The Dirt Bike Kid (1985) User Reviews

Is this movie about a kid going through a nervous breakdown?

[adamukun · 6/10 · 3 May 2013]

If you are around my age (31 in 2013) you might remember seeing this VHS tape sitting in the video store, you know, the one with Ralphie from A Christmas Story riding a dirtbike. I never rented it because I thought it would be a cheesy piece of crap, but now that I have watched it for free on YouTube, I can now say that my original instincts were only half-correct. It was cheesy, but I still kind of enjoyed it. I was looking for something uncomplicated that I could watch to help unwind after a long day at work. It did the job perfectly.

This is not a good movie in terms of acting, effects, screen writing, or especially plot (save the struggling hot dog place from getting foreclosed on!) but there is still a lot to like. It is very 80s, made most evident by the the synth-heavy soundtrack. Also the whole "extreme" attitude is in full effect toward BMX bikes and dirtbikes and other radical tubular things.

The movie has a lot of memorable moments. My favorite: the local bank sponsors a little league team and then extorts the umpire into calling games in the team's favor because the bank has his mortgage! Right from the start, I had a hard time separating the kid's character in this movie from his role as a wide-eyed youngster in A Christmas Story. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that he plays both parts exactly the same — with manic boyish enthusiasm. In many ways they could be the same kid just in two different time periods.

The plot is your typical stuff, but there was one interesting departure — the kid did not have a love interest. They saved all expressions of heterosexuality for the kid's best friend. In fact Ralphie might have been dirtbike-sexual for all we know. I guess the filmmakers were aiming the movie at young boys who haven't discovered girls yet.

The kid's crazed look at the beginning of the film made me think of alternate interpretation: Ralphie is a poor child of a single parent. A kindly old man offers to sell him a dirtbike yet there is no way he could afford one in a million years. Rather than accept the reality of his destitute situation, Ralphie constructs a fantasy world where he is a hero kid with a magic bike, a starting position on the little league team, a smart-aleck womanizing best friend, and virtuoso computer hacking skills.

So all in all it was worth it to watch this so many years after glancing at it in the video store. It probably would be better to watch this in a group so you can make fun of it together.

Fun without engaging the brain

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 18 November 2018]

THE DIRT BIKE KID is a familiar children's adventure flick of the 1980s, focused around a Milky Bar Kid lookalike who finds himself in possession of a magical dirt bike (yep, I'm not kidding), with a mild kind of R2D2 personality and a lot of tricks up its sleeve. It's a bit like a kid's version of KNIGHT RIDER, a wish fulfilment fantasy in which this ordinary kid finds himself in possession of the power to stop a greedy property developer in his tracks. A local arcade is at threat, so the film turns into a kind of running battle between the kid and his various allies and the corporate bad guys. It's sunny, simplistic stuff, fun without engaging the brain.

Beware of biker gangs on your front yard!!!

[FilmStalker · 6/10 · 3 February 2004]

That is what a viewer of this movie could have to Stuart Pankin. This story of boy meets strange and possessed dirt bike has the makings of an AFI top one hundred film. This movie has taught me that dirt bikes with minds of their own are a natural thing. If some of these dirt bikes decide to terrorize greedy bankers along the way, throw them in jail! Don't forget, if your kid watches to much television, just cut the cord.

This movie is KWALITY (not to be confused with quality)with a capital K.

A 4th-grader and his magical dirt bike takes on Bullies, Bikers and Bankers AND saves Mike's Dog House too!

[Idiot-Deluxe · 13 March 2019]

Well well it's Peter Billingsley as Jack Simmons who is in turn: The Dirt Bike Kid! But in other words he happens to be a nerdy bespectacled 4th grader whose utterly obsessed with dirt bikes - and the cool-guy image that comes along with it, but not if his mom has anything to say about it. And so our tale begins one fateful day at the local Motocross track, when Jacky-Boy encounters someones grandpa, who with some carefully chosen words convinces Jack to buy a certain special, yet unassuming-looking, dirt bike on the cheap from it's current and utterly unworthy owner - some muddied-up punk with a mullet and a bad attitude named Max. Jack and Max will cross paths several times throughout the movie, just watch. Anyways, it's with this once-in-a-life-time purchase that, in the world of Jack Simmons - who is now in fact: The Dirt Bike Kid, that things really begin to heat up. And well... just expect a lot of mischief and shenanigans from a 4th grader, with a bowl-cut, riding around on a magical dirt bike, that can move by itself, make puttering fart noises, comically roll it's headlights, catapult unsuspecting riders from it's seat, link up with and/or "network" with primitive home computers, produce more torque than a bulldozer... oh, and it can also fly.

