Born to Ride (1991)

The US Army recruits a delinquent biker to train their new motorcycle squad for an important mission.

Director:

Graham Baker

Writers:

Michael Pardridge, Janice Hickey

Stars:

John Stamos, John Stockwell, Teri Polo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Stamos	...	Cpl. Grady Westfall
John Stockwell	...	Capt. Jack Hassler
Teri Polo	...	Beryl Ann Devers
Sandy McPeak	...	Col. James E. Devers (CO, 36th Div.)
Kris Kamm	...	Bobby Novak
Keith Cooke	...	Broadwater
Dean Yacalis	...	Cartucci
Salvator Xuereb	...	Levon
Justin Lazard	...	Brooks
Thom Mathews	...	Willis
Garrick Hagon	...	Jim Bridges, State Department Official
Matko Raguz	...	Esteban
Lisa Orgolini	...	Claire Tate
Ed Bishop	...	Dr. Tate
Slavko Juraga	...	Capt. Rosario

Storyline

The US Army has decided to modernize its cavalry, so Colonel James E. Devers (commanding the 36th Division) is ordered by a general to convert a horse unit to motorcycles, but his men are easily outclassed as riders by a pack of rowdies, especially Grady Westfall; when he is arrested risking a long jail term, he's given one way out: enlisting as Corporal, assigned as driving instructor. Unit commander Captain Jack Hassler reviles his unorthodox boyish methods as undermining discipline and tradition, not to mention flirting with the Colonels daughter Beryl Ann, but he's needed, especially when he unit is ordered to prepare in two weeks for a secret mission to free nuclear scientist Dr. Tate and his daughter Claire from captivity in a castle in general Franco's fascist Spain that can't be reached by parachutists, under cover of a motorcycling festival in nearby Bilbao. Grady didn't want to participate, but when he realizes they're just not up to it, he comes along, and finds the mission...

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Plot Keywords:

colonel | u.s. army | motorcycle | biker | bilbao | 

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Taglines:

He was born to break the rules.

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Genres:

Action

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Recruit

Filming Locations:

Yugoslavia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jadran Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

First Cinema film of Teri Polo.

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Soundtracks

TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS
Written by Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer

User Reviews

enjoyable enough

I guess I'm the only American who never watched "Full House", and thus I have no impression of John Stamos from that show. Here, he's a little bit overly aloof/cocky, but really, is this supposed to be a hard-hitting war documentary? No, it's supposed to be a little bit historical with some war/action scenes but mostly just light fun. It manages to do all of that pretty well. As other reviewers here have pointed out, it never drags. It isn't always realistic, but the implausibilities aren't severe enough to ruin the fun, and there is a decent sense of real danger during the war part.

One thing I liked was the overall feeling of the 1940s; they did a good job with that for a casual comedic movie, IMO. Also there are some genuinely witty bits of dialog here and there.

I give it 5/10; it's nothing special but it's a pleasant way to kill 90 minutes.