Only a Buck

This Spokane-made first feature by Jerry Cook retains the charm and wit that made it a standout among regionally made films in the 1980s. The film depicts J. Jordan, a sort of ’80s Maynard G. Krebs/Rube Goldberg gadget-loving guy who quits his job as a bored and hassled local television news photographer to make a movie about a guy who quits his job to make a movie. Cook describes his film as “the TV dinner of movies ... it didn’t cost a lot, but it’s still pretty good.” Technically assured and full of heart, laugh-out-loud ambience and humor, and off-the-wall hipness, Cook’s debut will warm the hearts of anyone who has made, or dreams of making, a movie. “A clever comedy, well worth seeing.”—Ted Mahar, The Oregonian. “The film’s delightful atmosphere wins you over.”—D.K. Holm, Willamette Week

Directed by Gerry Cook, Only a Buck leans on a strong ensemble — Charlie Schmidt, Lanita Grice, Utah Phillips — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1987.