VROOM! VROOM! We're off!!! And whilst on the back of his special one-of-a-kind dirt bike Jack's adventures take him "all over town", yep, night or day Jack is a very busy boy indeed (vandalism, computer theft, public endangerment, multiple cases of criminal trespass, blackmail, etc.) and through-out the movie it's essentially a cat-and-mouse game between hot-shot Jack Simmons (aka the Dirt Bike Kid) and various evil factions; all of which have a vested interest in putting the meddlesome dirt bike kid out of action once-and-for-all! But Jack's not having any of that and well not to spoil it completely, let's just say that given the fact that he IS the movies hero, he prevails over evil... and saves Mike's Dog House as well. Now how can you top that, right? Also watch-out for those epic food fights inside Mike's place, where the film is perhaps at it's most nostalgic. The movies soundtrack tends to trade-off between the cringiest "radio-friendly" pop-rock - of the lowest possible strata (even for mid-80's standards) and goofy keyboard-based music, that would sound right at home in a cartoon episode of Heathcliff; which was very popular at the time and a great cartoon.

Coming from the mid-eighties it's no surprise that The Dirt Bike Kid comes absolutely loaded with nostalgia, as the film exudes that certain unmistakable vibe that so many movies of that era are alive with. And having been released right in the middle of the eighties it should be no surprise when I say that everything about this movie is very, very eighties - which is a good thing if your aim is to make a cheesy comedy about a kid and his magical dirt bike which has super powers. It's like this: The Dirt Bike Kid is very corny, very funny (in a completely infantile sort of way), and well, very 1985 - the same year that also brought us: The Goonies, Back To The Future, Weird Science, Real Genius, Teenwolf, The Heavenly Kid, Better Off Dead, Just One of The Guys, My Science Project and many other distinctively corny comedy classics.

Biker gangs galore!

[yeshuathetruth · 1/10 · 29 May 2021]

This belongs in the - "so bad it's good" category. The flying dirt bike scenes are too funny to express, there is a - middle aged biker gang with a leader named "Big Slime" who just want to "jump on jacks face" and "light him on fire" lol.

Totally recommend, plenty of goofs and editing issues. A classic for sure.

Lame

[linderspearman · 1/10 · 26 September 2021]

This is the lamest movie that we've watched. My 8yr old son even thought it was awful. This is an hour and a half of our lives we will never get back!!

Fun

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 8 April 2022]

If you were a kid that grew up in Ellwood City, you were looking to rent one of three movies that were the hottest of childhood commodities: Rad, Thrashin' and The Dirt Bike Kid.

Who doesn't want to watch Peter Billingsley go one on one with Stuart Pankin over a magical dirt bike? Having this movie for the night was a near mythic power trip and I still wonder, why didn't the video store get another copy? Did they not care about the children?

Billingsley - wearing the exact same pair of glasses that he wore as Ralphie in A Christmas Story - is Jack Simmons, Pankin is the town's banker Mr. Hodgkins and Jack's mom Janet is played by Anne Bloom, making this a Not Necessarily the News reunion for her, Pankin, Danny Breen (who plays Flaherty) and director Hoite C. Caston, who also made thirty-two episodes of that HBO comedy series. But isn't the real star the 1985 Yamaha YZ80 that Jack buys for $50 that is filled with occult energy?

The idea for this came from Julie Corman and she has the same carny instincts as her husband, knowing that young kids would need something to rent along with their parents and older brothers and sisters. She made this for $800,000 and it moved 100,000 tapes, back in the day when rental copies cost ninety bucks. Never doubt a Corman when it comes to making money.

The user rating here is a joke...

[natashabowiepinky · 7/10 · 14 November 2013]

You know what... I think to a lot of kids growing up in the 80's in America, this was their favourite film. It's got everything a classic wish fulfillment fantasy for children needs: Nice, charismatic good guys... Nasty, hissable bad guys... A taxing central situation that every youngster would be able to relate to (The demolishing of a local fast food restaurant to be replaced by a boring bank)... and of course a wonderful bike. This machine is actually ALIVE. It can jump higher than a kangaroo on a pogo stick, can fly through the sky as if it was operated by a certain ET (there's a reference to this in the soundtrack), and understands it's owners commands. Not to mention moving it's headlights like eyes, and using it's mudflaps to deposit any nearby bad dudes into stinking lakes. Hardehar.

