Thrashin' - Movie review (my first one!)

Ahh the 80's extreme bro flick. Movies like this are a true guilty pleasure for me, I grew up with these kind of "extreme sports" movies. Although in this case, I didn't see this one as a kid. But I have a feeling I would have liked it a lot more if I had. Now I get to enjoy it as an adult, if for no other reason then to laugh at how cheesy it is. With its heavy hair sprayed hairdo's, synth heavy music cues, and the shredded punk fashion.

                                    

To watch this movie you have to ready for a lot, and I mean a lot of music montage. This movie really shows how the montage style use to rule films, and I for one love it ! You're also going to have to be okay with not so great dialogue and ham-handed acting. Although, some of these performances are little better then similar movies from the time, a post Goonies, pre-award winning Josh Brolin staring as an example of that. I wonder if Josh Brolin is proud of this movie ?

                                    
There is also a small treat for Red Hot Chili Peppers fans, as the band is playing at a party near the beginning of the film. At this time the band had only released 2 studio albums and was still relatively unknown, well, at least in the mainstream.

Anyway, on with the movie.
Released in 1986 Thrashin' is the typical Romeo & Juliet in a modern age type story. A young skateboarder from the valley, Corey Webster,  goes to L.A. to stay with his friends while they prepare for a couple of skate competitions, they are a group of "good guy" skaters who call themselves The Ramp Locals.

                                    

While checking out Venice beach, Corey meets Crissy Hook. Crissy is visiting L.A. from Indiana and is the little sister to Tommy Hook, the leader of the "bad guy" L.A. skateboarding gang called "The Daggers".

 

Tommy kinda has it in for Corey right from the get go because Corey is a rich kid from the valley, but once Corey starts dating Tommy's kid sister, He then decides to really go after Corey. Which leads to some back and forth between both gangs. One the best being a scene where Tommy and Corey have a "joust". A scene which feels inspired by the movie "The Warriors" although, less interesting. This joust is played out by both skaters rolling towards each other swinging a type of homemade "mace", one trying to take the other down.

The "mace" doesn't have spikes or anything, the business end looks more like a water bottle filled with rocks or sand. I'm only guessing here, since it's never said what they are made of. But they definitely have some weight, because the joust ends with Corey getting his arm broken.

Which, of course, leads to Corey saying he can't do the downhill competition with a broken arm and we get a short montage of him practicing skating and failing while learning to skate with a broke arm. I think a broken leg would have been a more exciting choice for the story here. Granted that may have also been a little too ridiculous.

                            

Everything ends with Corey , Tommy and maybe 50 others, skating the 20 mile downhill competition. Its a fairly exciting race, one by one the skaters bail as they make their way down the hill until its only Corey and Tommy left. I'm sure you can guess the outcome.

                             
The film ends with Tommy deciding that he has a new found respect for Corey... surprise right ?  There is really not a whole lot of story here. Most of film is people skating with some music playing over it.
Something I'd like to point out too. This movie contains one of the most awkwardly filmed sex scenes between Corey and Crissy. In part because of the ultra cheesy, on the nose, song that plays during the scene. And also because the characters ages are never discussed. Up until this point, its easy to assume you're watching a group of high school kids on summer vacation... which I guess could still be the case. The scene isn't graphic and you can tell they where going for romantic. It's just so cheesy, not to mention it feels out of place with the rest of this film.

Over all, Thrashin' is a mediocre film that follows the decade and the genres cliches. I did notice there are a couple shots in the movie where they put the camera on the skateboard itself. Granted these days you see plenty of this look thanks to GoPro. But as far as I know, this may have been unique at the time. Maybe they where doing this type of shot in skate videos ? Anyone know ? I do think the film had a little style in how some scenes where shot. The skateboarding is fairly tame by today's standards, but it is still entertaining to watch.

Anyway, for it's camp value, if you are someone who can enjoy a film for that alone. Its worth seeing at least once.

I personally give Thrashin' a 5/10

Which may seem a bit forgiving. But its got the right amount of "That's so lame its awesome!"
Like Tommy giving an air guitar performance.

                            
Or Tommy asking Crissy if he should wear the skull and crossbones earring AND a hoop ring, in the same ear mind you. It was the 80's after all.

                            
 If this movie shows up on your preferred streaming app and you're in a campy retro mood, or maybe you just want to see some early Josh Brolin work, watch it. You'll have some fun.
I'll leave you with the trailer for the movie.