Main Cast: Chuck Norris, Jonathan Brandis, Beau Bridges, Mako, Julia Nickson
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
A teenager daydreams of getting some payback from the bullies who menace him in this hybrid of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and The Karate Kid (1984). Barry Gabrewski (Jonathan Brandis) is an asthmatic schoolboy who can't participate in sports, much to the delight of a bullying classmate (John Buchanan) and his sadistic gym teacher (Richard Moll). Miserably unhappy, Barry escapes into a world of fantasy, where he imagines himself the tough, karate-proficient sidekick of action movie hero Chuck Norris. Trying to turn his dreams into reality, Barry visits dojo master Kelly Stone (Joe Piscopo), but Stone only mocks his aspirations. A supportive teacher introduces Barry to her uncle, Mr. Lee (Mako), a cook and martial arts teacher who takes Barry under his wing and teaches him the secrets of karate prowess. When Barry becomes good enough to enter a tournament, he needs a fourth athlete to complete his team, and who should be in the stands making a publicity appearance but the real-life Norris, who steps in to fight side-by-side with the plucky teen. Sidekicks was directed by Norris's brother and frequent collaborator Aaron Norris. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Joe Piscopo - Stone; Danica McKellar - Lauren; John Buchanan - Randy Cellini; Richard Moll - Horn; Annette Benson; Dennis Burkley - Hank; Gerritt Graham - Mapes; Henry Holmes - Referee; Dennis Letts - Man with Dog; Eric Norris - Biker #5; Robert Wall - Himself; Don Pike - Cowboy #2; David Saunders - Biker #3; Bert Dedman - Boy in Wheelchair; Wally Rose - Bartender; Penny Perry Davis; David Born - Businessman; Gary Pike - Cowboy #1; Mark Stevens - Announcer
Credit
Lou Illar - Associate Producer, Penny Perry Davis - Casting, Annette Benson - Casting, Aaron Norris - Director, David Rawlins - Editor, Bernard Weiser - Editor, Alan Silvestri - Composer (Music Score), Reuben Freed - Production Designer, Joao Fernandes - Cinematographer, Don Carmody - Producer, Chuck Norris - Producer, Mike Johnson - Stunts, Don Carmody - Screenwriter, Donald G. Thompson - Screenwriter, Lou Illar - Screenwriter
Sidekicks is a 1992film about Barry Gabrewski, a child with asthma who daydreams about being Chuck Norris' sidekick, battling against Norris' movie enemies - who are often personified by Barry's school bullies. He lives with his father Jerry Gabrewski, a widower.
Barry is taught martial arts by an old Chinese man called Mr. Lee (Mako), the sly uncle of his teacher Ms. Noreen Chan (Julia Nickson-Soul). Mr. Lee decides to teach Barry some karate so that he can defend himself from the bullies. Barry later enters a tournament where he confronts his bullies and gets to fight alongside Chuck Norris after all.
This movie is one of the few that was filmed primarily in Houston, TX. It is suggested this was done as a result of funding from well known furniture outlet owner, Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, produced and invested 8 million dollars on this movie. It is believed his relationship with Chuck Norris, who starred in many commercials with "Mac" came to him with the idea of creating this film. In McIngvale's book, Always Think Big, he states going into film and producing was a huge mistake. This movie only grossed $17,180,393 and lost a considerable amount of money. The film has yet to be released on DVD.
