Top Ten Tuesday: UNDERDOGS (Kid’s Movie Style)

Everyone loves a good underdog. Maybe he’s the kid in school that just can’t win, like in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, or maybe they are just a misunderstood nerd that ends up saving the day in the end. Either way, underdogs have a special place in our heart, and that is why this weeks top ten is

TOP TEN UNDERDOGS (in children’s movies)

Be sure to tell us your picks too!!!

Honorable Mention: Daniel Larusso aka Daniel-san – THE KARATE KID (1984)

The Karate Kid starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita is one of those movies that you either care nothing about or absolutely love. There’s not really anything in between and I happen to fall into the latter category. Obviously, I could start out by saying that the director was no other than John G. Avildsen (yeah, the guy that directed Rocky) and I wouldn’t have to say much more. But there is so much more. This is a story about friendship, honor, coming of age, and beating the odds. It had us cheering for the underdog and gave us iconic pop culture catch-phrases such as “wax on, wax off” and “sweep the leg”,  There were several sequels including one with future 2-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as “the girl karate kid”, but none ever quite lived up to the original.

So, for all you Karate Kid purists like myself, here’s a little treat. Look for many of the original Cobra Kai members from the film, as well as Johnny and Daniel-son. Enjoy! (CLICK HERE)

Honorable Mention: Clifford – MY BODYGUARD (1980)

Being the new kid in school is always going to be awkward and difficult, especially the older one becomes. Clifford (Chris Makepeace) is forced to go to a new school because of family situations and is a slight and small guy for his age, so automatically he is observed to be an easy target by a group of bullies. Fearing for his safety, Clifford hires the most feared student in the entire school, Linderman (Adam Baldwin), to keep him safe from the lunch money extortionists. Ultimately this results in a friendship based on trust and clearing of misunderstandings in both of their complicated lives. In the fall of 1980, director Tony Bill shows us the heart and courage even the little guy or the biggest giant can have, even if they are outcasts.

10. Bastian – THE NEVERENDING STORY (1984)

THE NEVERENDING STORY was wonderful film from 1984 full of fantasy and imagination. It’s the story of a little boy named Bastian who borrows a magical book from a small, old book store and doesn’t realize until the end that he’s a part of the story. His vivid imagination takes him beyond the limits of the real world only to see his own self in another young boy called Atreyu who rides on a flying half-dragon-half-dog that looks like something out of a Chinese New Years parade. The brilliance of THE NEVERENDING STORY is that nothing is simplified for a young audience. The drama, the scope, the frightening aspects, and the message are all presented in the setting of a children’s story but with the artistry of an adult-minded filmmaker (Wolfganag Peterson). It’s more for adults who dream than kids who live from day to day, though the title is misleading; the story does end (though there was a sequel, a very bad one).

09. Josh Baskin – BIG (1988)

Who hasn’t wished to be “grown up” at some point in their childhood? Penny Marshall directed BIG, a funny and thought-provoking tale of a boy named Josh and what happens when you get what you wish for. For Josh Bastin — played as an adult by Tom Hanks — this impossible wish came very true thanks to the power of a mysterious Voltar carnival fortune telling machine. At first, Josh found this stroke of luck to be a dream come true, with all the perks of being an adult combined with all the wonder, imagination and freedom of spirit that comes with being a child. Unfortunately, the facts of life soon catch up with Josh, resulting in an early lesson in what it means to grow up. Josh experienced half a lifetime of emotions and societal revelations in the short time he spends as a counterfeit adult, ultimately making him a wiser kid.

08. Ben, Wolfgang, & Steve – EXPLORERS (1985)

Ben, Wolfgang and Steve were just a couple of misfit kids who didn’t fit in. Add talk of aliens and the sci-fi world, and they were shunned even further. (They would be cool in our group!) These dreamers didn’t let that stop them! Instead, they made their own spacecraft in their makeshift lab. Sure, they might be all about B Movies, Comics and Space, but that just makes them cooler in my book! It takes some serious guts to travel blindly though space, but these kids were tough enough to do it! Kudos to you, oh brave EXPLORERS!

