Flying

This movie is not the typical sports movie. It is about a girl named Robin who has gone through many tragedies and yet never stops trying to achieve her goals. Early on in the movie we find out that she was recently in a car crash and has a knee injury. This is especially terrible to her because it keeps her from reaching her full potential in the sport she loves the most gymnastics.

Unlike many sport movies, Robin doesn't start out as the best there is. She has to work at it. Her aspirations are not what the whole film is about either. She also has troubles at home with her alcoholic step-dad and is not the most popular kid. Also, the film is not entirely focused on Robin. There are also other characters who have difficulties in their lives All in all this film is a feel good movie. It is full of music and spirit. You will enjoy the acting and relate to the characters.

In Buffalo, a former gymnast teen (d'Abo) seeks to get back on the team after recovering from an accident. Will she rise up like a phoenix from the ashes to participate in the regional gymnastics competition in Niagara Falls? Reeves plays her potential beau while Rita Tushingham is on hand as the coach.

Shot in autumn, 1984, but not released until 1986, "Teenage Dream" was originally called "Flying," but is also known as "Dream to Believe" (which was the title card of the version I saw). It's a knockoff of "Flashdance" (1983) albeit with the teenage milieu of "Karate Kid" (1984).

The parallels to "Flashdance" are pretty glaring: Instead of being concerned about auditioning for a dance school, the protagonist is concerned about making the school team. Instead of riding a bicycle, she rides a moped. Instead of living in a 'hip' warehouse apartment, she trains at a cool carpet warehouse. Instead of a wealthy beau, she has a rich best friend. Instead of her ballet teacher pal passing away, someone else close dies.

I had a bad attitude about this flick when I first started watching since the dubious version I viewed (from Youtube) had washed out colors, obviously taken from a VHS. However, the story & characters pulled me in enough to enjoy the movie. No, it's not as good as "Flashdance" nor great like "Karate Kid," but if you're in the mood for an 80's flick in the mold of "Dirty Dancing" it's likable and fills the bill just fine despite its predictableness and a few eye-rolling bits. You can't beat the Niagara Falls area locations.

I was interested in the movie because I was curious to see the two stars when they were so young, but also because I'm familiar with a few of director Paul Lynch's other films-specifically "Prom Night" (1980), "Humongous" (1982) and "Bullies" (1986)-and I wanted to see how he'd do in a different genre. Quite good, actually.

While d'Abo is a highlight on the female front, so is brunette Nicole Kolman, who plays the 'hot' stepsister with several possible boyfriends. Kolman only appeared in two films, this one and the similar "Body Moves" (1990). Meanwhile Jessica Steen is notable as best friend, Carla.

I can't close without mentioning the coach's hideous red mullet, which I hoped had gone out of style with Mrs. Brady a full decade earlier.

The film runs 1 hour, 36 minutes (full version), and was shot in Toronto and Niagara Falls.

GRADE: B-

I wonder what the famed Golden Harvest studio of Hong Kong were thinking when they decided to be associated with this tacky Canadian film. While I do admire the Canadians who made this movie for the fact that they did it on their own without government financing, the finished product is really hard to sit through. It's a pretty cheap-looking affair, looking unfocused and sporting odd-looking pastel colors. What really sinks the movie, however, is the script. There is not one turn in the lumbering story that comes as a surprise or has been given a new spin. Several relationships the movie's heroine is involved with seem unfinished or were left on the editing room floor. If you're wondering about Keanu Reeves, who appeared in this movie before he became famous, let me just say that his level of acting here is just as bad as it is in most of his Hollywood movies. This movie has apparently moved into the public domain, which isn't really a surprise - who on earth would put up the money to maintain its copyright?

I came across this via Cynthia Nixon's credits, but I don't think she is in the film. And to quote another review this is a fun Gymnastic film 80s film to watch.

10 years ago I searched for a copy of this movie on dvd. Or vhs NO EVIDENCE IT EVER EXISTED! And somehow even as Keanu Reeves debut movie IT DID NOT EXIST!!!! I REMBER THIS MOVIE I WATCHED IT REPEATEDLY! IT WAS CALLED FLYING CAUSE THE TEAM WAS CALLED THE NIAGARA FLYERS... and the part where the Robin talks about how it feels to be on the poles .. she feels like she is flying and no one and nothing .. including Bob or anyone else can touch her! But I went searching for a copy of this film on dvd.. it does not exist .. I had to cross reference the actors. Olivia and Keanu.. and I found only one movie at the same time "DREAM TO BELIEVE". I checked it is nearly identical. There are a lot of differences.. many changes.. but it is almost the same movie.. it was NEVER CALLED DREAM TO BELIEVE.. ON MY COPY OF THE MOVIE I WATCHED REPEATEDLY!!! It was called FLYING.. the cover of the movie showed Olivia D'abo in her gymnastics body suit in a dismount midair. Her name was starring Olivia D'Abo .. I know that for a perfect fact! No mistakes no way I am wrong or mistaken.. yet here the only copy of this movie on vhs that I can find now!!!! Is only called "dream to believe" wtf! Shows Keanu Reeves only. even though he is just a minor character in the movie definitely not a main character nor is this movie about him he has little airtime. yet in Dream to believe.. he and only he is on the cover ! Olivia is on the back. In a stylized handstand ...wtf? What's going on? I know there is a phenomena called the " Mandela Effect" where a lot of people distinctly remember something in pop culture one way.. and others show it's a completely different proof it's different for example .. the Berenstain Bears ..many ppl remember it spelled that way. And now the books only show Berenstein bears... spelling. And many people swear they saw a movie called Shazam starring Sinbad as a Genie .. when in fact the real movie was KAZAM starring Shaq as a Genie .. I get if they re released the movie years later putting the focus on Keanu after her got famous.. but. Why change the name .. but I checked Wikipedia. No where did it say the film was originally called Flying! This has always bugged me that I could not find it. But tonight on a hunch I checked IMDb I found it! See I knew I was not crazy! But Keanu is still on the cover so it's not the original release ? Hmm still confused .. he barely has 20 mins screen time