I pulled this film up because it starred Dennis Quaid, but I stayed for a very different reason. Dennis Christopher really holds down this sports film about a young man taking a year off between high school and the rest of his life. He is enthralled by the Italian cycling team, so much do that he is training himself frantically, learning to speak Italian and listening to Italian opera. In between training and racing, he hangs out with his three high school friends who are also still in Bloomington, Indiana which happens to be the site of Indiana University. The town has a rivalry between the university students and the local townies who are referred to as "cutters", thanks to the stone cutting at the long since shutdown quarry where many of their fathers worked.
The film culminates in a four man bicycle race of 200 laps around the university's track field and one local team has finally been invited to compete.
Dennis Christopher as David Stohler really steals the film along with Paul Dooley who plays his father (I loved seeing Paul Dooley as I am a huge sixteen candles fan were he played another misunderstanding dad who eventually gets it right.).
The blind admiration and the disheartened eye opening of David was so well captured and endearing that you find yourself right along with his dad cheering him on in the end.
Surprisingly enjoyable, I would recommend this film as a summer watch for families, especially those with young misunderstood boys.
The film culminates in a four man bicycle race of 200 laps around the university's track field and one local team has finally been invited to compete.
Dennis Christopher as David Stohler really steals the film along with Paul Dooley who plays his father (I loved seeing Paul Dooley as I am a huge sixteen candles fan were he played another misunderstanding dad who eventually gets it right.).
The blind admiration and the disheartened eye opening of David was so well captured and endearing that you find yourself right along with his dad cheering him on in the end.
Surprisingly enjoyable, I would recommend this film as a summer watch for families, especially those with young misunderstood boys.