07. Dumbledore’s Army (Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Ginny, Luna) – HARRY POTTER SERIES

I can’t think of a better underdog than the kids in Dumbledore’s Army. Harry Potter never had an easy life, Hermione Granger is picked on for being smart, and having non-magical parents, Ron and Ginny Weasley come from a poor family, Neville Longbottom is a clumsy mess, Luna Lovegood is just a strange bird, and Cho Chang… well Cho was in the army, but I am not a Cho fan… (traitor!). For years before the D.A. (Dumbledore’s Army) formed, these brave kids were fighting some of the worlds most frightening and powerful enemies, while the popular, likable kids were busy hiding. They possess courage, bravery, and character because they didn’t rely of popularity and likability to define them. This is why the underdogs often times succeed! These kids don’t need to sit at your lunch table, or to be in your club… they have magic and wit on their side. Be careful, or you will end up working for them one day!

06. The Bears – THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976)

The classic 1976 version of THE BAD NEWS BEARS is still one of the funniest films about kids down on their luck. You’ve got the great Walter Matthau as Morris Buttermaker (luv the name), the baseball team’s coach. Think an early version of Tom Hanks in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. He’s a boozer and part-time pool cleaner, who’s trying to train the Bears, a rag-tag group of kids who are in no way, shape or form athletic. The team begins to win games and gain confidence once players Amanda Whurltizer (Tatum O’Neil) and Kelly Leak (Jackie Earle Haley) become a part of this motley little league team. A nice touch is composer Jerry Fielder’s score which is flooded with the music from the opera Carmen. The best aspect of the film, is how it deals with teamwork. You might not have the most skilled players, but if a team sticks together, they can work wonders.

05. Charlie Bucket – WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971)

Charlie Bucket is just a well-mannered, poor boy from a poor family, until he finds the last remaining golden ticket in a chocolate bar, changing his life forever. In the classic 1971 original WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, Charlie’s story is one of going from rags to riches, but it’s not so easy as simply winning the lottery. Charlie, along with the other lucky children, are led through a metaphorical labyrinth of tests and challenges as Wonka hopes to weed out all the bad seeds and find that one, special child, pure of heart, that he’ll bequeath his empire of sweets upon when he retires. The problem is, no matter how good a person is, temptation always finds a way to rear it’s ugly head, but it’s how we handle this temptation and the inevitable truth that we can never be fully pure of heart all the type… that’s the strength that Wonka sees in Charlie.

04. Kevin McCallister HOME ALONE (1990)

HOME ALONE is one of the funniest movies ever made. Sure, it’s full of wholesome sentimentality, but in its own way it is as anarchic as CLOCKWORK ORANGE.  Any film that gives a ten year old unconditional license to go nuts like Kevin MacCallister does for a full ninety minutes without repercussion from their parents should always hold a place in our hearts. Macauley Culkin, no matter how much he may annoy us, is unyielding of his willingness to be rid of the family unit. We all felt this when we were 11 years old and the fantasy of leaving our parents behind as we explore our own behavior upon the world is undeniable. In Kevin all our childhood dreams come true. It’s fantasy on a basic level. He takes care of himself, he thwarts the bad guy and he still does it with enough acumen to realize that growing up can’t be done on our own. For example Kevin realizes that preconceptions can be misjudged when old man Marley comes to his aid just as we’re sure that he is also one of the bad guys. But all in all, no matter how much you want to read into this film, it will always be a movie when the little man wins. And we always need that in our lives, no matter how old we are.

