Mannequin

Jonathan Switcher, a down on his luck artist, takes a job as an assistant window dresser at a bustling department store, hoping to prove his talent. There he reconnects with a mannequin he once designed, who suddenly comes to life and introduces herself as Emmy, a living statue with an ancient Egyptian backstory. The store's hard pressed owner and a cunning manager tighten the screws on creative freedom, threatening to replace Jonathan's bold ideas with safe, mass market displays. Undeterred, Jonathan and Emmy combine artistry and illusion to design windows that tell audacious stories and lure shoppers back to the aisles. As their professional collaboration deepens into romance, the duo learns that magic can coexist with retail and that imagination can outshine cynicism in a crowded city for shoppers and dreamers alike.

Directed by Michael Gottlieb from an original Rugoff screenplay, Mannequin released in 1987 as a breezy fantasy romance set against art, fashion and department store humor. The cast adds warmth with McCarthy and Cattrall, while Getty supplies sharp comic support.

With a budget of 6 million, Mannequin earned about 42.7 million at the box office, signaling solid profitability for a light genre blend. Its commercial performance helped sustain mid budget comedies in late 80s cinema and encouraged further toy shop fantasies.

The living mannequin premise became a quirky signature of 80s cinema, fueling fashion advertising humor and playful fantasies about romance across unlikely worlds. Emmy's charisma paired with Jonathan's straining optimism left a mark on fans who remember the film for its tongue in cheek wonder.

Critics treated it as light entertainment that blends humor with charm. The film hints at creativity resisting corporate pressure and argues that connection can bloom when imagination meets practical life, all through witty performances, particularly McCarthy's earnest energy and Cattrall's timing. It stands as a time capsule of 1980s cinema.