IMDb RATING
6.0/10
6.5K
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The new kid in school must battle a gang of street toughs after stealing the gang leader's girl.The new kid in school must battle a gang of street toughs after stealing the gang leader's girl.The new kid in school must battle a gang of street toughs after stealing the gang leader's girl.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win total
Robert Downey Jr.
- Jimmy Parker
- (as Robert Downey)
Panchito Gómez
- Mickey
- (as Panchito Gomez)
Francis X. McCarthy
- Man at Bus Stop
- (as Frank McCarthy)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
James Spader got himself a breakout role in Tuff Turf as a preppy kid from Connecticut resettled in a California public high school. Even though the family has had some financial reverses and aren't living the life Spader has become accustomed to, he still thinks of himself as to the manor born.
So when he spots Kim Richards who is the girlfriend of gang leader Paul Montes he decides to move in. Montes is a jealous and possessive sort and that means trouble all around.
The story has both Spader and Richards growing in character as well as into each other. Spader loses a bit of that preppy arrogance and Richards gradually realizes that Montes is a loser in the long run and she likes being treated with a little dignity and respect.
Robert Downey, Jr. is in Tuff Turf as well in the sidekick role for Spader. Montes gives a most frightening performance when he starts realizing Richards has slipped away from him.
Tuff Turf holds up well for today's audiences. It's a good Brat Pack film of the Reagan 80s.
So when he spots Kim Richards who is the girlfriend of gang leader Paul Montes he decides to move in. Montes is a jealous and possessive sort and that means trouble all around.
The story has both Spader and Richards growing in character as well as into each other. Spader loses a bit of that preppy arrogance and Richards gradually realizes that Montes is a loser in the long run and she likes being treated with a little dignity and respect.
Robert Downey, Jr. is in Tuff Turf as well in the sidekick role for Spader. Montes gives a most frightening performance when he starts realizing Richards has slipped away from him.
Tuff Turf holds up well for today's audiences. It's a good Brat Pack film of the Reagan 80s.
Just watched the movie that was #1 at the box office the week I was born, TUFF TURF (1985). Must have been a weak week at the theater because it still didn't do well. That's probably because this movie BLOWS. It was James Spader's first lead role and Robert Downey Jr's first co-star role. Kim Richards (the girl from Escape From Witch Mountain and Assault on Precinct 13) is really cute as the punk rock damsel in distress but aside from the 80's aesthetics and vibes on 10, this movie misses in pretty much every department. It tries to be a cool & cute high school flick in the first half but it's almost completely humorless and the story goes nowhere, in the second half it turns into an extremely heavy-handed dramatic action flick full of people getting beaten up, bloodied, or shot - but it never feels right. There's something missing. It's simply not an enjoyable film. It's far too long at 2 hours considering it has almost no story, none of the characters have any depth aside from maybe Kim Richards but it's still not that deep, and it doesn't function well as a comedy, a drama, OR an action thriller... whoops.
P.S. every SINGLE time I try to type Tuff Turf it ends up Tuff Turd first on accident
P.S. every SINGLE time I try to type Tuff Turf it ends up Tuff Turd first on accident
Tuff Turf brings back memories of watching movies on Select TV. This 80's cult hit is about a young rapscallion who's life is turned upside down when his upper class father hits financial trouble forcing his family to move out to the 'hood. James Spader slowly learns how to deal with street life whilst his family adjusts to dealing with people that are of "lower social class". Interesting film staring James Spader as the young punk rich kid, Matt Clark as his shell shocked father, Robert Downey Jr. as his high school buddy and Kim Richards (Escape To Witch Mountain) as his soon to be girlfriend. The only part of the movie that gave me the willies was when his older (more culturally refined) brother pays a visit, there's an oedipal conflict between the two (the scene where the older brother embraces his mom far too long and hugs her too close for comfort)that would have given Freud a thrill to try and psycho-analyzed.
Recommended for 80's fans.
Recommended for 80's fans.
Robert Downey Jr. AND James Spader? This could be a total turkey and I'd still watch it.
The performance of both is excellent, but that's no surprise. You get to see the formation of some of their respective trademark mannerisms.
