terrible... so disappointed.

good film but with many flaws

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

'American Anthem' is an awful sports melodrama starring Olympic gold medal gymnast Mitch Gaylord and Mrs. Wayne Gretzky as... gymnasts. From the director of 'Purple Rain', covering many of the same themes, but without Prince's music to bolster it. There was potential for some cheesy fun here, but the whole thing gets so bogged down in its family melodrama that any fun is sucked right out of it.Gaylord certainly had teen idol looks, but his acting had less range than a slingshot. But in his defense no actor could've done anything with this drivel. Even the montages are lame, and for an 80s film that's a no-no.

where do I begin? The plot that is non existent,Characters you don't understand,nor relate too cause there's no depth to them,or the fact that nobody really care about gymnastics. I seem to recall they tried a couple of these unorthodox movies like these in the 80s,without much luck. One had a rowing theme starring Rob Lowe,another one had a wrestling theme, starring Matthew Modine.I think they both sort of failed to be the impact they were suppose to be. Don't get me wrong all these sports are probably important for those who compete in them,but the theme don't really do well on film. Unlike boxing or Karate,which both were big themes through the 80s.I get the feeling there's a lot,that ended up on the cutting room floor,cause the storyline moves way to fast. At one moment, the female lead have an argument with her friend over being late for a workout session. Then suddenly there's bad blood between them for the remainder of the movie? c'mon you gotta build it on something more than that. The new girl in town falls in love(OFC) with the first guy she meet(who just happens to be the the outcast),after barely speaking 3 words to him. I can believe in love at first sight in movies by all means. But if you wanna have a storyline above porn standard,it is wise to leave the scenes where "Romeo and Juliet" of the movie, get to know each other over a period of time. HEre she goes for a drive with him,than he ask if she as a boyfriend,when she says no,He just ask if she wants one? And then their together. It seem like they have tried to gather as many 80s clichés as possible,throw them into a blender in hope of making a big script with IT DIDN'T WORK

I have to give it a 10. I had a life size poster of Mitch Gaylord on the back of my door from 85-92! There was no crush that could match my crush on Mitch. I would have seen any movie that he was in, gymnastics or not. Shoot, he was the reason I watched the Olympics back then. American Anthem is a great movie. It had good characters and you were really pulling for them. Granted, I was a kid when I saw it... but as far as 80s movies go... this one belongs in the ranks of Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles. I borrowed the video from a friend and remember keeping it for years. She came and got it a few days before I left for college!! I haven't seen since, but I'd buy the DVD if there were one!

There's really not much better than the high concept films of the '80s, and this one has it all. Ever notice how in these films, everyone in the ENTIRE TOWN seems centered around whatever miraculous achievement the star is involved in?In this case, it's a whole group of friends, a whole family and a WHOLE TOWN focused on gymnastics! This movie made me want to rush out and become a gymnast, though I think that may be tempered by the fact that my teeny-bopper mind wanted to fall into the awaiting arms of Mitch Gaylord.Granted, Mystic Pizza made me want to work in a restaurant and North Shore made me want to...uh...go to Hawaii and make fun of people, but as a film rooted in its conception of gymnasts, nothing's better than the would-be star who fails and fails until he finally gets it right.Hoo-yeah.