Rad is a boilerplate sports movie with the novelty of the sport in question being BMX racing. It was directed by Hal (Smokey and the Bandit) Needham, who might not be the first guy you think of for something like this. However, he always had a knack for filming stunts, and he fills the flick with lots of scenes of bike riders doing tricks and flying in the air in slow motion.
Cru (Bill Allen) is a great BMX rider trapped in a small town. When the big BMX race, “Helltrack” comes to town, he must decide whether or not to ditch the SATs for the big race. With the help of his new gal (Lori Loughlin), he signs up for the race, defying his mother (Talia Shire, whose husband, Jack Schwartzman produced this) who wants him to go to college. Naturally, everyone in town starts rooting for him and comes to his rescue when the greedy sponsor (Jack Weston) tries to stonewall him out of the race.
Rad probably has too much plot for something like this, but it does contain some odd touches that help to elevate it above the typical sports movie cliches. There’s a funny scene where Allen courts Loughlin while riding bikes together at a school dance that feels sort of like a BMX version of Roller Boogie or something. Then, there’s the “ass sliding” scene, which is just a naughty sounding way to describe… uh… sliding down a water slide… on… uh… your ass. (I mean, how else are you going to slide down it?)
The ’80s time capsule aspect works in its favor though, and some of the rampant product placement is also good for a laugh. It nearly tops Mac and Me in that regard. The big race is sponsored by 7-11 and Kix cereal, and there’s even a giant Kix cereal bowl the racers have to go through during the race!
The cast is pretty good too. Allen is solid in the lead, and Loughlin is great as the sexy tomboy with a heart of gold. Weston chews the scenery gamely as the villain, and Ray Walston is fun as the old fuddy-duddy who might not be so bad after all. Shire is kinda wasted though. After all those Rocky movies, she can do the whole “cheering from the sidelines” thing in her sleep by now.
AKA: Hell Track. AKA: BMX Hellriders. AKA: BMX Hellraiders.
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