But I'm making this sound like this is strictly a venture for the under 12's. It isn't at all. There's more fun to be had here than a hundred other so-called adult comedies I've seen of late, made by a director, cast and crew who are obviously having a whale of a time. As did I. True, there are some questionable elements. What's with the hero's best friend... a boy who can't be older than 11, being obsessed with bouncing bosoms and Playboy magazine? INAPPROPRIATE. And as for the most obvious stunt double EVER when the kid is doing his loop-de-loops, wheelies and other dangerous stuff... You'd have thought they'd at least get someone who's his height.

But who cares? This goes down as one of my most pleasant surprises of the year, and who knows... if I'd seen it as an impressionable child, perhaps I would have scored it even higher... 7/10

A good movie for kids with a questionable message

[benghill · 7/10 · 7 June 2018]

Jack (Pete Billingsley) buys a magic dirt bike that becomes his new best friend. He uses the bike to save a hot dog stand from a greedy banker. He stands up to bullies and criminals who try to take his bike. Then he lets another kid take his bike.

Now let's look at this from an adult perspective. Jack's mother needs him buy groceries when they can barely afford to eat. He blows off the money on a dirt bike that some guy says is magic. His mother makes him sell the bike, but it keeps coming back to him, which he decides to keep, even though it doesn't belong to him anymore. When a local banker can no longer fund a hot dog stand because he needs to make a profit, Jack will do what ever he can to save it. This kid has no regard for the rules and no respect for authority. He breaks into meetings where he is not welcome and illegally saves the hot dog stand. He is now the hero because the banker is clearly the villain for trying to make money. Jack suffers no consequences for his actions.

It was a good movie. How can anyone not love Pete Billingsley. Jack is a good kid. He cares about other people and is not afraid to stand up for what is right. I admire him for being an activist. What I don't like is how one-sided this movie is. Was the banker the clear villain? Sure, he probably had a lot of money and was going to tear down a place that meant a lot to many people, so he could make more money. But people in business do that all the time. Does that mean they're all evil? Jack wanted to stand up for those who didn't have much of a voice, but took know consideration to the other side. Could he have still fought for what was right without breaking all of the rules? I think that would have sent a stronger message.

One for the kids

[WallMec · 8/10 · 13 May 1999]

I've got to admit, when I saw this movie for the first time I was in primary school, probably in year 4 or 5 and I thought it was the absolute best. I bugged my dad to rent it from the video store week after week after week.

Well, that was 18 years ago and looking back, I cannot believe the stuff they tried to pull off in this movie. I mean a flying bike? Well, having said that I loved it when I was young and so would any child.

One for the kids.

A story about socialist boy:-)

[Pawelk198604 · 7/10 · 21 February 2010]

When you insist that this film can be regarded as Marxist propaganda, is not it smell internationale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcXNXKtu8z4 :-) 12 year old boy struggling with the cruel and ruthless capitalist, but lacked the slogan "kids of all countries unite" But seriously I really liked this movie when I was a kid and still is my favorite. But now, as almost 24 year old guy beginning to see in this film, second bottom, a red bottom :-) This boy is an exemplary socialist fighting with a bad capitalist, really worth seeing this movie. You can even tempted to declare that this film should be the preferred material for teaching the youth section of the Comunist Party. as an example of revolutionary terror against rotten capitalists:-)

"Mom,you just killed the T.V.!"

[beachpants · 29 September 2000]

Casablanca,Citizen Kane,The GodFather and The DirtBike Kid.Its the classic tale of boy meets bike.Boy loses bike.Boy gets bike back but loses Mike's hotdog hangout.The extremely complex plot of this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat,but be prepared for a tear-jerking goodbye between the Kid and the Dirtbike.Watch and have a good ,long cry.

"This Bike is Special!"

[gwnightscream · 6/10 · 19 July 2015]

This 1985 comedy-fantasy stars Peter Billingsley, Stuart Pankin, Anne Bloom and Patrick Collins. Billingsley (A Christmas Story) plays young kid, Jack who lives with his mother, Janet (Bloom). After she sends him out to buy groceries, he buys an old dirt bike instead. Soon, Jack discovers it has special abilities like coasting through the air. Pankin (Second Sight) plays Hodgkins, an obnoxious banker who decides to develop a bank where a local hot dog restaurant, Mike's Doghouse is located. Collins plays the owner, Mike who is also Jack's little league coach. With his magic bike's help, Jack tries stopping Hodgkins from demolishing Mike's establishment. This is one of those films from my childhood I've always enjoyed and can't forget. It has silly and a bit of heartfelt moments and Billingsley & Pankin are great in it. I recommend this 80's classic.

