Quicksilver

Let me start by saying that this is a must-watch for fans of 80's movies. A good soundtrack, Interesting costuming and vibe...but if you are looking for a solid plot, there really isn't one. Is it a movie about a messenger being under the thumb of a drug dealer? About a couple that is going different directions? About a girl looking for her way in a male dominated profession? About a family coming to terms with each other? Or about any of the other dozen or so themes? Is it a movie about trick riding and speed? A comedy? A drama. There are so many of these threads that it makes the movie drag. Focus might have saved the plot...but the acting...hoo boy. Jami Gertz swings back and forth with what might be a Jersey accent or a New England...then a midWestern. Bacon can't decide if his approach is confidence in vulnerability or street cool with book smarts. His relationship with his girlfriend lacks any level of chemistry. The only thing that was interesting about the two was an out of left field, dance/bicycle duet, probably thrown in to capture some fan-service after Bacon's Footloose success.

Overall, it is watchable but also mostly forgettable, with a side of ridiculous dialogue.

Jack Casey (Kevin Bacon) is a big shot stock broker. He makes a big move that doesn't work out and loses all his parents' savings. He gets gun shy and ends up as a bicycle messenger. Terri (Jami Gertz) is the new rider. Hector Rodriguez (Paul Rodriguez) is the entrepreneur who wants to buy a hot dog cart. Voodoo (Laurence Fishburne) is the big rider who is not particular about what he carries. Gypsy is a local drug dealer who uses messengers to deliver his product.

I have to admit that I don't remember how cheesy 80s this movie actually is and that Louie Anderson is in this as a bike messenger. The music is so 80s and the bike acrobatics is fun. The story is nothing special. It's got Kevin Bacon and a few really good actors. The bike riding is fun. It's not more than that.

In 'Quicksilver,' Kevin Bacon is a stock market big shot who loses everything and ends up a bicycle messenger. From there, the film can't make up it's mind what on earth it's about. Drug dealers, rival bike riders...they're all here. This film just coasts around for awhile, but there's nothing interesting along the way. About the only thing this film has going for it is it's synthesizer score by Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks.

When I first saw this film in the theater, I really liked it. I rode my bike to work all the time and seeing a film where people rode their bikes for a living was really cool.

Now, as an adult who works as a bike messenger in Honolulu, I still enjoy this film, though there are some downsides I see in it that I didn't see as a teenager.

The worst part of the film is the fact that all the bike messengers at Quicksilver are losers of some kind. One used to work for the mayor, former college professors, a former stock broker, etc All losers for whom the job is just something to fall back on after they failed at their life's pursuit. All looking to get out ASAP.

Some messengers may have gotten into it after failing at something else. But most get into it for the money, excitement and the daily rush of adrenaline.

I wish the movie had shown more adrenaline junkies and fewer losers.

Hey, I liked this movie. Bacon puts in a solid performance both as an actor and as a bike courier who is trying to turn his life around after loosing big time on the stock exchange.

Positives- The music score is great and if you are feeling the need for a little of the 80's, you could do a lot worse.

Negatives- okay, so the plot is a little light on. Some of the acting supports are a little rough too, but hey you got to love the red berret.