Overall: strange plot, seems to sit between genres, starts off as a sort of High School rom-com but quickly descends into a rough teen thriller, with two major and totally random music numbers in the first part, both of which are arse-numbingly boring and ludicrous.
Having said that - James Spader's singing is nice - he's got a good voice but nothing wow, which is why it's interesting that the filmmakers have included it, but it lends a touch of authenticity to a highly stylized 80s flick. The song is odd, unknown to me, but it served its plot purpose I suppose - I would have preferred something else but we can't have it all can we.
Side note: what a beautiful man (James Spader). As penetrating and mesmerizing as ever.
Moving onto the girl: she's good. Intriguing. Playing with the concept of the good/bad girl credibly. Her back story is convincing (and so is Spader's).
The "baddy" of the piece is suitably threatening - you do feel intimidated by the violence and his gang throughout, and I did hold my breath on a few occasions - in terms of the suspense and fight scenes - two thumbs up.
Interesting ending - they didn't go for any cheapshots but saw it through to the end.
All in all - I think it's a bit of a gem, if a bit of a mongrel one.
The performance of both is excellent, but that's no surprise. You get to see the formation of some of their respective trademark mannerisms.
Overall: strange plot, seems to sit between genres, starts off as a sort of High School rom-com but quickly descends into a rough teen thriller, with two major and totally random music numbers in the first part, both of which are arse-numbingly boring and ludicrous.
Having said that - James Spader's singing is nice - he's got a good voice but nothing wow, which is why it's interesting that the filmmakers have included it, but it lends a touch of authenticity to a highly stylized 80s flick. The song is odd, unknown to me, but it served its plot purpose I suppose - I would have preferred something else but we can't have it all can we.
Side note: what a beautiful man (James Spader). As penetrating and mesmerizing as ever.
Moving onto the girl: she's good. Intriguing. Playing with the concept of the good/bad girl credibly. Her back story is convincing (and so is Spader's).
The "baddy" of the piece is suitably threatening - you do feel intimidated by the violence and his gang throughout, and I did hold my breath on a few occasions - in terms of the suspense and fight scenes - two thumbs up.
Interesting ending - they didn't go for any cheapshots but saw it through to the end.
All in all - I think it's a bit of a gem, if a bit of a mongrel one.
This one is a real relic of the '80s--the hair! The shoulder pads! The sweaters folded casually over the shoulders! The movie cheerfully steals from "Rebel Without a Cause" and winks at "The Warriors" and "Footloose" as well. Kim Richards is somewhat miscast as a "tough" girl but gives a very game performance and looks gorgeous as always. James Spader also gives a sincere performance, which couldn't have been easy with some of these scenes (he is forced to serenade Kim Richards on the piano). The best scenes, IMO, are the country club montage (Olivia Barash blithely asking the rich girls "You do swallow, right?"), and when Richards and Spader finally hit it off at a club. How do we know this? Because Richards breaks into a perfectly choreographed (albeit spontaneous) dance number! Truly enjoyable if you just let yourself do so.
Did you know
- TriviaFirst theatrical feature film in top billed role for actor James Spader,
- GoofsThe clock behind Jimmy reads 12:40 in the hallway. It's already been established that this is Morgan's first morning at school.
- Crazy creditsDuring the end credits, we see Morgan, Frankie, Jimmy and Ronnie dancing and playing instruments with Jack Mack and the Heart Attack at Club 60's.
- Alternate versionsOn the home video version, the song "Breakin' the Rules" is performed by Jonathan Elias, instead of Lene Lovich, whose version is played in the theatrical release.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Cinema Snob: Children of the Corn (1984) (2023)
- SoundtracksTuff Turf
Written by Jonathan Elias & Doug Hall
Performed by Southside Johnny Lyon (as Southside Johnny)
Published by Chilly D. Music and Music Design Publishing
- How long is Tuff Turf?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Territorio rebelde
- Filming locations
- 6223 Lankershim Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA(Sandy's Char Burger)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,369,329
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,509,380
- Jan 13, 1985
- Gross worldwide
- $9,369,329
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