How a Houston furniture mogul turned Chuck Norris into a cinematic underdog story
In short: In 1992, local businessman Jim McIngvale invested 8 million dollars to produce Sidekicks, an action-comedy starring Chuck Norris. The film follows a bullied, asthmatic teenager who finds confidence through martial arts training and vivid daydreams of his hero. It remains a curious artifact of 1990s pop culture and local Texas ambition.
Sidekicks was the passion project of Jim McIngvale, a prominent Houston furniture retailer known as Mattress Mac. Following a successful run of local television commercials featuring Chuck Norris, the pair collaborated on the film to support the Kick Drugs out of Schools campaign. McIngvale later reflected in his book, Always Think Big, that the transition into film production proved to be an exceptionally difficult endeavor.
The narrative centers on Barry Gabrewski, a lonely, asthmatic boy living in Houston who escapes his daily struggles through elaborate daydreams where he fights alongside Chuck Norris. After being rejected by a local dojo, Barry finds an unlikely mentor in Mr. Lee, a restaurant owner who uses creative, confidence-building training methods to help the boy overcome his physical limitations. The plot culminates in a high-stakes karate tournament where Barry eventually teams up with his idol to face off against his schoolyard bullies.
Despite its earnest premise, the film struggled to find favor with professional critics. It famously received a Two Thumbs Down rating from Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Today, the movie holds a 26% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 19 reviews, with an average score of 4 out of 10. Commercially, the film debuted at number two at the box office and ultimately grossed over 17 million dollars during its domestic release.
Beyond the screen, the film serves as a time capsule for 1990s Houston. Several filming locations, such as the Frying Dragon restaurant and Westchester Junior High, have since been demolished. While the film was not a critical success, its legacy persists in the way it blended local celebrity, martial arts tropes, and the classic underdog narrative, ultimately suggesting that the protagonist finds the strength to move past his daydreams and face reality.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Sidekicks (1992 film)
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