The Beniker Gang

I'm still not clear about how an orphan Andrew McCarthy was allowed to write a Dear Abby like column, but the story about how a group of orphans who created their own family is an intriguing plot premise even if the story could be told better.

McCarthy was a member in good standing of Hollywood's famous Brat Pack of the 80s is involved here in a most un Brat Pack like story. When a group of orphans don't want to be split up with adoptions, McCarthy takes them out of the orphanage and they flee all the way to a small town in Missouri where they become his sister and 3 younger brothers, taking his name and becoming The Beniker Gang.

Eventually they're caught, but it kind of sort of turns out OK. Imagine Kurt Russell's kids with a girl in Overboard and you have some idea of what the Benikers are like.

Best scene in the film is McCarthy made up to look like his own grandfather to fool some nosy neighbors. The kids are resourceful no doubt.

An interesting story, could have used improvement.

I saw this movie as a kid (now you can guess about how old I am), and saw it recently, and it's still fun to watch. A little fairytale-like. Andrew McCarthy was the male equivalent of Molly Ringwald in the 80's. Just a fun light-weighted way to pass an hour and a half.

I saw this movie a few times in the 1980s as a child and teen, and it always stuck with me. I think as a kid who didn't really have much family, and that I did not being the best for a child, and now estranged as an adult, I felt a lot of empathy with the characters, and wanted them to be together since they had found 'family' and didn't want to be parted.

This movie shows, not tells, a lot of the issues with the sad fact some kids are just not wanted, some have no relatives after mom and dad die, and some are terrified of strangers taking them against their will to foster or adopt. Kids who've faced more adversity than many adults at such young ages cannot be dismissed from the decision making process about their futures. 'I've lived in more homes than anyone here, seems I have more experience than anyone.' (Paraphrased)

There is no single or perfect solution to kids without homes or families who love them and can care for them, so maybe letting them learn to care for each other is not so crazy, when one is a legal adult graduated out of the system, and able to support them all.

I think this movie is made with a lot of heart, the kids are believable, and so are, sadly, the nosey and controlling adults in the town in which they take refuge after their orphanage escape.

Its been awhile since I have seen this movie but reading the places where The Beniker Gang was filmed at, I noticed one town was missing. Parts of this movie were filmed in Winchester, Virginia. I noticed the Winchester Star newspaper box in the movie.

I also seem to remember a scene of a car with a bumper sticker that said "Shenandoah County...Q102". Q102 is Winchester's country music radio station and they have been calling themselves "Shenandoah Country" since 1982. They still do to this day.

Oddly around the same time Beniker was filmed, just a few miles away in nearby Martinsburg, West Virginia another movie was being filmed.

The Patsy Cline bio-flick Sweet Dreams with Jessica Lange.

These are one of the 1980's movies that aren't pointless. This movie I like because the actors and actresses portray themselves with real feelings. They really have to fight for themselves in order to keep together. Of course Edmond may get into his fights, Ben eats his paper, and Cassie feels unpopular, but that is what makes the movie real. Whoever says this movie is boring, they need to look again. Sticking together isn't pointless at all!