The Pick-up Artist (1987)

In the vibrant heart of New York City, Jack Jericho, a charismatic elementary school teacher with a side hustle in seduction, navigates life while caring for his ailing grandmother, Nellie. Jack's primary tool of trade is his rehearsed charm, which he polishes daily in front of his mirror alongside his vintage red Camaro convertible, a magnet for attention. With a well-worn paper filled with the telephone numbers of his past conquests, Jack prowls the city streets, his pick-up lines at the ready, targeting women who catch his eye, without a care for their marital status. One fateful night, Jack's prowling brings him to a nightclub pulsating with danger and intrigue, a den associated with the notorious mobster, Alonzo Scolara. It is here that he crosses paths with two women; Lulu, Alonzo's naive girlfriend, and the fiery Randy Jensen, a 19-year-old tour guide at the American Museum of Natural History. Randy, unlike Jack's usual conquests, is a challenging mystery. She lives a life of struggle on Coney Island, supporting her alcoholic father Flash through extra shifts at the museum and desperate gambles. With a staggering debt owed to Alonzo looming over her, Randy's desperation leads her to the heart of danger, willing to sell herself to Alonzo's dangerous associate, Fernando Portacarrero, in exchange for partial debt forgiveness. Drawn to Randy's resilience and spirit, Jack finds himself entranced by her plight. Despite her refusal to be another number on his well-worn paper, Randy finds solace in Jack's presence, a temporary escape from her problems. Jack, in return, finds himself entangled deeper in Randy's life. Oblivious to the depth of her predicament, he pledges to aid her, setting the stage for a dangerous face-off with Alonzo. As Jack is pulled deeper into Randy's troubled world, Alonzo flexes his power, altering the rules of the game on a whim, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown that will test Jack's charm and wits to their limits.

The Pick-up Artist is a comedy movie featuring Molly Ringwald and directed by James Toback.

The Pick-up Artist is currently streaming on Cinemax Amazon Channel and DIRECTV.