IMDb > Rad (1986)

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   1,872 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Sam Bernard (written by) &
Geoffrey Edwards (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Rad on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Tagline:
It's going to take a lot more than skill for Cru Jones to conquer the toughest BMX challenge in the world. It's going to take a miracle. more
Plot:
The story of one young man, Cru Jones, who has the intensity and desire to win a BMX race called Helltrack. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
B-grade BMX flick set in a stereotypical 1980s high school, has attained an odd cult status. more (55 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Bill Allen ... Cru

Lori Loughlin ... Christian

Talia Shire ... Mrs. Jones
Ray Walston ... Burton Timmer
Alfie Wise ... Eliott Dole
Jack Weston ... Duke Best
Bart Conner ... Bart Taylor
Marta Kober ... Becky
Jamie Clarke ... Luke
Laura Jacoby ... Wesley Jones
H.B. Haggerty ... Sgt. Smith
Chad Hayes ... Rex Reynolds
Carey Hayes ... Rod Reynolds
Kellie McQuiggin ... Foxy
Beverley Hendry ... Tiger (as Beverly Hendry)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
91 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Goofs:
Boom mic visible: After Cru qualifies it cuts to the restaraunt and the camera pans towards the front counter, the boom mic is clearly visible to the top right of the screen. more
Quotes:
Luke: There's your fantasy, studly.
Cru: Me and Katie are like... special.
more
Soundtrack:
Baby Come Back more

FAQ

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9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
B-grade BMX flick set in a stereotypical 1980s high school, has attained an odd cult status., 8 December 2005
9/10
Author: MBCD from United States

It's your basic "High-school dork beats bully & gets girl using his worthless social-outcast skill that everyone in this little universe is oddly obsessed with" (happens all the time in the 80's). Nothing particularly original or interesting about it, but for some reason it withstands repeated viewings and still seems like fun. It's one of those movies that unintentionally became a cult flick just by being so straightforward.

The plot, the acting, the characters, the one-liners . . . everything about the production is reasonably serviceable for the era, but certainly not GOOD either. The whole thing feels sorta like a cheesy 80's sitcom doing its big 2-hour episode for sweeps week, and the network gave it some money for a real location shoot & some extra cuss words.

The bicycle stuntwork in "Rad" is stellar. Yes, of course it's outdated now, and modern X-games riders like Dave Mirra can demonstrate a lot more technical skill on multi-directional spins & stuff, but ultimately that's beside the point. In real life the average 13-year-old spends weeks teaching himself to do a decent bunny hop. And for that 13-year-old, it's plenty of fun watching a character in "Rad" just trying to learn an (outdated) backflip move in the schoolyard using a hockey helmet & some old bed mattresses. (Think: "Jackass" but not so intentional. And it's too bad this movie was made before the era of "goof reels" during the end credits, because they probably got some real whoppers on film during this production.)

I can quote every line of this movie, but I still can't put my finger on what aspect of it makes it hold up so well. It's got that same sort of odd quality that a "Duck Tales" or a "Saved by the Bell" episode has: You can't explain why on earth you're still watching & enjoying it as an intelligent adult . . . but you are. (And so is everyone else you've shown it to.) Either way you'd better get your insider-status and enjoy this movie now. Next thing we know they might put it on T-shirts at Sam Goody & take all the fun out of it.

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Rad DVD ..... Finally?! smrwd619
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Rad on DVD, its true. dfdibisceglie
Finally, tracked down a decent copy of this movie Jayreason
Rad Soundtrack rbuccc525
Just watched it online... hgarmorer
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