American Flyers

Starring: Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul, Janice Rule, Luca Bercovici, Robert Townsend, John Amos, Jennifer Grey
Directed by: John Badham
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Sport
1985

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Two brothers (Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant) compete in a bike race through the west.

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed American Flyers. It's a movie that has held up well, almost 35 years after its original release. It's a sports movie, depicting a brutal bicycle race. It's also a story about family, friendship, overcoming obstacles. It's an entertaining film and one that probably has flown under people's radar. It might be a little-known movie, but it's a really, really good one.

I didn't know anything about "The Hell of the West" bike race before this movie. It looks absolutely grueling. That serves as the real climax as the film, as our protagonists engage in a multi-day staged bike race. These scenes are incredible- John Badham has an eye for this, delivering both tense, fraught moments as well as some beautiful cinematic landscape shots as well. It was this duality that was so fascinating- in the midst of so much natural beauty, you have this brutal human endeavor that requires immense amounts of concentration and effort. The 80s soundtrack actually helps a lot in these scenes. The race is incredibly thrilling and well-shot. It definitely pulls you into the story. I'm not sure I have seen a lot of bicycle race movies that are this thrilling. Perhaps there are others, but none really come to mind. I loved learning about the race and the different strategies the competitors use.

As important as this race is to the story, this movie is about more than that. It's really a story about one somewhat dysfunctional family and two brothers trying to hold that fragile family together. The early scenes do a fantastic job of setting the stage. Marcus and David feel like real brothers, who experience the ups-and-downs that any siblings experience. It helps that Kevin Costner and David Marshall Grant both deliver exceptional performances. They're likable, even as each displays characteristics that do themselves more harm than good. You can see the hurt and the emotional baggage in both men, even as they work to connect and build their relationship. They're the heart of the movie and we get a few truly emotional moments from them.

The supporting cast is really strong, too. Rae Dawn Chong gives an underrated performance. She is so critical to this film's success. Her performance is nearly flawless and does so many subtle things to make the movie better. She was one of my favorite parts of the film. Alexandra Paul gives a good performance, too- she brings needed energy and levity to the cast. I liked seeing John Amos here, although his subplot felt like more a distraction. That was odd, how he and his son's story didn't quite fit in with the larger narrative. It was nice seeing Jennifer Grey here, although it was just for a quick scene. As a whole, the cast was quite good.

American Flyers is a movie that always has felt close to my heart. It was in our house when I was a kid- I can't remember if we had the VHS tape, or if it was just one my parents watched. My mom is a huge Kevin Costner fan, so it's possible it was on television often. Regardless of the format, this is a film that has been in the periphery of my life for most of it. This might be the first time I've sat down and watched the whole thing, but it'll always have a spot in my heart. It helps that it's an exciting sports drama with a strong cast. It's a movie that's worth seeing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Field of Dreams, Bull Durham