A Tiger's Tale (1987) Poster

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5/10
March/August romp
bkoganbing14 January 2021
A Tiger's Tale has C. Thomas Howell who is the owner with his father Charles Durning of a full grown tiger has been going out with Kelly Preston. One night Preston's mom Ann-Margret catches getting busy with Howell, she kind of likes what she sees. The two of them are kanoodling soon enough.

This brat pack film I'm sure did well enough in the red states. Ann-Margret sure looks good enough for every young man's older woman fantasy. Howell is likeable if a bit of a lunkhead.

Nothing great here, but enjoyable.
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5/10
A Lukewarm Romantic-Comedy
Uriah4313 October 2023
This film essentially takes place in the small town of Fairchilds, Texas with a young man by the name of "Bubber Drumm" (C. Thomas Howell) helping his veterinary father take care of several animals, to include a large tiger. As it so happens, Bubber is dating the prettiest girl in high school named "Shirley Butts" (Kelly Preston) who doesn't really care that much for him and basically flirts with a number of other boys on the side. Not that it really matters, because Bubber is more attracted to Shirley's mother "Rose Butts" (Ann-Margret) anyway. So, in order to help matters, he encourages his best friend "Randy" (William Zabka) into dating Shirley while he secretly pursues Rose. For her part, Rose has been quite lonely since her husband left her for another woman and, as a result, she finds it extremely difficult to resist Bubber's continuous advances. What neither of them realize, however, is just how spiteful Shirley will act once she finds out--and this eventually creates an unexpected problem for both of them. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, for a comedy, there really wasn't that much humor to be found in this film. Likewise, even though it had a number of solid actors, other than Ann-Margret and C. Thomas Howell, none of the others really had much of an opportunity to showcase their talents. Be that as it may, while certainly not a great comedy by any means, I suppose it passed the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
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Another ANN-Margret WINNER!!!!
FORREST1363 August 2001
Sexy Ann- Margret still has what it takes! This wonderful overlooked drama/comedy has everything! Kelly Preston plays her daughter that cannot hold onto her boyfriend after he meets Ann- Margret! She still has to be one of the sexiest screen talents around! This 1987 film was not received well by the critics but is worth seeing! Especially if you love Ann-Margret!
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2/10
Insensitive, Mostly Fluff
Snowgo15 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I was expecting a movie about the relationship between the two lead actors. If that had been true, then I would have been able to give this movie 7 stars. The inclusion of the tiger, as a cheap, sensational distraction, to "keep us interested", brought it down to 6 stars.

The cavalier and cold way that Rose approached the prospect of abortion intensified the coldness of her character to the point that I stopped liking her and began wondering why Bubber was dedicated to her. The reference to abortion in such a trivializing way, akin to taking out the garbage, brought my rating of this film to 4 stars.

The scene where the small dog was killed by the tiger, in front of the children, was totally un-necessary, impertinent and vicious on the part of the screen-writer and director. This event compelled me to give the movie its present rating of two stars.

Only the good acting and decent dialogue from C. Thomas Howell prevented me from issuing A Tiger's Tale a score of 1 star.
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7/10
HaHaHa, Cute! Real CUTE!
GOWBTW11 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is rather cute in a lot of ways. It's nothing like "White Palace", yet some of the scenes is quite similar. Breaking up is a painful thing, but your new girlfriend is your ex's mother? OK! I SEE! There is a tiger in the movie along with other animals as well. Lot's of sex is in the movie, I liked the drive-in scene when Howell's and Margret's characters were involved. I liked the part when she removes her top, then fire ants ruin the fun and they ran home naked. That is a howl! Then the ex-girlfriend sees them running. BUSTED! In every way. She's not only seeing the streaking, but she's unknowingly flashing unsuspecting strangers. That is really, REALLY FUNNY! Those scenes are a killer. And the ex-husband finds out and gets a new girlfriend only to get himself shot by her. I didn't like the part when the tiger ate the toy dog. The family should have been forewarned about it. I enjoyed the movie very well. It was cute a very memorable. It's definitely for the broken-hearted and the horny! Extremely sexy, and very well made. HAHAHA! RATING 2 OUT OF 5 STARS

7 OUT OF 10!
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10/10
Cute Movie!
ldkoke4 June 2002
Ann-Margret is great in this movie. This is just a simple story of the boy next door falling in love with his girlfriends mother. Kelly Preston's performance in this movie is probably the best part. This movie is good fun. It's definetly worth checking out!
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Weird in a Wonderful Way
agent-too15 May 2007
Admittedly, I first found this film while looking for more C. Thomas Howell vehicles (he's such a dream in The Hitcher, isn't he?), but I was blown away by what I found. This movie actually features a romantic relationship between Tom Howell and Ann-Margret, Kelly Preston as the ultimate whore, tiger wrestling, male nudity, and the oddest William Zabka role I think I've ever seen. (Sweet, dumb and Southern?) I don't think anyone could defend this as a particularly amazing film, but it has a lot to offer and will surely entertain you in a slack-jawed kind of way. Great for 80's fans, better for Ann-Margret fans, and absolutely perfect for anyone who's ever longed to see a little of Tom Howell's butt.
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10/10
I LOVE THIS MOVE!!!!
LINGLANG2813 September 2002
I loved this movie. I was not an Ann Margret fan at all, but after seeing this movie, I think she is great! It is a "Chick Flick"! But very funny, heartwarming and entertaining!She continues to look great for her age and her performance of a middle aged nurse involved with a soon to be college student and she finds her self in a situtation she didn't think would happen.
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Neither shameful nor disastrous
extempore15 March 2002
I agree with Roger Ebert's '87 review; this movie is unfocused. Concentrate on the Ann-Margret and young man's relationship with an open mind. The relationship may not be common but if realism were the criterion for excellence in a movie, what (I include "documentaries" and "news footage") would qualify?

This movie is mainly for Ann-Margret fans and those who like a little twist to the confusions of life, at whatever age.
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10/10
A-M's the greatest!
Ann-MargretGrL20 December 2002
Wonderful Ann-Margret never fails to amaze me. She's just adorable in this movie, and I loved her character Rose. I found the relationship between Rose and Bubber to actually be quite believable. A-M just never does wrong by me. Loved this movie, Love Ann-Margret, It was sweet! Especially the ending!=) ~Tina~
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Cute!
k7no8 August 2003
Funny and insightful of the teen love of an older woman. And who wouldn't love A-M no matter what the age difference. In my case, only a few weeks! She is sexy and beautiful and he is love-struck. Smarmy ending but entirely plausible.
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10/10
Great movie, but hard to find.
sunjet-661-62954712 August 2011
Loved this movie when I saw it on a layover, on t.v....in Australia of all places. 3 years after it was released. It's Anne-Margret in her sexiest self with a great story.

This film has come to mind time and again. I've checked video stores, even Netflix for a copy. But to no avail.

If your lucky enough to catch this movie on t.v., record it!! For it's one of those excellent yet hard to come by titles you wish you could watch once a year.

If anyone has any leads on how to find a copy, please speak up. I for one would love to experience this film again.
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