Sorta like... Herbie meets Motocross

[intrepidjournalist · 10/10 · 27 January 2006]

This, the Karate Kid Part II, and Flight of the Navigator were the first three movies I ever had on VHS, and boy did I wear them out. This is in many ways the classic 80s kid's movie story. Evil developer/lawyer types want to pave over the hot dog restaurant, or the Goonies' house, or Ernest's summer camp, or Demi Moore's grandparents, and our heroes spring into action!

That hilarious kid who played Ralphie in A Christmas Story plays a nerd in a town where every kid inexplicably has a motorbike (even 12 y/o girls ride pink Vespas). He buys a junky old dirt bike that he fixes up in a montage scene, and the bike comes to life and can do awesome stuff on its own. Using his super-bike, Ralphie must stop a evil, greedy banker from paving over Mike's Dog House, the local hot dog joint.

It's a fun movie for kids, and the good guys win at the end.

One of the best kid movies of the 80's

[becke007 · 10/10 · 11 May 2007]

Don't listen to the above. This is one of the best pre-teen, teen-age movies of the mid-80's.

While watching this movie today as an adult you see the flaws, but as a kid this movie has it all. The kid who serves as the hero, the evil bank villain, the baseball team, the hot mom, everything. If you want to escape life for 2hrs, this is one of your best bets to do so. Great time for kids and adults alike. Peter Billingsley and his motorcycle are one of the best duos of our time.

Watch this movie and...

SAVE MIKE'S DOGHOUSE!!!

hands down the best film ever

[TheDwarf · 10/10 · 22 April 1999]

when my friend told me there was a film about a kid and his crazy flying bike, i said "you're a bold faced liar." but then he got it and i ate my words. not only was the film about a boy and his wacky bike, it was about the love a boy has for being a naive idiot. i swear to you that i've never seen worse acting for a youngin' but that made the movie that much better. with constant continuity errors and a ridiculous plot, this film has it all. i've never enjoyed a film quite as much as the dirt bike kid.

A Favorite Childhood Movie of Mine

[matthewtessnear · 10/10 · 3 January 2019]

My mom used to rent the VHS of The Dirt Bike Kid from the library for me when I was a young boy. I was just 1 when the movie was originally released, but by the time it became a home video hit, I was old enough to enjoy it. The story and the characters always appealed to me. It's mostly suitable for children, although I agree with director Hoite C. Caston's 2014 DVD commentary assessment that he could have omitted a middle finger use on one occasion and a little bit of the character Bo's fascination with girls to make it even more family friendly. This movie actually redeems Peter Billingsley with my wife, who isn't a big fan of the Ralphie character or A Christmas Story, for which Billingsley is better known.

The Dirt Bike Kid

[Coxer99 · 10 August 1999]

Ordinary children's adventure about a teen with a magic motorcycle that "brakes" a banker's plans. Mostly unknown cast does what they can, but the film merely remains unforgettable. Pankin, Bloom and Breen are best remembered for the HBO series "Not Necessarily the News."

Ralphy from Christmas story

[wayneclark1977 · 10/10 · 28 March 2020]

All you people seem to be ignorant this is Ralphy from Christmas story so of course this movie is awesome

BRILLIANT!!!

[jptiger4 · 13 July 2000]

I recently saw the movie on the "DISNEY CHANNEL" and I thought it was magnificant. After seeing this movie I think there should be a flying bike in all of the movies. I give it 40 * out of 40 * One of my most favorite movies of all time. Anyone who likes this one should see cop and a half and problem child 1 and 2

The greatest movie ever!!!!!

[mike-250 · 21 April 1999]

Man, I can't get enough of this movie. It's GENIUS!!! A flying bike? Who came up with this brilliant idea? I've seen this movie ten times and I think its gets better with every viewing. Check it out today.

funny? yes. good? also.

[BaronVon · 21 September 2002]

some movies are very good. others are very good, but only better. i'd have to say, based on seeing the movie, that the dirt bike kid is the ladder. peter billingsley showed his talent on the christmas story and then again on this movie he showed it again. this doesn't have any of those 'so called' fancy camera angles that other 'good movies' have. it has a real down to earth plot with down to earth actors.