The Skateboard Kid II

Let me start off by commenting on the poster and cover art for this movie. The publicity photo shows Sammy, our protagonist, on his magic skateboard, holding a chihuaua, flying over Mount Rushmore. Now let me say that neither Mount Rushmore or chihuauas are anywhere close to this movie; that's how awesome it is. Sammy's father died when he was very young, and therefore it is up to Sammy to be the man of the house. Unfortunately for Sammy, all he wants to do is play what appears to be the most spectacular video game anyone has ever seen. He has a rough time because Kimmy Gibler and Elliot's mom are always bringing him down, and his best fried kamikazees some older kids with her bike. A strange old man lures Sammy into a warehouse with promises of skateboards, but instead gives him a box of junk. The winner of the Kurt Russell lookalike contest shows up and tells Sammy that he's an amazing skateboarder, but Sammy already knew that because his skateboard told him. Of course, Sammy wins the skateboard competition, not because his skateboard can fly, but because he believes in himself. He then realizes that he is in love with his best friend Mickey. It is also noteworthy to mention that the antagonist's rattail is a folicle miracle.

From the start the dad figure is a fighter pilot teaching his young son car mechanics, only to die off-screen and the said car be towed away for money to cover the bills. The film's sound levels are a bit off with the background music being sometime louder than the speaking voices, likewise with the film's pacing for the time.

That kitchen food fight scene was nice, shame they didn't dwell on it longer and use some pop music, would've made a nice starting point for this film instead of the usually 'parent died' trope... A Superman-style dream sequence follows, then onto our main character's introduction to the skating scene; that awe-inspiring moment of 'I need one'.

From there on out we get the lovely 'If we can't buy one, we'll build it!' skateboard scene. Was funny seeing a young kid stealing nail polish from his older sister with a fishing rod - just to paint their board. We've all been there growing up, making due with what we have... Gotta admire the guts of first-time skaters who send it on their first try too.

Lol, strange skateboard magazine arrives by rocket (off-screen) and your first impression is to send them money for a skateboard? Didn't see that one coming! (Especially the part where your payment letter randomly flies away; like it's remote controlled or magnetic?) Then the rush you get from a skateboard delivery! (Great times) Surprise surprise, what arrives isn't what you expected so this kid decides to travel into an abandoned warehouse to get some answers/return the package? Scene feels like something out of the X-files!

Back to the skater peers and the camera man is jumping out of the way as they do tricks over a small ramp, very Wayne's World-style zoom camera... Not to sure about the industrial rock/funk rap music at this point. Later on, the magical skateboard comes to life and features some quite impressive lighting within the skateboard deck. Find it really weird how two people get head injuries despite wearing a full-faced motorcycle and fraction helmets though?

This is one of those films that's a slow starter, could do with cutting out a few filler scenes, falls more into the moral story kind of skater film; in which it's all about learning to trust people, improve your confidence, the usual growing-up film tropes. Bearing in mind the target audience, it's a nice effort as some skater films can be somewhat too mature for younger kids. (Could do with skipping the cringe-worth relationship scenes though...)

I've heard a lot of people say this movie was cheesy or corny or whatever. It's a kid's movie! It's gonna be corny at some parts! I saw this movie first time aged eight. I still love it! It's totally awesome. Totally unrealistic, but movies aren't supposed to be realistic. I do think though, that you have to like skateboarding to like this movie. Call it inspiration to a kid who can't skate. It's a cool movie though, and if you're not over...say, 12-13, you should definitely watch it. Heck, watch it anyway! What kid doesn't love to dream the impossible plausible? I know I'll get a lot of criticism for this comment, but if you're not looking for an award winning movie with a way mature plot, then The Skateboard Kid 2 is definitely a good movie. Way better than Skateboard Kid 1, kind of like an early version of Airborne if you've seen that. See it if you haven't. Call me on it if you regret it.

Shoddy special effects combine with a shoddy story about a kid who gets a magical skateboard that can - get this - FLY! A horrible attempt at children's entertainment turns into a giant promo for skateboards, horrible actors and the whole nine yards (not the film, I mean the expression). Two thumbs down!

0/5 stars -

John Ulmer

It's a kid's movie I know. So if it's corny and junk like that, I shouldn't get all fussy about it 'cause it's just meant to entertain some kids, right? I think that even for little kids, this movie is far too cheesy.

The Skateboard Kid is this little kid who sends away for a skateboard. It turns out to be a magic skateboard, one that let's him fly. He's able to show up the neighborhood gang of skating big shots--kids who are just a little older than him. The skateboard let's him do things that he couldn't do by himself. So, even though he is a novice, he is able to accomplish things that only the pro's could do. This leads to an opportunity to compete. And, if you know corny kids movie, you know that even though some magic or some kind of special mentor helped him to get to one point, it would be up to him to get the rest of the way. Except, that might be plausible if the kid was actually doing tricks that would seem fitting for his expertise, even if it was a little m more than you would assume could be done.

Here, in this balogna movie, this kid starts out on some homemade stick and attempt to jump a quarter pipe launch ramp. Some people can't even balance themselves on a regular board, nevermind a piece of chopped up lumber with no kicktails. Then, when he gets the magic board, Stardust, it allows him to do pro-material, tearing up half-pipes and everything. And, at the end, when the Stardust board doesn't work anymore, and he's back to a regular board, he doesn't just have confidence to skate well in front of the older, more aggressive kids. No way, now he can skate just like a pro. Maybe the movie should've been entitled--how to skate like a pro without ever really trying.

It's hard to fish out that building-character premise that is so cliche of most kids movies due to such an implausible feat. I know it's supposed to be about a magic skateboard and all of that, but for crying out loud.

Aside from that point that annoyed me most about this movie, I guess the story and acting are no more corny than most other kids movies. The kids stink it up a little bit, especially the bully kid. Overall, I'd say that this movie is just cheese city.