Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Excellent adaptation.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Two L.A. surf gangs, The Vals (the rich kids) and the Locs (the poor kids) are rivals but one of the Vals falls for a Loc's sister and all hell breaks loose. This is all in the middle of a big surf competition that the Locs (basically Reef, the leader) are desperately trying to win. There's constant fighting, surfing, partying and two people falling in love who agree there's more out of life than surfing. And there's Gitch, she's just a bad-ass chick that does her own thing. She teaches country bumpkin Andy all about fitting in. The movie is definitely not a household name and I'm sure about 99% of the population hasn't seen it. But for some reason, as a girl who grew up in the Midwest, this movie ignited my obsession with surfing. It's cheesy and totally 80s but it is my favorite movie ever! When this movie finally became available on DVD a few years back, my sister-in-law (also her favorite movie) surprised me with it. I thought I would realize the corniness after all these years but it is still as good as the first time. Basically if you like surfing and cheesy 80s movies, I totally recommend it, dude.

Nice guy ace surfer Nick Rainwood (a solid and likable performance by Richard Joseph Paul) meets and falls for the sweet Allie Yorkin (an appealing portrayal by the fetching Danielle von Zerneck) while participating in a major surfing competition. They attempt to bridge the gulf between the rival surf groups they belong to with their romance. Director Fritz Kiersch, working from a neat script by Robert King, relates the entertaining story at a brisk pace, maintains an engaging tone throughout, and offers a way gnarly evocation of 80's surf culture complete with funky slang, crazy hairdos, hot babes in bikinis, a rough'n'ready parking garage rumble, and lots of breathtaking footage of dudes blowing tubes on their sticks. The able cast sink their teeth into the snazzy array of colorful characters: Keith Coogan contributes a winning turn as naive farm boy Andy, Roxanna Zal provides plenty of zing as the feisty Glitch, Tracey Walter has a nifty part as a spaced-out philosophical bum, Hunter von Leer registers favorably as Nick's easygoing mentor Midos, Greta Blackburn does well as the supportive Mrs. Yorkin, Sonny Bono has a few funny moments as a laid-back veteran surfer reminiscing about the old days with his buds, Elizabeth Kaitan pours on the cute as a bubbly beach bunny, and Dick Miller even pops up as a surf contest official. The kickin' soundtrack supplies an extra kinetic buzz. The Surf Punks appear as themselves at a party. The bright cinematography by Don Burgess gives this picture an attractive sunny look. David Kitay's melodic score does the tuneful trick. A cool little flick.

This is the surfing version of the skateboard movie "Thrashin'" (I am not sure which one was made first). Plot is guy falls for girl and finds out she is the sister of his enemy. Subplot is whether or not he wants to become mainstream sponsored or not. It is entertaining for an 80s movie. Roxanna Zal as "Gitch" is hot, at least from what I remember. This movie is not as good as "North Shore" but it is entertaining none the less. I am still waiting for it to come out on DVD, I just have a copied version on VHS. Other good surf movies to watch are "Big Wednesday" and "In God's Hands". "North Shore" offers the most catch phrases but all four are entertaining surfing movies.

Under The Boardwalk is a great guilty pleasure film. It has eighties lingo, cheesey music,and comic relief. A b-movie cast list including Keith Coogan and Danielle Von Zerieck. The film is basically about surfers who have beef. You have the rich surfers and the poor surfers who don't get along. When Nick Ryan falls for Jenny a enemy's sister there'll be hell to pay. Check it out for b-movie night.