03. Dorothy Gale – THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

This day is worse than usual for Dorothy Gale. She’s still stuck at her aunt and uncle’s dull farm in the center of dreary, colorless Kansas. And now that old harpy, Miss Gulch, wants to take away her dog. Looks like it,s time to hit the road, but before she gets too far a traveling medicine man convinces her to go back. She does return just in time for a twister’s rampage. The family and staff are already hunkered down in a storm cellar, so Dorothy and her pup seek refuge in the house. The wind sends a board to knock her out, as the home is sent spinning through the clouds. Then things get very interesting and extremely colorful. Her house lands on the evil Wicked Witch of the East. Suddenly Ms. Gale is a hero to the citizens of this strange new land and an enemy of the witch’s sister. She decides to head back home and is told that a magical man miles up the road may have a way for her to return. Along her journey to him she is joined by three other underdogs who are also in need of help. After surviving encounters with that witch, some really nasty, ill-tempered trees, and sleep-inducing flowers they reach this sorcerer. But he’ll only grant their wishes in return for destroying that same witch and bringing back her broom as proof! When they’re attacked by the witch’s flying monkeys ( so very creepy ) Dorothy’s captured. The others must band together to infiltrate the witch’s castle and rescue her. In the ensuing melee Dorothy’s actions to save one of her friends causes the demise of the witch. Returning with their prize she discovers the truth about the magic man. Forget the updates like THE WIZ and that revisionist  book and stage musical bit of hooey “Wicked” ( has some nice tunes, though ). Victor Fleming’s 1939 MGM musical  THE WIZARD OF OZ is the definitive adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic story. This is one picked on little girl who’s able to call on her reserves of inner strength when facing insurmountable odds. The top notch production values, effects, songs, and acting all combine to make a film that continues to delight and enchant. Many generations to come will savor the story of Dorothy Gale who found that when she finally got out of Kansas life was a witch!

02. The Squad – THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987)

When television became the main source of home entertainment in the mid 1950’s, kids rediscovered the classic Universal Studios monster movies and Hal Roach’s short subject film series “Our Gang” ( renamed “The Little Rascals” for TV ). It wasn’t until 1987 that some film producers got the bright idea of combining the two. The result was Fred Dekker’s cult fave THE MONSTER SQUAD.  Sean and Patrick are twelve year olds who adore all monsters to the consternation of their teachers and school principal. They form a fan club that meets at a tree house decorated with garish posters and ghoulish model figurines. Younger, timid Eugene is another member as is Horace, who’s saddled with the nickname of “Fat Kid”.One day, Horace is saved from a beating from two schoolyard bullies by the older ( junior high ), cooler ( a preteen chain-smoking Fonzie ) Rudy who joins the club because the tree house offers a great view of Patrick’s older sister’s bedroom window. One day Sean’s Mom gives him a book she picked up a yard sale. It’s written by Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, but it’s in German! They work up the courage to bring the journal to their reclusive neighbor they’ve dubbed “ Scary German Guy”.Translating the tome, he informs the boys of a lost amulet that can upset the balance of good and evil once every one hundred years. And that date occurs in the next two nights. Only an incantation spoken in German by a virgin lass can seal the hell portal opened up by the amulet. Well, it turns out that the real Count Dracula has come to their sleepy little town looking for the amulet and the book! And he’s brought some monster muscle-a tortured werewolf, an ancient mummy, an amphibian “gill-man”,and the for real creature stitched together by Dr. Frankenstein! Unfortunately the producers could not get the rights to the classic Universal monster designs, but the late, great make-up effects wizard Stan Winston creates some wonderful work inspired by those icons. Luckily Sean’s pesky kid sister Phoebe befriends Frankenstein’s monster and the club has a powerful ally. When that fateful night arrives, the picked on kids summon their courage to become champions and thwart the Count’s plan to conquer the world. Horace even gets to save those bullies from the “ gill-man “! Although the film is a bit dated ( primo 80’s fashions ,hairstyles, homophobic slurs, and a smoking  fourteen year old) THE MONSTER SQUAD gives us some underdog kids who face down their fears. And it taught all of us that “Wolfman has nards”.

01. The Goonies Themselves (Mikey, Brand, Chunk, Mouth, Andy Stef, Data) – THE GOONIES (1985)

In the summer of 1985 director Richard Donner introduced us to the group of misfit kids that called themselves “The Goonies” comprised of Mikey, Brand, Chunk, Mouth, Andy, Stef, Data, and eventually Sloth. The nicknames alone can give the air of dorkdom these poor kids possess, but that did not curtail their friendship and love of adventure. When they are threatened to be separated by forces with greater power and money and being chased by a family of villains, the ultimate underdogs ban together on a quest to save their homes and alliance. Facing the stigmas of asthma, disfigurement, poverty, obesity, and overall dorkiness, these kids are outright loveable and through their allegiance discover their true bonds and ultimately save the day. One of the classics every kid should watch-even One-Eyed Willie.

So what do you think? Is there anyone that you would have included?

Until next time… stay fancy!