Classic 80s Movie: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
Today’s Classic 80s Movie guest post comes from Illi Ferreira.
Movie Title: Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Year: 1986
Writers: David Franzoni, Charles Shyer, Nancy Meyers, Chris Thompson, Steven E. de Souza (uncredited)
Lead Actors: Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Collins, John Woods
Director: Penny Marshall
Plot Summary: Terry [Whoopi Goldberg] works for a bank, and uses computers to communicate with clients all over the world. One day she gets a coded message from an unknown source. After decoding the message, Terry becomes embroiled in an espionage ring. People are killed, and Terry is chased. Throughout she remains in contact with this unknown person, who needs Terry to help save his life.
Why I Think This Is A Classic 80s Movie: When I was a kid in the 80s I had a fixation for Whoopi Goldberg. Every time I went to the video rental store with my dad if a movie had Goldberg’s face on the cover I would immediately pick it. She’s pretty much the face of the 80s for me, a decade that was much friendlier to black talent than the relatively white-washed 90s, with comedies that had Eddy Murphy as king and Whoopi Goldberg as queen.
It’s true that Black was beautiful before the 80s, but we are talking mostly about (over)sexualized heroines like Foxy Brown. Goldberg’s character in Jumpin’ Jack Flash summons pretty much what became later a paradigm of ador(k)able female leads. She’s feisty and an underdog of sorts, living in her non-heated apartment in New York and having to answer to a tyrannical boss. Yet, she’s adored by her co-workers and her generous nature becomes patent when she decides to help a man that contacts her through the pre-internet system on her workplace computer.
Despite its problems this movie is a particular bold mix of comedy, action and thriller that dared to have a heroine that wouldn’t rely on boobs, martial arts skills or money to achieve her goals. Terry only had her brains and a fireball attitude that puts her in tough spots. I’d dare to say that Jumpin’ Jack Flash is the first non-dramatic truly feminist movie that is true to his time.
My Favorite Moment In The Movie: Although Jumpin’ Jack Flash can have its issues in terms of continuity, it has many hilarious moments. My favorite bit is when Terry is trying to hack a computer in the British Consulate and the tip of her glittery dress starts to get swallowed by the office’s paper shredder. Awesome piece of physical comedy.
My Favorite Dialogue In The Movie: This moment when Terry can’t cope with a racist police officer and gets foul-mouthed:
Terry Doolittle: [talking to a police detective who assumes she’s a prostitute] What is it with you people? Every time you see a black woman there has to be a pimp or a john? What, do you think there’s a lot of work down on the pier for hookers? Do you think I’m giving blow jobs down there to goldfish?
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie: The opening sequence. We can hear a radio transmission reporting an episode of male incompetency while the camera shows Terry’s wacky apartment, which happens to be decorated with posters of movies with central (and usually antagonistic) female characters.
Thanks, Illi! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
Tomorrow: Another Classic 80s Movie!
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