cusack, George Wendt, and the uncredited Jennifer Beals, who has no speaking role.

When Clifford Peache, the son of a hotel manager in Chicago, changes schools, he meets his worst nightmare: Melvin Moody. Melvin terrorizes kids, especially those young and vulnerable. Clifford is the new target for Melvin to bring down and humiliate if he doesn't agree to do whatever he is told. Rick Linderman, the tall and strange guy in Cliff's class is the perfect candidate to be engaged as a body guard for all the kids being abused. In fact, Rick teaches Clifford a lesson when at the end he has to face the mean Melvin, who proves to be a coward, as all bullies are.

"My Bodyguard" is an entertaining film to watch thanks to the great performance by Chris Makepeace, who makes a great Clifford. Ruth Gordon, who plays Clifford's grandmother, has some comic moments. Martin Mull is seen as Cliff's father and John Houseman appears briefly as the man who is charmed by Grandma Peache.

Tony Bill shows he could deliver a movie that seems to be timeless.

Well,when I saw,"My Bodyguard",i wasn't a High School sophomore but had actually just entered Jr. High..which isn't much different except for age. It's almost needless to say that,having put up with bullies and tormentors in nearly every grade of school to that point (and into high school) you'd win the bet that I absolutely loved this movie! At the time of release I was 12 and the idea of hiring a great big person like that for protection at school appealed to me.

Adam Baldwin does an accurate portrayal of a teen that grows up in less than ideal surroundings. Chris Makepeace brings us easily into feeling sympathetic to his cause. Matt Dillon,in only his 3rd movie,is the perfect chip on his shoulder bully,who gets some sick pleasure out of making others feel terrible by insulting them or beating them up if they dare to talk back at him. As well as he & his friends,basically,extorting other kids' lunch money. The other teens act just the way teens in that generation did. (They actually represent my oldest brother's time in High School '78-'82.)

The adults Martin Mull as Clifford's Dad,who manages the hotel where they also live. Ruth Gordon (who always was hilarious) is a treasure and does what she does best,playing the feisty Grandma who never grew up. Look for a less than 90 sec. cameo by a then unknown George Wendt,playing a hotel Engineer/Repairman.

My favorite scene besides the climactic "fight in the park",is when Clifford goes into the local hangout and squirts mustard/pours drinks over his tormentors! Hilarious! They chase him across the street,followed by the other teens and Cliff introduces them to "his Bodyguard.

The deeper undertones of the film,that are about Linderman are a way of saying,"you think Clifford has problems,look at Linderman." Meaning,there's a lot worse that can happen in the world and things in your own life aren't as bad as they might seem. Especially when you're younger.

Overall,the whole movie works,I don't care how it's edited,as long as it makes sense and has a point. Point being,you have to do for yourself in this world because,not everyone will help you all the time. It almost makes you wish today's school problems were "this" easy to handle. Along with "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" And "The Breakfast Club",I wish all movies about teens in the 1980's had been this good,instead of the more mindless "teen-sex" films that I found very insulting to my intelligence! (END)

15 year old Clifford Peache (Chris Makepeace) lives in Chicago luxury hotel Ambassador East with his eccentric grandmother (Ruth Gordon) and his father (Martin Mull) who manages the hotel. He's the new kid in high school. Clifford quickly gets into trouble with school bully Melvin Moody (Matt Dillon) and his group of tough guys. Lots of smaller kids pay protection money to Moody. Moody is reported to the school which only gets Clifford picked on secretly. Shelley (Joan Cusack) is desperate to be popular but Moody keeps making fun of her. Clifford befriends and tries to hire sullen giant student Ricky Linderman (Adam Baldwin) who is rumored to have killed somebody.

This movie would work a lot better with less screen time for the adults. They are a way out for Clifford and keeps the tension down. The point is to keep his options limited. Also time spent with his family is wasted. It adds very little to the movie. Although Linderman has a good time with the Peaches. I would keep that section with the adults. Chris Makepeace is a pretty good teen actor especially in a role like this. The friendship is pretty good. The final fight is a little awkward. It's pushing believability to have Clifford win in a solo fight against Moody. It's also weird to have Linderman keep sending the poor kid back into the fight.