Rent Breaking Away on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Steve Tesich
Directed by: Peter Yates
Starring: Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley
Rated: PG [PG-13]
Watch the trailer
Plot
A working-class Indiana teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl while searching for life goals with his friends.
Verdict
It's a coming of age movie with a focus on cycling which certainly make it unique. It doesn't cover anything new at this point, but does capture the feeling of aimlessness at that age. Dave's dad doesn't understand him, with Dave trying to figure out what's next while focusing on cycling. The world is enticing and cycling just happened to catch his interest as he's trying to figure out his 'thing.' He's done with high school and he has to choose a future amidst the turmoil.
It depends.
Review
Dave (Dennis Christopher) is obsessed with Italy and cycling. His father doesn't understand it, tired of Italian music and food pervading the house due to Dave. It's easy to see the father's point of view. Dave's mom is understanding, but I imagine she has to wonder too unless Dave is prone to changing obsessions.
The movie is rough around the edges and the characterization could be better. That could be intentional in an effort to capture the spirit of the characters. Dave and his friends have just graduated high school. They have to figure out their lives and future. Living in a blue collar town near a university, there's tension between the locals and the university students. Being young, neither side is content to let a perceived slight go.
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| Dennis Christopher plays Dave. |
Mike's obsession is unusual. Is he intrigued because cycling is so far removed from the town? As Mike states, they want to be somebody. Pretending to be somebody is still being something. You either try to fit in, rebel, reminisce about the good days, or go your own way. Each of those choices are represented by Mike and his friends.
If it wasn't for cycling this would be a boring coming of age story. I can't help but see a bit of Good Will Hunting in this, with the tension between locals and university students. I don't think this inspired the movie, those feelings and tensions are ripe for a story. One interesting point is that Dave is training in cycling to escape the town. His hobby doesn't have to be anything more than just that.
Dave runs into Italian cyclists and it's one of those situations where you shouldn't meet your heroes. Dave is robbed of the illusion of what cycling offers. He reevaluates cycling which leads into the final third of the movie.
This is nota definitive coming of age story, but it was fun to see a young Quaid and Stern.
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