The Prince of Pennsylvania

Watched this for the first time today. Not sure how I managed to miss it all this time.

The film doesn't suffer from the passage of time. Rupert's dress sense is so way out that it doesn't date it. The others in the film dress pretty conservatively (befitting their lifestyles) so you really cant tell by looking that this is a mid-80's movie.

I found this film to be thoroughly enjoyable. VERY funny in some parts and poignant in others. Keanu is absolutely adorable (and gorgeous) and very convincing as the weird but charmingly brilliant misfit.

Fred Ward's performance also stands out.

This film will make you laugh out loud. The story is not too deep and I do worry it will make Keanu bashers think this is the only type of role he can play (as he does it so well). He has every right to be proud of this movie.

Great cast, great fun.

It is fun from first moment til last. Reeves is in nearly every scene in all his pre belly scar youthfulness. The story is preposterous but we have seen how he is on board for that over the years. It's LOL funny in some scenes. Well cast. Filmed in the writer/directors hometown in, get this...Pennsylvania. Rupert is smart and adorable and the cinematographers were savvy enough to get plenty of closeups. The love story is what dreams are made of as well as the intimate moments, one in particular that involves an erotic, in the moment, and sensually sloppy kiss. Over all it was a wonderful way to tell a story about small town issues, the 80's, teenaged angst, and intimacy problems. Of course, and it is right and good, that Rupert/Keanu solves all the personal problems in the end. I am seeing a lot of Henry's Crime here but that's just me. It made no sense that Bonnie Bedelia & Amy Madigan were nominated for Indie Spirit awards and Keanu was not, as it was clearly his movie. I will say no more. Make every effort to see it. Enjoy the wayback machine for 87 minutes.

High school drop-out Keanu Reeves (as Rupert) gets a weird haircut (long on the left side, short on the right). A biker dude, slash aspiring poet, Mr. Reeves works with conservative father Fred Ward for a coal-mining company. But, Reeves does not want to follow in his father's sooty footsteps. After tailing busty mother Bonnie Bedelia, Reeves confirms she has a sex buddy. Soon, Reeves has one too; it's ex-hippie ice-cream trailer owner Amy Madigan (as Carla). The couple decide to kidnap Mr. Ward, for money…

The potentially interesting father/son dynamic never really amounts to much. Instead of working on its own, you're liable to flesh it out by thinking of how well the theme worked in other films. Writer/director Ron Nyswaner includes the intriguing potential for a one woman/two man familial relationship; not with Reeves' parents, of course, but in the proposition he receives near the film's end. The Pennsylvania locations are refreshing (check out the IGA), and Mr. Nyswaner gets good performances from his cast.

***** The Prince of Pennsylvania (5/15/88) Ron Nyswaner ~ Keanu Reeves, Fred Ward, Amy Madigan, Bonnie Bedelia

This movie has to be the best movie that no one has ever heard of. It has an all-star cast, great acting, and an entertaining story line. For anyone whose parents didn't understand why you didn't "fit in"... This movie is for you.

What a great movie. Great find at the video store. Keanu Reeves is tremendous and so is Fred Ward. Why do kids rebel. See this and you'll laugh about it. Though 10years old it feels current. Where has this movie been hiding.