History Film / HowardTheDuck

* OldShame: GeorgeLucas disowned the movie after its completion.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The DVD featurettes of the film mentions that the writers were talking about the film being worked out as an animated film. The featurettes also mention that the idea to make the film animated was scrapped because the studio wanted the film to be released in the summer of 1986, and there's wasn't enough time to produce an animated film. One can wonder what would have happened if we had gotten an animated feature of Howard the Duck. The closest thing we can get, is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj38JhvNBCw this fanmade animation of Howard]].

* FanDisservice: An early scene offers a glimpse of duck boobs. Yes, in a PG movie. There is no logical reason for the movie to feature duck boobs, unless they thought [[RuleThirtySix someone, somewhere, would enjoy duck boobs]]. And even if somebody ''would'', they're ruined by the [[SpecialEffectFailure terrible]] [[UncannyValley duck effects]] and it just becomes even more disturbing.
** You think that was bad? [[spoiler:Look at [[ADateWithRosiePalms where said female duck's hand is going]] as Howard begins to fly through]].

* MarvelUniverse

* AliensInCardiff: The movie takes place in {{UsefulNotes/Cleveland}}. Well, at least it's a change of pace from New York and California.

* AliensInCardiff: The movie takes place in {{Cleveland}}. Well, at least it's a change of pace from New York and California.

** JohnBarry, who scored the film (and had part of his music replaced in the finished product by [[{{Airwolf}} Sylvester Levay]], most notably for the scene with the Ultralight), also didn't care to have it on his CV. In fact, very few ''did''.

Still with us? Great! [[BLAMEpisode The rest of the movie is like this.]]

Compare and contrast ''TheodoreRex''. In addition, in many ways, the 2012 film, ''{{Film/Ted}}'' is a demonstration of how this film could be made technologically today and its less grandiose writing about a grumpy fantasy creature trying to function in the "real world," shows how ''Howard'' should have been written.

* BrainBleach: You'll need some after "Duck Tits".

* FanDisservice: An early scene offers a glimpse of duck boobs. Yes, in a PG movie. There is no logical reason for the movie to feature duck boobs, unless they thought [[RuleThirtySix someone, somewhere, would enjoy duck boobs]].
** And even if somebody ''would'', they're ruined by the [[SpecialEffectFailure terrible]] [[UncannyValley duck effects]] and it just becomes even more disturbing.

* InkstainAdaptation: This movie definitely stained Howard's reputation.

* InterspeciesRomance: Howard and Beverly. He might need a stepstool.

* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Howard just walks around in public without disguising himself, and even gets a job, with little reaction. But then, people just think he is a midget in a duck suit.
** Not to mention that aside from the initial awkwardness in their first conversation, Beverly has no problem with Howard.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The DVD featurettes of the film mentions that the writers were talking about the film being worked out as an animated film. It was probably because this route wasnt taken because people would have confused Howard [[DonaldDuck to the other Duck]]. The featurettes also mention that the idea to make the film animated was scrapped because the studio wanted the film to be released in the summer of 1986, and there's wasn't enough time to produce an animated film. [[ExecutiveMeddling Oy]]. One can wonder what would have happened if we had gotten an animated feature of Howard the Duck. The closest thing we can get, is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj38JhvNBCw this fanmade animation of Howard]].
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: When Howard gets into a barfight with some bikers, they respond by ''holding him down and trying to cut his head off.''

Compare and contrast ''TheodoreRex''. In addition, in many ways, the 2012 film, ''{{Film/Ted}}'' is a demonstration of how this film could be made technological today and its less grandiose writing about a grumpy fantasy creature trying to function in the "real world," shows how ''Howard'' should have been written.

Compare and contrast ''TheodoreRex''. In addition, in many ways, the 2012 film, ''{{Film/Ted}}'' is a demonstration how this film could be made technological today and its less grandiose writing about a grumpy fantasy creature trying to function in the "real world," shows how it ''could'' have been written.

Compare and contrast ''TheodoreRex''.

* CreatorKiller: Before this movie, Willard Huyck directed three movies and him and his wife Gloria Katz (who co-wrote Howard The Duck) had collaborated with GeorgeLucas on many projects like AmericanGraffiti and IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom. Since the failure of Howard, they never worked with Lucas again, Willard Huyck has not directed another movie and they were Screenwriters on only 2-3 films.
** The film also caused Frank Price to resign as the head of Universal Pictures. ''Variety'' reported it with the headline "'Duck' Cooks Price's Goose".

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Due to its less-than-glorious reputation, it was only recently officially released on DVD.[[hottip:*:And is missing the {{LooneyTunes Daffy Duck}} voices MelBlanc recorded for the movie]]

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Due to its less-than-glorious reputation, it was only recently officially released on DVD.[[hottip:*:And is missing the [[LooneyTunes Daffy Duck]] voices MelBlanc recorded for the movie]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Howard.
* DinerBrawl: Two brawls. One diner.
* {{Duck}}: really, how could they have resisted?

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Due to its less-than-glorious reputation, it was only recently officially edited on DVD.

* AdaptationDisplacement: Would Howard the Duck be as famous if it wasn't for this bomb of a movie?

* CultClassic

* GoodTroiEpisode: As terrible as this film was, the short scene at the unemployment office is a genuinely amusing simple scene that reflects the real satiric wit of Steve Gerber's comic stories.

* JustHereForGodzilla: Clive Barker has mentioned that he sat through this movie to see the Dark Overlord's true self.

* {{Narm}}: "Dat's a duck! Dat's a duck, man!"
** On a similar topic, some kids think Howard is cute at first and want to pet him. But when he waves his fingers, he becomes terrifying.
* NightmareFuel: As Dr. Jennings flees with Howard's girl, he begins to run out of energy. The way he recharges sent an entire room of birthday children running screaming, and a pair of parents regretting they had rented the show. Witness it [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqkQA6fcOBk#t=6m47s here]].

* SnarkBait: The film seems to stay out of total obscurity simply because of GeorgeLucas' involvement.
* SoBadItsGood

* SpecialEffectFailure: Howard is a duck? No way, he is a small person in a suit! Ironically, in the movie, he is ''actually'' mistaken several times for a small person in a suit!

* UncannyValley: Howard. Just...Howard.
** [[BeyondTheImpossible And he isn't even human...]]

* BrainBleach: You'll need some after "Duck Tits". ([[TheNostalgiaCritic Woo-oo!]])

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Duck tits! ([[DuckTales Woo-oo!]])

* NonMammalMammaries: Again, duck tits. ([[RuleOfThree Woo-oo!]])

----
->[[OverlongRunningGag Duck tits, Woo-oo!]]

* BrainBleach: You'll need some after "Duck Tits". [[spoiler:Woo-oo!]]

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Duck tits!

* NonMammalMammaries: Again, duck tits.

->[[OverlongRunningGag Duck tits, woohoo!]]

* BrainBleach: You'll need some after "Duck Tits".

* [=~So Bad It's Good~=]

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* [[{{ptitlews9vjxau4x1j}} Hey, It's That Voice!]] Howard is voiced by Chip Zien, also the original Baker in StephenSondheim's ''IntoTheWoods''.