Red Surf

I remember the day I first stumbled upon Red Surf in a pawn shop bargain bin. It looked like a modern day George Clooney film so I decided to give it a shot but surprisingly, it turned out to be some of his very early work. To me, this was a very pleasant surprise indeed. Red Surf has a very cool 70's drive-in movie feel to it and this can be a refreshing change of pace from the mainstream. Okay, Lets get down to the content of this film..........George Clooney and his friends are jet ski drug runners for a kingpin (Gene Simmons no doubt). DeDe Phifer plays his girlfriend and wants him to settle down in order to have a family. The party scenes are hardcore and the rival gang violence is over the top as well so if that kind of stuff turns you off then you may want to head for the Disney section instead. The plot moves at a moderate pace and the acting is well above par for this type of film. I like it mainly because it has a very realistic feel to it and reminds me a lot of the late 70's/early 80's (if you like nostalgia...... this film is oozing with it). Availability is good and its not very expensive so pick up a copy next time you see one and come back to post your thoughts. Its my favorite Clooney film and definitely a mainstay in my collection because the story holds up well for repeat viewings. Clay

This picture was released straight to video/cable...I can not, for the life of me figure out why! Many may describe this as a guilty pleasure, but I would not. Boos' direction flows in this tale of suspense and intrigue. Shot purposely on what seems to be video, the film can be described as a surfers dream gone pipeline wipe-out nightmare. Is it a heist gone to blunder? I think not! Its a soul searching revenge piece with a twist of Hitchcockian suspense!

Clooney gives one of his most memorable performances...Doug Savant proves he is better than his Melrose Place performances would show...DeeDee Pfeifer is wonderful as usual...Phillip McKeon shows he will be something special.

Look for Gene Simmons in a key role.

*** out of ****

One of the handful of B movies that George Clooney made before ascending to super-stardom, "Red Surf" tells a decent story about a group of surfer / slacker types who make their money through drug deals, working for a crime kingpin named Calavera (Rick Najera). Mark Remar (Clooney) learns that girlfriend Rebecca (Dedee Pfeiffer) is pregnant, and swears that he just wants that typical "one last big score" so they can make enough money to move to Portland.

This is really not bad at all, in my humble opinion. Granted, the bits with the crime lord are all pretty routine, except for the fact that the guy feeds victims to wolves living in the basement of his property. What makes the difference, and where the film works the best, is its portrayal of the camaraderie between the protagonists, with Doug Savant a standout as Remars' loyal friend Attila. Also appearing are Philip McKeon, as a weasel named True Blue, real life surfer Vincent Klyn (the villain in "Cyborg"), and rock icon Gene Simmons in the key supporting role of "Doc".

The story does turn very conventional in its final act, but "Red Surf" is still worth a look, and fairly poignant at times as well as visceral. The lead character does feel familiar in the sense that he's this jovially irresponsible type who has a hard time facing up to reality, but that Clooney charisma still comes through strong. One definite bonus is that eclectic soundtrack.

Had this been made a dozen years or so earlier, it could easily have made for a decent drive-in movie.

This marked the directing debut for the late H. Gordon Boos, who was usually an *assistant* director on things like "Night of the Comet", "House", and "Platoon".

Seven out of 10.

If you're out for criminals and surfer with great surfing scenes, then this is the wrong movie for you. Then better watch Point Break, which was actually made a year later and had a much more modern and tougher look. With "Red Surf", I thought, oh well, give it a try: George Clooney in one of his very early roles, but some of his mannerisms can already be seen, (and the DVD cover is deceiving by picturing today's George) plus his acting abilities especially in carrying a film, too. He even looks gorgeous in shabby jeans and a leather jacket. I liked some of the photography, the music score was quite good as well. The story hang a bit in the air, a bit lose, so to speak. Some unnecessary violence. The whole film seemed a bit undecided, too many bits of different genres: a typical 80s movie with party, drugs and rock'n roll, but not tough enough, and a bit of "adulthood" thrown in. Also worth mentioning is Desperate Housewives' Doug Savant, who brings to his role some depth. And, quite cool, Gene Simmons who adds a little class to this movie.

This was the 'b' side of some other film I bought, so it sat around my collection for a bit. It's actually quite good! Clooney's a surfer who sets up coke deals with the local drug baron, picking up the merchandise on his jet ski. Him and all his mates get wasted every night on booze, coke, crack, and anything else they can get their hands on. His girlfriend however is about to change all that when she reveals she's pregnant. Will Clooney clean up his act or will he go all out for one last score?

Clooney's great in this one, portraying a guy who doesn't quite want to face up to reality. He sure cusses some too! The supporting cast are quite good (including Gene Simmons!) and the film gets surprisingly violent at times. Good stuff!