Rivals was apparently released theatrically in 1981 - two years after its production - but it plays strictly like a made-for TV movie. The biggest clue: built-in 'commercial breaks' at regular intervals. The smaller clues: no violence, no sex, no bad language, no drugs, and only a hint of alcohol. Perhaps this played in the Bible Belt; it's hard to imagine it earning a dime above the Mason-Dixon line. As for the story, it's standard 'new kids at school are unpopular with the big men on campus' stuff. It's a pleasant enough time-killer for those who still have a functional VCR and need some late '70s/early '80s nostalgia.
