Walk Like a Man

Walk Like a Man

Year: 1987

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: Melvin Frank

Comedy

Facing a $30 million inheritance, a man who believes he’s a dog must deal with his brother Reggie’s demand that he “roll over” and surrender the fortune. Bobo, a feral youth raised by wolves, is brought back to his family by a researcher, a reunion that infuriates Reggie, who refuses to share any of the inheritance with him and settle the dispute.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Walk Like a Man (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Walk Like a Man (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 19th century to early 20th century

The tale begins during the Klondike gold rush era, when prospectors flocked to Alaska in search of fortune. About twenty years later, the narrative crosses into a later period where inheritance, social upheaval, and scientific inquiry reshape the family's fate.

Location

Alaska, Klondike wilderness

Alaska's Klondike wilderness provides the rugged backdrop for Henry Shand's pursuit of gold. The snow-swept landscape is depicted as unforgiving and isolating, shaping the characters' choices and destinies. Later, the story expands into urban spaces and scientific settings, signaling a shift from frontier hardship to modern life.

❄️ Wilderness 🗺️ Alaska 🐺 Klondike

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:25

Main Characters – Walk Like a Man (1987)

Meet the key characters of Walk Like a Man (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Reggie Shand (Christopher Lloyd)

A spoiled, calculating heir who schemes to sign over his brother Bobo's inheritance to cover gambling debts. He uses charm and manipulation to present a respectable façade while pursuing money and power behind the scenes.

🎭 Greedy 🧭 Manipulative 🐾 Calculating

Henry Shand (Christopher Lloyd)

A determined prospector who travels to Alaska in search of gold and fortune. His quest ends in his death about twenty years later, setting up a massive inheritance for his son and a fractured family.

🏔️ Frontier 💼 Ambitious 🪙 Fortune-seeker

Margaret Shand (Cloris Leachman)

Henry's widow who has gone mad with grief and fortune, spending most of the family wealth on stray cats. Her sanity frays further as the inheritance and Bobo's fate hang in the balance.

🎭 Melancholy 🐱 Eccentric 🧠 Fragile

Rhonda Shand (Colleen Camp)

Reggie's wife who, after the family loses its wealth, becomes increasingly irritable and alcoholic. She navigates their financial collapse and shifting social status with bitterness and resolve.

🍸 Alcoholic 🧭 Loyal 💔 Strained

Penny (Amy Steel)

A biologist from Alaska who discovers that Bobo is alive and trains him to walk and speak, while forming a bond with him. She stands up for Bobo in court and ultimately helps thwart Reggie's manipulation.

🔬 Scientist 💖 Compassionate 🗣️ Advocate

Bobo Shand (Howie Mandel)

The two-year-old brother of Reggie, pushed off a dog-sled and later raised by timber wolves. Bobo's canine behaviors gradually yield to human-like traits as Penny teaches him, leading to a complicated relationship with wealth, law, and love.

🐕 Wolf-raised 🐾 Playful 🛑 Unpredictable

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:25

Major Themes – Walk Like a Man (1987)

Explore the central themes of Walk Like a Man (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🐺 Wildness

Bobo's wolf-raised upbringing blurs the line between animal instinct and human behavior, driving his clashes with civilized society. The film uses his evolving demeanor to explore identity, adaptation, and acceptance. Penny's role as translator between two worlds highlights how environment shapes character.

💰 Greed

Reggie's inheritance-driven scheme shows how wealth can corrupt relationships and manipulate dependence. The push to turn Bobo into a fortune instrument reveals the fragility of trust within a family. The courtroom showdown exposes the moral cost of exploiting vulnerability for gain.

👪 Family Bonds

Across generations, family loyalties are strained and tested by money, loss, and survival. Margaret's descent into instability contrasts with Penny's principled defense of Bobo, highlighting different forms of care. The tale asks how far love goes when money threatens to destroy it.

😂 Dark Comedy

The film leans into absurd, humorous moments as Bobo navigates dressing rooms, shopping malls, and a world designed for humans. The contrast between his wolfish instincts and social norms creates comedic tension. Amid the jokes, the story critiques vanity, deception, and the resilience of unlikely friendships.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:25

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Whimsical Fish-Out-of-Water Farces like Walk Like a Man

Chaotic comedies about characters hilariously out of their element.If you enjoyed the absurd humor of Walk Like a Man, you'll like these movies featuring characters hilariously out of their depth. This list includes similar comedies with a whimsical tone, steady pacing, and lighthearted stories about unconventional individuals navigating strange new worlds.

whimsicalquirkylightheartedawkwardchaoticabsurdhopefulamusing

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a simple plot that serves as a framework for comedic set pieces. A unique individual—whether raised in the wild, from another time, or simply possessing an eccentric worldview—is thrust into a conventional society. The narrative conflict arises from their struggle to adapt, which is usually resolved in a positive, heartwarming way that validates their uniqueness.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared core premise of a fish-out-of-water character driving the comedy. They have a consistent whimsical tone, medium intensity, and light emotional weight, prioritizing amusing chaos and a hopeful, happy resolution over heavy drama or complex plots.

Absurd Inheritance Comedies like Walk Like a Man

Laugh as fortunes bring out the worst in relatives, with a happy ending.Find more movies like Walk Like a Man about chaotic family disputes over money. These comedies share a lighthearted take on greed and inheritance, featuring steady pacing, medium stakes, and a happy ending where avarice is humorously defeated.

greedyfarcicalhopefulamusingabsurdlightheartedcourtroomfamily dispute

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves the reading of a will or the arrival of an unexpected heir, which immediately creates conflict. Greedy family members hatch ludicrous schemes to secure the fortune, while the protagonist—often an underdog—remains genuine. The story unfolds through farcical plans and misunderstandings, culminating in a courtroom showdown or public exposure where greed is defeated and decency triumphs.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific plot catalyst (inheritance dispute) and thematic focus (family greed vs. innocence). They maintain a balance of medium intensity and light emotional weight, using the high stakes of money to generate comedy rather than genuine drama, ensuring a consistently amusing and hopeful vibe.

Unlock the Full Story of Walk Like a Man

Don't stop at just watching — explore Walk Like a Man in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Walk Like a Man is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Walk Like a Man Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Walk Like a Man, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Walk Like a Man Summary

Walk Like a Man Timeline

Track the full timeline of Walk Like a Man with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Walk Like a Man Timeline

Walk Like a Man Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Walk Like a Man that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Walk Like a Man Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Walk Like a Man

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Walk Like a Man: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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