Flying

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?

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-

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.

This is a fun and entertaining movie for anyone who likes gymnastics. It features Keanu Reeves (pre-"Bill & Ted") as the wannabe boyfriend of aspiring highschool gymnastic champion Olivia D'Abo. One of the more memorable scenes shows Robin & Leah at the drive-in having a tumbling challenge to see who's the "best"--Robin "wins" with a running-roundoff-backhandspring-backflip over a red sportscar. The movie is also completely "80's"--with big hair, pop music and funky clothes. While the technical aspects of the movie leave a bit to be desired, and the plot line is a bit predictable, it does have the requisite happy ending.

Remember that the nostalgic aspect of 80s movies did not apply when they actually came out. So we are reviewing them as pieces of nostalgia, not just as movies. As nostalgia, I liked this one.

Buffalo is a good location for a movie about working class teen underdogs. Flashdance and All The Right Moves were in the Pittsburgh area, a bit more cliché.

Gotta love that soundtrack, although again, when it actually came out, you were used to hearing that quasi-disco-optimism genre. Now you are enjoying it as nostalgia. It makes the film for me.

It was actually filmed in '84 but was not released for a couple of years. Keanu was 20, and Olivia was 15. I hope they were both supposed to be Seniors in high school, given their romantic relationship. (As opposed to Sophomores)

Most of Olivia's early films were showcases for her considerably precocious and provocative budding sexuality. In this one though, she was so young, that it makes you feel a bit creepy watching it, unless you are a youngster yourself. I guess the intended audience was and is, teenagers, but even so, 15 is too young for screen sex in my opinion.

I'm still not sure what dancing in a warehouse has to do with competitive gymnastics, although I understand that Tumbling routines are done to music. In Flashdance, the girl was making a living as a pop dancer, while aspiring to ballet. Not so in this one.

The warehouse scenes were gratuitous and included the obligatory dancing African American. That made me squirm, sensing exploitation, but no one forced the guy to do it.

They really stacked the deck with all our character's home life troubles too. Jeez. Dead dad, abusive step dad, ill mom, surly sister, anorexic friend. Wow.

Reeves displays his usual "everyman" appeal that made him a star. I mourn the awkward heavy vibe he adopted or was forced to develop, in later films. He looks very young here.

If you are a teenager and fantasize about having a boyfriend like teen Keanu, or you are a lonely girl who dreams of overcoming odds and finding love, you will enjoy this one. Please enjoy the 80s vibe and learn to appreciate your parents' generation.