Movie Sidekicks

15 October 2008

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This week animation returns to the big screen with stop motion animation movie Igor with an all star vocal cast that includes John Cusack, Steve Buscemi and John Cleese.

In a land of mad scientists and diabolical inventions, what do you do when you�re born with a hunch on your back? You become an Igor. A hilarious twist on the classic monster movie, "Igor" tells the story of one Igor who's sick of being a lowly lab assistant with a Yes Master's degree and dreams of becoming a scientist. When his cruel master kicks the bucket a week before the annual Evil Science Fair, Igor finally gets his chance.

With help from his wise-cracking sidekicks Scamper, a grumpy lab rabbit, and the not so brainy Brain, he plans to create the greatest invention the world has ever seen and win first prize.

So to celebrate the film's release we here at FemaleFirst looked back at some of cinema's best sidekicks in an homage to Scamper and Brain and naturally we found a few.

But I couldn't start without a personal favourite this list just wouldn't be complete without a place for Clint Eastwood's furry friend Clyde in Every Which Way But Loose.

Shrek and Donkey

Donkey has more than his fair share of unattractive qualities he's stubborn and he talks too much. Similarly Shrek isn't much of a charmer grouchy, moody and wants to be left alone so it seems surprising that their partnership is rock solid.

Despite being constantly told to go away in the first movie faithful Donkey stuck with Shrek through thick and thin and they are now the best of friends and the pair have been on a string of adventures together.

And when you are an ugly it says something about someone's character that they are willing to accept you as you are and he helps Shrek come to accept himself.

Frodo and Sam

Samwise Gamgee, played by Sean Astin, is the ultimate sidekick who stands beside friend Frodo Baggins until the bitter end helping him overcome his struggle against the ring and the force of evil within it.

Sam is the model sidekick he's devoted to his friend, is selfless and true vowing to stand by Frodo no matter what, even when his relationship with the troubled is sabotaged by Gollum Sam remained the one person, or hobbit that Frodo could rely on.

And when the pair part company at the end of Return of the King I defy you all not to shed a tear.

Han Solo and Chewbacca

A Wookie towering over seven feet tall Chewbacca was co-pilot of Han Solo's ship the Millennium Falcon in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Maybe not always agreeing with the decisions made by Solo, a prime example being the growl that questioned Solo's plan to abandon the Rebels in Star Wars IV: A New Hope he sticks with his friend his loyalty on full display.

Maverick and Goose

This may have been the film that launched the career of Tom Cruise but Top Gun would not have been the same without the character of Goose, played by Anthony Edwards.

The film follows LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young Naval aviator who aspires to be a top fighter pilot in the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, which trains the top 1% of all Naval aviators.

Maverick gets his chance to attend the school after one pilot drops out, allowing him and his RIO (Radar Intercept Officer, the "back seater" in the two-man F-14) LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw to train with the best.

And it's not very often that another can share the screen with Tom Cruise and come out the hero Goose was true to himself and to Maverick, despite it being his reckless flying that killed him. Hands who cried!