Under the Boardwalk

Two L.A. surf gangs, The Vals (the rich kids) and the Locs (the poor kids) are rivals but one of the Vals falls for a Loc's sister and all hell breaks loose. This is all in the middle of a big surf competition that the Locs (basically Reef, the leader) are desperately trying to win.

There's constant fighting, surfing, partying and two people falling in love who agree there's more out of life than surfing. And there's Gitch, she's just a bad-ass chick that does her own thing. She teaches country bumpkin Andy all about fitting in.

The movie is definitely not a household name and I'm sure about 99% of the population hasn't seen it. But for some reason, as a girl who grew up in the Midwest, this movie ignited my obsession with surfing. It's cheesy and totally 80s but it is my favorite movie ever! When this movie finally became available on DVD a few years back, my sister-in-law (also her favorite movie) surprised me with it. I thought I would realize the corniness after all these years but it is still as good as the first time.

Basically if you like surfing and cheesy 80s movies, I totally recommend it, dude.

My review was written in May 1988 after a Cannes Film Festival Market screening.

"Under the Boardwalk", known during production as "Wipeout", is a would-be surfing epic that sinks under the weight of endless cliches. Pic should attract some teen business this summer, but its impenetrable surfer jargon and odd point of view will keep adults away.

Film limns a weekend in the life of California surfers competing for an annual prize. THe guys (and one talented femme, Gitch, played by precocious Roxana Zal) are warring amongst themselves as well, in the territorial manner of gangs.

Cornball romantic subplots have Allie (cute Danielle von Zerneck) having a crush on surf whiz Nick Rainwood (Richard Joseph Paul, a Michael Pare type), while her possessive brother Reef (Steve Monarque) objects since Nick is a Valley guy. Nick's cousin Andy (Keith Coogan) is visiting but considered a pariah due to his nerd behavior; he falls for Gitch who reciprocates.

Under the influence of his mentor Midas (Hunter von Leer), Nick ultimately sees the light and drops out of the one-to-one competition with Reef at the last wave, with Gitch predictably winning over the men. Awkward structure has Andy 20 years in the future telling the tale of Nick to fellow, younger surf nuts. The dialog is so extreme it sounds like Anthony Burgess' made-up language of the future for "A Clockwork Orange".

Director Fritz Kiersch crowds the frame with so many representatives of differing contemporary lifestyles and stereotypes (particularly in a messy nightclub scene) that it is difficult to assimilate the action, language notwithstanding. There are some good gags, particularly the casting of Sonny Bono as an ancient surfer given to waxing nostalgically about the good old days.

Biggest mistake is the inclusion of extremely rough language on the soundtrack, thereby earning an R rating. There isn't a drive-in audience alive that wouldn't trade several dozen mentions of the f-word for a couple of nude scenes, latter wholly absent from "Boardwalk".

Acting and tech credits are okay, but the surfing footage is unexciting.

This is the surfing version of the skateboard movie "Thrashin'" (I am not sure which one was made first). Plot is guy falls for girl and finds out she is the sister of his enemy. Subplot is whether or not he wants to become mainstream sponsored or not. It is entertaining for an 80s movie. Roxanna Zal as "Gitch" is hot, at least from what I remember. This movie is not as good as "North Shore" but it is entertaining none the less. I am still waiting for it to come out on DVD, I just have a copied version on VHS. Other good surf movies to watch are "Big Wednesday" and "In God's Hands". "North Shore" offers the most catch phrases but all four are entertaining surfing movies.

...and frankly, I'm amazed at how highly it's rated by the few IMDB users who have seen it. But then despite playing an unnamed surfer in the film, I don't have much interest in surfing or surf movies.

The plot is very pedestrian, alternating between a surfing competition and light romance. Pretty bland fare. During filming (under the working title "Wipeout") most of the crew knew they were creating bad cinema.

Note: the day shots were filmed in Seal Beach, and the night shots were filmed in Manhattan Beach, although they are supposed to be the same place in the film.

Under The Boardwalk is a great guilty pleasure film. It has eighties lingo, cheesey music,and comic relief. A b-movie cast list including Keith Coogan and Danielle Von Zerieck. The film is basically about surfers who have beef. You have the rich surfers and the poor surfers who don't get along. When Nick Ryan falls for Jenny a enemy's sister there'll be hell to pay. Check it out for b-movie night.