In the very first scene of American Flyers, sweaty, super-tan David Sommers (David Grant) is furiously speeding through town on his ten-speed. Heâs wearing a cowboy hat and extremely short cut-offs, his ride punctuated by a soundtrack featuring your standard-issue, booming â80s rock tune, complete with synths & soaring vocals. It might be the single most unintentionally funny scene Iâve watched in a long time.
Just minutes later, a pre-stardom Kevin Costner, playing older brother Marcus, shows up wearing a pornstache that looked out of place even in the â80s. Even though I saw this movie back in the day, I laughed again because Costnerâs such a household name today that seeing him with such conspicuously archaic facial hair is flat-out bizarre.
I say this because certain aspects of American Flyers have aged so badly that theyâre almost a distraction. Virtually every frame and synthesizer chord screams the decade from which they sprang. Revisiting the movie today is a reminder of just how goofy the â80s wereâŠright up there with Swatches, New Coke and Krokus videos. Not only that, thereâs enough blatant product placement to make Mac & Me look like a John Cassavettes film.
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Okay, it ainât quite that cut & dry. Some troubled family relationships muddy the waters, as does a somber revelation about one of the brothers. But for the most part, the basic story is pretty familiar, which might suit fans of the genre just fine. However, screenwriter Steve Tesichâs other bicycle film, Breaking Away, was far more charming, with unique characters and authentic performances. Costner is good - even with the âstache - but Grant isnât particularly engaging. Rival biker and antagonist Barry âThe Cannibalâ Muzzin is an overbearing, obnoxious caricature (played with ridiculous intensity by Luca Bercovici).
Still, American Flyers is a fairly agreeable way to spend an evening. Director John Badham - whose career was flying high at the time - was always adept at creating slick, easy-to-digest entertainment. This one doesnât rank up there with his best work (such as Saturday Night Fever & WarGames), but itâs certainly indicative of the high-concept audience pictures we typically associate with the â80s. Viewers of a certain age might consider that to be one of its most cheekily endearing qualities. And be on the lookout for Jennifer Grey - another â80s icon - in a small role.
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