GRANDVIEW, U.S.A. Directed by Randal Kleiser; written by W. Rea. Warner Bros. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, C. Thomas Howell and Patrick Swayze. Rated R (a little nudity and foul language)
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If the movies are to be believed, America has a real love/hate relationship with the small town. The advantages of close community and a friendly atmosphere oppose the stifled feeling of limited opportunities and vistas unseen. Grandview works this familiar ground again. The result is as predictable as one might expect. But it is moderately entertaining, at least in spots.
Tim (Howell) is graduating from high school and, understandably, is the character aching to get away from Grandview. Mike (Curtis) has been away (to California, no less) but has come back. Slam (Swayze) is Mike's age, but never left home. These three characters' stories are gradually—maybe a little too gradually—woven together. And since seeing the connections develop is part of the fun of Grandview, that's all I'll say about the plot.
Howell is an attractive boy next door, and handles his comic scenes well. But he has a little trouble conveying Tim's serious yearnings. Curtis also looks fine as Tim's dream woman. But she's almost too cool and collected. Her eventual mellowing is not too convincing.
Swayze has the meatiest role and does a good job with it. Slam is a demolition derby star with a short fuse and a heart of gold. His penchant for wrecking things, though, leads Grandview to glorify, not violence so much, as mayhem. I find this a little disturbing. The derby is harmless, I suppose, but Slam's destructive urges find other outlets as well.
But Grandview 's R is not for violence. In fact, it's hardly deserved. There's just a little unnecessary nudity and a few bad words. Grandview has a few laughs to offer, and a good performance by Swayze. But except for a couple of Tim's rock video daydreams, there's nothing original about it. Not much to set it apart from scores of other small town or coming-of-age movies. It's pleasant enough, but too full of cliches to be more than mildly interesting.
August 15, 1984