Skatetown USA

As with "Xanadu", "Roller Boogie", etc. you have to watch this one and decide for yourself. If you liked those other disco movies, you'll very probably like "Skatetown U.S.A."

The basic plot consists of clashing roller skate gangs and who's going to win the contest.

Actually it's not bad in some respects. Much better skating sequences than Xanadu for example. And the cast combined a lot of teen talent of the time; Baio, Swayze, etc. (In fact I believe this was Swayze's first film). The story is predictable and weak, but it's the music that makes this type of film. I also liked the wild-haired DJ!

I wish this film would be released on video. My copy is a 16mm print with mono sound. I'm sure a stereo track would enhance it quite a bit.

Skatetown U.S.A. has never been released on video and I've never heard of it being aired on TV so it might be tough to find a copy.

I never did understand why most audiences didn't go for XANADU. That movie had a huge cult following upon its theatrical release; while being considered a box office dud, it had the sort of presence that granted it an instant cult classic among musicals. I know tons and tons of people who love both the movie and the soundtrack dearly, and I've noticed that they are all the same personality I am--namely, folks who are starry-eyed by nature, have a strong sense of poetic beauty and grew up with before-Eisner Walt Disney movies.

Story has it that SKATETOWN, U.S.A. was deliberately pushed back a couple of years or so the moment word got out that XANADU was in the works, for apparently the makers of this flick didn't want to chance XANADU's destroying it. They needn't have worried. This thing didn't have a chance to begin with. SKATETOWN is far, far, FAR inferior to the wonderful and delightful XANADU. It doesn't begin to even hold a candle to XANADU, which lives up to its title.

And yet, SKATETOWN, U.S.A. is campy fun in its own way, a time capsule from the disco era that brings back memories despite obvious flaws in direction, choppy editing that insists on slashing the footage of some genuinely spectacular skating stunts before you can fully enjoy them, and a story that is nonexistant at best.

The music makes this movie, hands down. It has a wonderful theme song and original songs as well as a whole slew of disco staples that are now truly timeless classics. And of course all the skating is a blast. And gotta love that goofball D.J. with his sparkle afro!

There's one thing that seriously ruins my enjoyment of this film though. An annoying overweight worker at the snack bar who has a thing for hot dogs. This guy is just... seriously, he's disgusting! He's so gross and lacking in personal hygiene and basic cleanliness that... well, would *YOU* buy food from this guy? I swear, I lose all appetite (especially for hot dogs) upon seeing this guy in action. I'll be sitting there enjoying a wonderful skate dance set to gorgeous music, only to have the camera suddenly cut away to this jerk's gross antics. Edit him OUT entirely and this film would be much, much better and more carefree.

Oh, and you haven't lived until you hear this flick's answer to the question "You saved my life... Why?"

I know this isn't saying much, but after Saturday Night Fever, this was the best of the disco themed movies. Unlike SNF, this movie took the tact of most other disco films and tried to capture the "fun" side of disco, and greatly succeeds where many others of this type failed.Although most of the skits are only mildly amusing, the characterizations are on the money and work well.As with any musical, the dance numbers and songs make this movie and really make you want to dance and sing along with it(if you know how to roller skate)Once again, if you want a semi-historical document that seems to capture the tone of disco, this is a classic.

Alright, Star Wars was the movie for every other 7-year old at the time, as it was for me. But seeing this film after more than twenty years instantly invaded my senses. I smelled the popcorn, felt the heat of summer, and the heard handful of change my friends and I would use to get into the double features playing at a theater that has long since been bulldozed for a mega Gap store. It has all of the elements of a perfect summer movie. Action, romance, Maureen McCormick in tight shorts, Billy Barty in a characteristic though cliché tuxedo, and music. Plus, it gave us Patrick Swayze in his first screen role.

Now the plot is as formulaic as they come. Basically a dumbed down Romeo and Juliet on roller skates with bad disco on the Jersey Pier. Greg Bradford, who did nothing before or after this movie, is a young and studley out of towner whose sister, Maureen McCormick, takes him to the local skate, disco, super-rally-roller-rink where he acts like an a pathetically nieve boy next door type; but with blonde hair and biceps. No surprises when he falls instantly in love with the pettiest, most aloof girl in the joint. This ballerina on rubber wheels just happens to be the kid sister of Ace Johnson. Aka Patrick Swayze. ACE, isn't that a great name for the leader of a tough talking, fast moving, skate gang.? So, no surprises, Ace isn't thrilled with his kid sister and the new guy. There's a lot of empty threats from the Ace and members of the tough talking skater boys and notable appearances by Scott Baio who, as a friend of Maureen McCormick, tries to defuse the situation.

Of course he can't keep things from degrading, which they do, first into a "skate off" which might as well have been filmed on ice for how choreographed as feminine it was. And then it degrades further into a skate death match. Now this is where the movie is really trying hard to be as formula as possible without looking like they are trying to be formula. Now in a regular testosterone-machismo film, this is where the two can't back down let alone think teenagers would match up in a car race towards a cliff before they ditch at the last second and send their muscle cars over a cliff making us all cry. There are no cliffs in Jersey and this is a roller skate movie. The testosterone is tainted with estrogen, the pants are too tight, the skates are laced even tighter, and they race each other down a pier towards the Atlantic ocean on rocket powered skates. I kid you not.

I don't want to give away anything else, but I will say that the most challenging thing about this film is obtaining a copy. They never produced in on VHS. It hasn't been shown in years and years in a theater. Never shown on TV to my knowledge. And no plans for a DVD release that I have heard of. I just happen to have a bootleg copy that I had to sell my soul for. Cheers

Skatetown USA along with Roller Boogie is a celebration of that brief time that roller disco was ruling the youth culture. Unless you like the music scene, rollerskating, or want to see this variety of current and former performers from television stroll on the screen and do their bit one better avoid the film.

But the music and the choreographed skating numbers are the thing here and the plot such as it is just gets in the way. Scott Baio from The Valley is manager of skating brother and sister Greg Bradford and Maureen McCormick and he's brought them to that Mecca of roller disco palaces Skatetown USA to take on the champ Patrick Swayze who has a large and menacing posse. In fact Swayze will do just about anything to win so Baio has to be on his toes.

Flip Wilson owns Skatetown USA along with Billy Barty and Flip has some scenes as his drag character Geraldine. A whole lot of other familiar TV faces make an appearance and hopefully their paychecks cleared the bank.

Greg Bradford was and remains the ultimate surfer boy. He and Swayze are both talented dancers and the competition is fierce. This was Swayze's film debut. His acting chops were displayed later in his career.

Unless you are nostalgic for the era, Skatetown USA is not your film.