This is a typical 80s dance/gymnastic/music vehicle type of film; underdog with a hard life works hard and is involved in lots of montage shots to add drama and interest including the 80s obligatory "girls getting sweaty whilst working out in leotards" scene. It's typical of the 80s in terms of gregarious fashion and music, much reminiscent of Flashdance and that sort of thing and the music is poppy and upbeat.
D'Abo wasn't bad, but was slightly cheesy and you could see her consciously acting - especially in the more emotional bits *pauses, looks up so voice breaks* but it was typical of the genre. Fans of gymnastics will possibly enjoy this for the technical stuff but you are aware that a body double was used for most of it so it's all a bit silly. Keanu Reeves plays the adorable wannabe/boyfriend (cue more High School "romance" montages) and is even then (age 22?) the most convincing of the actors in the film - everyone else is a little contrived and stage school enunciation/deliberately emotive whereas Reeves is more natural and smooth, and is some needed comic relief in some of the silly scenes predictive of Ted Theodore Logan goofiness.
Certainly not the best movie I've ever seen but I quite enjoyed it for what it is - an 80s teen fun film with a few morals/inspirations thrown in especially it's notable by it's inclusion of positive role model black characters that aren't glorified extras and don't conform to negative stereotypes that were common back then, albeit how improbable the relationships are. I applaud the film for showing up the racist character as a total and utter prat, rather than the comic relief (!) and some serious issues are addressed in the film - it's actually a little darker than comparable films.
Lots of different names for this film - Flying, Teenage Dream (?) and the one I have is "Dream to Believe" which is daft - Flying makes a lot more sense as it's actually referenced in the film. I do love 80s films and whilst this isn't one of the best, it is what it is and it was fairly entertaining.
D'Abo wasn't bad, but was slightly cheesy and you could see her consciously acting - especially in the more emotional bits *pauses, looks up so voice breaks* but it was typical of the genre. Fans of gymnastics will possibly enjoy this for the technical stuff but you are aware that a body double was used for most of it so it's all a bit silly. Keanu Reeves plays the adorable wannabe/boyfriend (cue more High School "romance" montages) and is even then (age 22?) the most convincing of the actors in the film - everyone else is a little contrived and stage school enunciation/deliberately emotive whereas Reeves is more natural and smooth, and is some needed comic relief in some of the silly scenes predictive of Ted Theodore Logan goofiness.
Certainly not the best movie I've ever seen but I quite enjoyed it for what it is - an 80s teen fun film with a few morals/inspirations thrown in especially it's notable by it's inclusion of positive role model black characters that aren't glorified extras and don't conform to negative stereotypes that were common back then, albeit how improbable the relationships are. I applaud the film for showing up the racist character as a total and utter prat, rather than the comic relief (!) and some serious issues are addressed in the film - it's actually a little darker than comparable films.
Lots of different names for this film - Flying, Teenage Dream (?) and the one I have is "Dream to Believe" which is daft - Flying makes a lot more sense as it's actually referenced in the film. I do love 80s films and whilst this isn't one of the best, it is what it is and it was fairly entertaining.