Atemloser Sommer

If you lower your standards and go in there expecting a B-movie, this one is fabulous. First of all, the cast:Peter Horton, C. Thomas Howell (wow, he grew up), Terry Kiser (he's alive for this one!), lovely Courtney Thorne-Smith. Even Kathy Ireland shows up... This movie came out right around the time that I was getting serious about volleyball, so of course my gang and I simply LOVED it. Of course it is totally unrealistic: a guy from nowhere ends up playing in an AVP final in 2 weeks! I wish. Anyway, it's also great to see all the legends of the game: O'Bradovich, Sinjin, Randy, Hov, Dodd, many of whom I have since met in person, wow, it doesn't get better than this. Even if you don't like volleyball, there's a decent plot. If you're a B-movie fan, you can't skip this movie. If every movie must have a deep inner meaning and soul to it, or has to make a statement, by all means skip it.

This underrated 90s movie may be a normal sports film, but it's entertaining and it has heart. Unique in that it's one of the few (if there are even any others) films about beach volleyball, that alone makes it worth watching. It's like if Top Gun (1986) and Karate Kid (1984) had a baby, and volleyball threw up on it.

The performances are all good enough for this kind of movie. C . Thomas Howell is ok, though he's a little annoying, but Peter Horton is good. Another cool aspect of the movie is that a lot of the other volleyball players featured in the movie are actually real beach volleyball players.

Another weird thing is that the movie is painfully 80s. Even though it's made in the 90s, a lot of the clothing and score have serious 80s vibes, and this is probably the most 80s movie of the 90s. The soundtrack is cool, with songs like "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul, and even some songs by the B-52s.

Overall, it's another sports movie, but it's entertaining, and it's about volleyball. You could do a lot worse.

"Monroe Clark" (C. Thomas Howell) is flying out to Los Angeles to work during the summer for his wealthy "Uncle Max" (Terry Kiser) who happens to be a real estate lawyer. Monroe's first job is to serve eviction notices to those who cannot pay their rent. In the process of serving a notice on a famous beach volleyball player named "Zack Barnes" (Peter Horton), he also meets an attractive cocktail waitress by the name of "Samantha" (Courtney Thorne-Smith). One thing leads to another and before he knows it another person named "Wiley Hunter" (Christopher Rydell) convinces him to team up with him in a beach volleyball competition. And then things begin to get interesting. Anyway, for a beach movie this wasn't too bad. Although the plot was somewhat routine and the acting was barely adequate, the thing that kept this movie entertaining was the fast-paced sports action and some nice looking ladies including Harley Jane Kozak (as "Kate Jacobs"), Kathy Ireland ("Marie") and the aforementioned Courtney Thorne-Smith. Again, it's a beach movie and so one shouldn't expect too much from it. I rate it as average.

Seriously, if you want to learn the meaning of life, one man holds the answers - C. Thomas Howell.

His embodiment of Monroe Clark is Christ-like without ever being obvious - we see his divinity in the way he sympathizes with Zach Barnes' financial plight, giving him communion through his generous offer to play volleyball with him. No other living actor could have captured the holiness and generosity of this basketball player turned lawyer turned volleyball pro from Milwaukee with such nuance and yet, such gusto. Holding hands high with Barnes at the end he evoked that incredible sense of pride, pity, and ultimately, hilarity that one gets when one sees a retard so proud of his Special Olympics participation ribbon.

This movie is an absolute delight. Deserving of its place in the canon of all-time great works of art.

I recently rewatched Side Out (1990) on Tubi. The story follows a law student who moves to California for a summer job, only to get swept up in the world of beach volleyball. His growing obsession with the sport and his knack for hustling start to consume him. His passion catches the attention of a former volleyball legend, and together, they aim to leave their mark on the California volleyball scene.

Directed by Peter Israelson in his only major film project, Side Out stars C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders), Peter Horton (Children of the Corn), Courtney Thorne-Smith (Ally McBeal), Kathy Ireland (Necessary Roughness), and Harley Jane Kozak (Parenthood).

I must have seen this movie on HBO a hundred times as a kid, and it brings back the nostalgic charm of '80s sports films with its familiar characters, life lessons, and predictable but satisfying ending.

The cast is fun and well-suited to their roles. The dialogue is exactly what you'd expect, with a few clever lines and a generally authentic vibe. The conclusion is straightforward and predictable, but it adds to the charm of this lighthearted, feel-good film.

In conclusion, Side Out isn't groundbreaking, but it's a fun watch if you're looking for a bit of nostalgia. I'd rate it a 5-5.5/10 and recommend it only if you go in with the right expectations.