Ratboy

Ratboy is, quite simply, one of the finest motion pictures ever made. It certainly earns its status amongst cinema's greatest achievements. Like It's a Wonderful Life and Freaks, Ratboy was a critical and commercial failure during its time, but will no doubt one day receive the accolade and recognition it so richly deserves. Sandra Locke's portrayal of Ratboy's friend/mentor is nothing short of galvanizing. Cinematography, direction, writing, and sound are second to none. And the whole atmosphere of the film (along with one of the most empathetic, intriguing, and likable protagonists ever), is nothing short of remarkable. Ratboy is a film that must be seen!

Long ago, when I was a child, I had seen part of this movie. From what my memory had recalled, I had liked what I'd seen. Boy, was I wrong. I haven't seen this movie anywhere to rent for a long time, and then one day I saw it for sale for a few bucks in some discount bin in a video store. I'd figured I'd pick it up and see what I had missed since my original viewing. I watched it and was not sure what to think about it. First off I hated Sondra Locke. She was not funny, very annoying and had the worst outfits I have ever seen on a woman. The box of this movie promotes it as a comedy. Well I didn't really think that this rating was appropriate, since the only time I laughed was when the actors tried to act. Ratboy has no emotion (which was what the movie was trying to promote), and whenever he talked I couldn't understand what he was saying. Some of the supporting characters were alright, I enjoyed Nipsy Russell and Robert Townshend, and Gerritt Graham and Louie Anderson were okay, I also enjoyed seeing cameos from Bill Maher, John Lovitz and "Diz" from the TV show Out of Control. Other than that I feel that this movie should have never been made. But I cant change the past, so if your in the mood for a boring "comedy", and if you can find this movie anywhere, maybe you should check it out, but I don't recommend it.

If you didn't get a sudden urge to kill Ratboy or any of the other characters in this movie, you were the lucky one who fell asleep! The amount of cameo appearances by some well-known actors was astonishing. Did they NOT receive the script before hand? Do they have no conscience? I do believe the writers had good intentions to make this movie heart-warming. I'm sure the director (Sondra Locke) had a pure dream to turn this story into a storybook fantasy about a loving and sensitive boy who just happened to be a rat (?!). Let me tell you, there are only two good things this movie has to offer; Robert Townsend and Ratboy's cool makeup job. Well, actually the makeup job sucked as well! I give it a resounding thumbs down!!

I hate this movie and I think it's hysterical that the only other person who voted on this was from Champaign Illinois about 45 minutes from where I live. I hate this movie with a passion in fact I rate all movies on "The Ratboy Scale". I wanted someone to drown Ratboy about 5 minutes into it. I can't believe it got a 3. This movie tried to endear you to the character as if this was a cute little waddling alien following a trail of Reeses Pieces instead of a whining, sniveling, cowering rodent with the charisma of Don Rickles.

I can remember seeing Ratboy for the first time as a young lad on TV. I recently rented it and I found that it sucked big time. BUT, I give it props for being funny as hell! The scene when Ratboy picks out his medallion made out of glass still cracks me up. His pimp daddy style is too much for my tolerance! He is just too funny. In retrospect, I find some of Ratboy's qualities embedded in my personality, which is scary. I find myself running away from bright lights, and making whimpering noises such as he does. It's a crazy world out there. Rats, pimps, hookers, and butt-ugly actresses....it's amazing we're still here. -the ratboy