If you spent any time in a video rental store in the late eighties, you saw it. That poster for From the Hip with Judd Nelson looking like a smart-aleck lawyer. It’s a weirdly specific relic of 1987. Honestly, the from the hip cast is why this movie even stays in the conversation today. Without that specific mix of Brat Pack energy and seasoned character actors, it probably would’ve faded into the background noise of Reagan-era courtroom dramas.
People usually come to this movie for Judd Nelson. He was fresh off The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire. He was the "bad boy." Seeing him in a suit, playing a guy named Robin Weathers who tries to "lawyer" his way through a storm of ethics, was a huge draw. But the movie is actually much weirder than the marketing suggested. It’s half-wacky comedy, half-gritty murder trial.
The Core Players in From the Hip
Judd Nelson is the engine here. He plays Robin "Stormy" Weathers. It’s a role that requires a lot of fast talking. If you don't buy him as a guy who can charm a jury while also being a total pain in the neck to his bosses, the movie fails. Nelson brings that twitchy, high-strung intensity he was known for.
Opposite him is Elizabeth Perkins as Jo Anne. You probably know her from Big or Weeds. In From the Hip, she’s the grounding force. While Nelson is bouncing off the walls, she’s the one reminding the audience—and him—that there are real stakes. Their chemistry is actually pretty decent for a movie that shifts tones every twenty minutes.
Then there's the legendary John Hurt. He shows up in the second half. Things get dark fast. Hurt plays Douglas Benoit, a man accused of a brutal murder. Watching John Hurt and Judd Nelson square off in a courtroom is basically why you watch the movie. Hurt is doing this refined, creepy, intellectual thing that makes Nelson’s "stormy" antics feel suddenly very small.
- Judd Nelson: Robin "Stormy" Weathers
- Elizabeth Perkins: Jo Anne
- John Hurt: Douglas Benoit
- Darren McGavin: Craig Wittig
- Danitra Vance: First 1st
- Ray Walston: Judge Parker
Darren McGavin is another standout. You know him as the dad from A Christmas Story. Here, he’s part of the stiff, traditional law firm that doesn’t know what to do with a rebel like Weathers. It’s a classic trope, but McGavin plays it with a tired authority that works.
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Why the Casting Made This a Cult Classic
Directed by Bob Clark—the same guy who did Porky's and A Christmas Story—the film has a bizarre DNA. You can feel Clark’s comedic roots in the first act. It’s almost slapstick. But the from the hip cast had to pivot when the script turned into a psychological thriller about a guy who might actually be a monster.
Most 80s comedies stayed in their lane. This one didn't.
When John Hurt enters the frame, the movie stops being a "Brat Pack" vehicle. It becomes a masterclass in tension. Hurt was an Oscar-nominated actor. He didn't phone it in. He treats the role of Benoit with a chilling precision. You genuinely wonder if Robin Weathers is smart enough to handle a guy like this. That’s the tension that makes the film's climax actually memorable.
Ray Walston as Judge Parker is also a treat. He’s the quintessential "cranky judge." If you’ve seen him in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, you know exactly the vibe he brings. He’s there to be the foil to Nelson’s courtroom theatrics.
What People Get Wrong About the Film
A lot of critics at the time hated the tone shift. They thought the movie didn't know what it wanted to be. Was it a comedy? A thriller? A legal procedural?
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Actually, it's a character study of a guy who thinks he can game the system until he meets someone who games people.
The supporting cast is filled with faces you’ll recognize if you’re a fan of 80s cinema. Danitra Vance, who was a pioneer on Saturday Night Live, plays "First 1st." It’s a small role, but she brings a specific energy that helps the office scenes feel lived-in.
The movie also features Robert Joy and Richard Zobel. These aren't household names, but they are the "hey, it's that guy" actors who populated the best films of that decade. They provide the texture.
The Legacy of the Performers
Looking back, From the Hip was a pivot point. For Judd Nelson, it was an attempt to prove he could carry a movie as a lead adult, not just a high school rebel. It worked, to an extent. He’s very charismatic here.
For John Hurt, it was another entry in a career defined by being able to play anyone, anywhere. He makes the legal jargon sound like poetry and the threats sound like promises.
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If you're going to revisit the movie, watch it for the performances. Don't expect a tight, Law & Order style plot. Expect a messy, high-energy, weirdly dark comedy that leans heavily on the talent of its stars. It’s a snapshot of a time when Hollywood was still willing to take a weird script and throw a bunch of talented, disparate actors together to see what happened.
How to Appreciate From the Hip Today
If you’re diving back into this 87' classic, pay attention to the shift at the one-hour mark. It’s one of the most jarring transitions in cinema history.
- Watch the eyes: John Hurt does more with a stare than Nelson does with a three-minute monologue.
- Listen to the dialogue: The legal "tricks" Weathers uses are actually based on some real-world logic, even if they're exaggerated for the screen.
- The Bob Clark Factor: Look for the visual humor in the background of the law office scenes. Clark loved a good sight gag.
The film is currently available on various streaming platforms and is a staple of "80s gems" lists. It’s not a perfect movie, but it’s a fascinating one because of the people in front of the camera.
Actionable Steps for Film Fans
If you want to explore more of this specific era or the work of the from the hip cast, start here:
- Watch "The Hit" (1984): If you liked John Hurt’s menacing side in From the Hip, this is him at his absolute best.
- Compare Judd Nelson in "New Jack City": To see how his "fast-talking" persona evolved into something much darker just a few years later.
- Research Bob Clark’s Filmography: He is one of the most versatile directors in history, moving from the slasher Black Christmas to the comedy A Christmas Story to this legal drama.
- Check out Elizabeth Perkins in "About Last Night": Released right around the same time, it shows her range as a leading lady in the late 80s.
Understanding the cast's background makes the film's weirdness feel intentional. It’s a movie that relies on the "Stormy" Weathers persona to distract you, just like he distracts the jury, before hitting you with a much darker reality in the final act.