Running Cool

Bikers Bone (Divoff) and Bear (Baker) visit their old friend Ironbutt (Gammon) to find that he is being forced off his land by ruthless developer Calvin Hogg (Gleason). Desperate to protect his marshlands Ironbutt enlists the help of his friends to raise money to save the land and fight off the developers.

This seems to be trying to cast bikers in the role of Native Americans - stewards of the land and the environment. They're mostly sensitive men who love nature and others - any crime they do is only ever self defence and, yes they like a bit of a fight but overall they just want to be at one with their surroundings (and have wet tee-shirt competitions!). This is my first problem with this is that it tries to cast bikers as misunderstood, caring men who have the environment as one of their many concerns (ignoring the effect of their bikes' burning fuel!).

This also means that the developers are portrayed as "evil" while the lawmen are portrayed as "stupid" or "corrupt". This then sets up various confrontations in which the bikers come off looking good. Much of this is the form of fighting, all of which is slow and lazy. Having seen Hong Kong fight scenes where everything is choreographed down to a move this is quite a bore. All the fights are slow and without excitement or tension, they consist of a series of punches where the "bad guys" are stunned and stand awaiting the next punch. Anyway, the plot and the fights continue until the serious conclusion where everyone, including the bikers and the developers learn an important lesson about love, friendship and others....

The cast are quite good - some of the bikers look frighteningly like Ewoks from Jedi! Divoff is quite good but only needs to give an one-dimensional performance as the sensitive, strong guy. Little Pfeiffer is good as Michele and Bubba Baker brings some comedy as Bear. Gleason is good as Calvin Hogg, but Tracy Sebastian is terrible as his son. All the rest of the cast are so-so, but really this isn't material where a shining performance would be really possible.

Overall the film is quite lame, the characters are all one-dimensional with a far too positive shine put on the bikers to be totally believable. The fight scenes are boring and the plot is predictable. The happy "we all learnt a lesson here today" ending is terrible. The only group that'll get a kick out of this movie are those that are or like bikers.

I have been on a business trip to India in 2007 when I saw this movie on HBO. As a biker I was immediately thrilled by this movie.

Back in Germany I tried to get a DVD but there was nothing available. Somehow disappointed I started a last attempt and I got a VHS in the US.

In the meantime I have installed a regular "movie evening" with my bro's starting to have a barbecue. After having enjoyed dinner we are all watching this film.

Thanks for this really great biker movie - it shows the attitude towards life a biker should have. I love it!

This movie is dead on with every biker I know! I am curious about what, if anything Bob the Moo even knows about American bikers...I have been one and have been around them for my entire adult life...I have a job, pay my taxes, raise my family, and do pretty much everything else, no different then everyone else. I have never been to jail, or even arrested- for anything, and even spent 10 years of my life as a cop. There are trouble makers in every segment of society and bikers are no different...but the vast majority of bikers are just normal working people that like to ride! They get upset when good people get screwed, but unlike a lot of folks, they stand up to help people in need. That is exactly what this movie is about...the little guy standing up to the big guy and saying "No, you will not walk on me!" For many years, all Hollywood put out with regards to bikers was the dark side of the culture- the so called 1%ers. They are the minority! There are very few movies out there that show the way most bikers are...but this is one of them. Sure the acting was a little rough...there were only a handful of real actors in the movie...all the bikers in the background are the real thing. The story line was simplistic, but it was a first time for the writer- also a member of the biker community...I know these things because I have seen a making of documentary of the movie with interviews of the people involved.

If you overlook the fact that it is not a high dollar production and just relax and watch the movie- you will love it...

Unless you have watched one to many of the stereotypical biker movies and are biased against it from the start.

The movie was great. It really showed the true soft side of REAL scooter people and how they lived and loved the life we live. How we take care of our own as well as strangers that are in need of help. True brotherhood is family and always there for family. Not so much as what we can benefit from something, granted the benefits are nice to have occasionally, but to be there when a brother or sister is down is what we are. Now on with the question of the day..... How can I get the soundtrack? Have searched the web but cannot find it. If anyone knows how or where, please let me know.

A very underappreciated independent film from the early 1990's. Although at times it can feel like a made for TV movie, I love this film with all my heart.

(Andrew Divoff) stars as Bone, a lone biker who doesn't want roots anywhere. And with his biker buddy Bear tries to help their friend Ironbutt played by (James Gammon) save his wetlands from growing corporations.

The acting can get kind of cheesy at times, but the story is good and entertaining. The small town hates the bikers, but they won't leave until they've helped their friend. They even throw in a little love story to boot. A great film to check out.