Local Boys
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Movie Reviews of Local Boys
Movie Review: Loved this movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was Awesome. It was great to find a surf movie with heart and a story line. The characters and plot were believable and the surf footage was great. Malhalo to all.Movie Review: What DVD does best
Summary: 4 Stars
"Local Boys" is a perfect example of what DVD does best: providing a showcase for a minor-league delight that had no chance at a big-screen release but deserves more than to be dumped on cable TV for just a few lucky insomniacs to catch on the late show. In short, it is a small gem of a film with a fine cast and promising director that tells a familiar, though moving and involving story. It also showcases a pair of promising young actors who appear on the brink of stardom and gives a couple of solid pros (and former "Chicago Hope" costars) a chance to stretch their acting chops and exhibit their own undeniable chemistry. And it may be the first surfing movie I have ever seen that actually deals with the teen surfing crowd in a realistic and non-exploitative manner by making its kids more than just brain-dead stoners obsessed with riding waves that would kill the world's best surfers.Eric Christian Olsen and Jeremy Sumpter star as Randy and Skeet, brothers whose policeman father "died a hero" (as Randy likes to say) in the line of duty. Skeet wants to learn to surf, so Randy buys him a surfboard for his twelfth birthday. But like so many other well-meaning though self-centered older brothers, he buys one that is too big (that way he'll have a spare) and then leaves Skeet to learn on his own. When legendary surfer Jim Wesley (Mark Harmon) sees Skeet's pitiful attempts at riding a wave, he befriends the boy, buys him a suitable board, and offers to teach him the proper way to surf. Skeet and Jim become fast friends and Jim even begins a tentative relationship with the boys' mother (Stacey Edwards), much to Randy's displeasure. (Randy loathes Jim, sees him as a threat to his status as "man of the house" and refuses to cut him any slack.) But Jim has issues of his own to deal with, since his own wife and daughter were killed in a car crash a couple of years before. And then there's Skeet's unresolved emotional problems surrounding the death of his father to deal with as well--
"Local Boys" isn't exactly loaded with surprises since you can tell where everything is headed almost before the film starts. But it is done with taste and restraint and a refreshing lack of melodrama, except for a ridiculous suicide attempt late in the film by one of Randy's surfer buds (Guiseppe Andrews), whose father thinks is a lazy, pothead loser (which, incidentally, he is) and is forcing to join the Marines.
As for the brothers' relationship, it is tender and sweetly rendered, yet combative and utterly believable, thanks to the terrific performances of Olsen and Sumpter. Olsen, who bombed badly in the "Dumb and Dumber" sequel "When Harry Met Lloyd," makes Randy likeable even when he's acting like a spoiled jerk, mainly because he never lets the audience lose sight of how much he loves his brother and mother. He's convinced he's trying to protect them from being hurt by Jim, but in reality, he's protecting himself. As for Sumpter, he is simply amazing as Skeet, creating a character who is not a mini-adult but a believable, emotionally fragile pre-teen who idolizes his older brother, yet occasionally finds him a major league pain in the you-know-where. Couple this with his fine performance in Bill Paxton's "Frailty," and the result is a young actor of exceptional promise.
In addition, Harmon and Edwards, who co-starred as lovers on TV's "Chicago Hope," also score solidly and once again make a believable couple. Harmon, in fact, has developed into a reliable and solid character actor who manages to elevate every scene he's in, no matter how pedestrian. And he's 100% believable as a surfing legend. Unfortunately, Edwards, who was magnificent as the deaf "victim" in Neal LaBute's "In the Company of Men," is given little to do as the mother, but what she is given she does extremely well. And Andrews offers amusing support as the pothead friend.
Give credit to director Ron Moler, who does a creditable job on both the character-driven scenes and the surfing sequences, which are refreshingly believable in that they concentrate on surfers riding real waves instead of the ridiculous tidal waves of "Big Wednesday" and other recent surfing films. How refreshing that the director doesn't feel the need to thrill the audience with laughable computer-generated surfing sequences in which normal surfers become superhuman thrill-seekers. Moler also successfully captures the "look" of the Southern California beach scene and it's surrounding neighborhoods. As for the DVD itself, the presentation is crisp, the sound excellent and is presented in the original aspect ratio of 1:85:1.
In all, this one's a winner. Surfers can watch it without groaning, and non-surfers will find the story touching and the performances refreshingly good for a direct-to-video release.
Congratulations to one and all.
Movie Review: A surprise...
Summary: 4 Stars
I first rented this movie and didn't expect it to be very good because I had never heard of it. However, once I started watching it, I was pleasantly surprised. The story is a coming-of-age adventure where 12-year-old Skeet is interested in nothing more than surfing and hanging with his older brother, Randy. When Randy seems more interested in hanging with beach babes and his friends than teaching Skeet how to surf, the young lad must persue other learning avenues. That's when he meets Jim Wesley, who was a surfing icon back in his day. Skeet and Jim become fast friends and the young boy finds the father figure he so desperatly needs. When Randy discovers his kid brother is hanging out with an older man, he becomes concered and immediatly is very protective of his family. After losing his father and having to deal with his mother's less than stellar boyfriends, Randy isn't taking any more chances with other men hanging around his family. But Jim proves he is kind, worthy of respect, and in it for the long haul despite the pain and pressures Randy and Skeet have on their shoulders.
This is a wonderful movie. I found the story to be a little inconsistent in places, but it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the film. Jeremy Sumpter, who plays the character of Skeet, proves to be an awesome young actor and I hope we see more of him in coming years (check him out in the newest Peter Pan movie). This film also has some great surfing footage although probably not enough to appease you hard-core surfers out there. But as a surfer myself, I found it to be lots of fun to watch. Check out Local Boys! You won't regret it.
Movie Review: Very Entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
I like surf movies but find very few of good quality. If you want great surf scenes, watch the documentaries like Step into Liquid. But this movie combines an easy to follow plot with exceptional Southern California surfing. For the hard core surfers there won't be enough surf scenes. But for movie viewers who want surf action, you'll be quite pleased. A vast improvement over Big Wednesday IMO but not up to Blue Crush which I think has the greatest scenes from a nondocumentary.
But this is a movie with quality actors that is story driven and reminded me of growing up near the ocean with my brother that is the real treat here. Yes, they have more problems with tragic deaths in two families but they also have plenty of attractive people to fill the screen. In particular, the love interest of Randy adds quite a bit to the scenery.
Overall, I really enjoyed this movie even though the plot is predictable. The actors are fine and it's a great story with a great conclusion. I recommend it for light family fare and for those looking for quality surf action.
Movie Review: its exellent
Summary: 4 Stars
If you get this movie for the surfing, You could be disapointed.Although there is great old school surfing, the plot makes the movie.As you probably read other reviews of this movie,I will not get into the story.But I will say that the three main characters (Skeet, Randy, and Jim) are not the only ones that will bring out emotions, There is one scene that gives a small insight into suicide, And it really added to the movie.This movie made me laugh and cry.It is great.I gave it 4 stars because I expected more from the surfing.