One of my all time favorites.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

First came "Birth of a Nation," "Intolerance" & "The Battleship Potemkin," and stars like Fairbanks Sr., Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo & Chaplin. Next came sound and with it "Gone With the Wind," "Citizen Kane," & "Ben Hur." Garbo wanted to be alone, but Gable, Tracy, Cooper, Bogart, Wayne & Hepburn didn't. Cinema was evolving. An art form was created. Then came "Hot Dog ... The Movie." David Naughton wasn't Paul Muni, John Garfield or Claude Rains, but he was like-ably talented. And incredible babes Tracy Smith, Shannon Tweed and Crystal Smith weren't in the Myrna Loy / Claudette Colbert / Jean Arthur ranks - but then these gorgeous girls d a lot more, and show a lot more than Myrna, Claudette or Jean ever dreamed. It's good vs. evil plot pitting the hero vs. the bad guy is classic - and, in it's own incredible T&A B movie fest, so is "Hot Dog...The Movie."

This movie was loosely based on actual experiences of the screenplay's author from his life as a ski bum hanging around the effervescent atmosphere of Squaw Valley. The "Chinese Downhill" was a real event at Squaw for many years (cancelled after a spectator was tragically killed after a collision with a participant/skier). If you're lucky, you may get to ride the lift with George/"Slasher" who still skis there regularly. Don't try and keep up though.Living in a ski town near Squaw, I actually know a guy whose whole life changed after watching "Hot Dog". He moved to Tahoe and he's an instructor there right now. Can a movie like this change someone's life? It already has.BTW, the 20th anniversary of the movie's party in 2004 at Squaw Valey was a hoot, with most of the original cast making an appearance, and the crowd dressed in vintage gear and reciting lines during the movie's screening. Maybe a 25th?

This movie is a blast if you are looking for a stupid 80s ski movie. Very similar to police academy and other dumb fun movies. So if you love the ski and are familiar with Squaw Valley (you should recognize some features) this is a fun 90 minutes. I saw as a kid and to this day still remember it and think fondly of it. I loved the skiing and this really did a good job of displaying the original Freestyle back when Ballet was still included as well as athletes having to do it all not just one event. If you have ever hung out with a 70s early eighties pro circuit racer you can totally see that in this movie. For once a film did a good job of building personality. A very cookbook style but still fun movie.

This movie shows the true dynamic of good vs. evil battle, the good guys led by Rudolph and the Jets vs. the bad guys led by David Naughton(star of Midnight Madness) and his new hip protege Harkin Banks they call themselves the rat pack. Rudi "aka Rudolph" is a mild mannered German who is the best skier in the world, he and the Jets have come to squa valley to try and win the world cup of Skiing. But Harkin the hot shot from Idaho has to come and try and screw it up, and one thing is for sure the rat pack plays dirty. Harkin is a man-whore who cares about no one, he will sleep with anything that moves and when his tornado bait girl finds out about it she turns to the true hearted Rudi to comfort her, but you can't trust white trash and she turns her back on Rudi. Then when Harkin finds out he sabotages the "jets" skis forcing them all to fall. Which only starts a fire under Rudi and his crew to see who is the true champ in the world series of skiing. Now I don't want to ruin anything but the Jets are definitely playing for Keeps.