Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Jonathan Switcher, an unemployed artist, finds a job as an assistant window dresser for a department store. When Jonathan happens upon a beautiful mannequin he previously designed, she springs to life and introduces herself as Emmy, an Egyptian under an ancient spell. Despite interference from the store's devious manager, Jonathan and his mannequin fall in love while creating eye-catching window displays to keep the struggling store in business.
Mannequin is a cheerful but thin 80s fantasy-romcom built on a whimsical premise—an ancient Egyptian woman cursed to inhabit a mannequin—that gives it enough distinctiveness to stand apart from generic rom-coms of the era. The plot is lightweight and formulaic once past the setup, with predictable obstacles and cardboard villains. Acting is serviceable but unremarkable; Andrew McCarthy is bland and Kim Cattrall brings charm but limited screen time in animated form. Cinematography is standard mid-80s studio fare with colorful window displays providing mild visual interest. The ending resolves exactly as expected with no surprises. Its cult appeal rests largely on its campy tone, Holly Johnson's 'Starship' anthem, and Meshach Taylor's flamboyant supporting turn rather than any particular craft excellence.