GRANDVIEW U.S.A.

US, 1984, 97 minutes, Colour.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Troy Donohue, John Cusack, Joan Cusack.
Directed by Randall Kleiser.

Grandview U.S.A. is a popular look at teenagers in the '80s and an American town. Its strength is in its performances with Jamie Lee Curtis after such films as Halloween and the horror genre as well as Trading Places and other comedies and romances. C. Thomas Howell had made an impact in The Outsiders and continued to make interesting films, like The Hitcher and Soul Man. Patrick Swayze, also from The Outsiders, is typecast as the demolition derby driver. There is a strong supporting cast led by Ramon Bieri as Howell's father.

The film is directed by Randal Kleiser who made an impact with Grease and also made such films as The Blue Lagoon, Summer Lovers and the popular family film, The Flight of the Navigator.

The film does not try to say anything profound - but is an enjoyable look at Americans in the '80s.

1. A view of youth, small city, the youth genre, the rites of passage and the boy leaving the town? '80s style? The title and the implications for American lifestyle?

2. Popular treatment, the town, affluence, school, school dances, demolition derby and the poorer side of town, council meetings, homes?

3. The background music, the collection of songs, Tim and his fantasies as a pop singer and the video clip style?

4. The story of Michelle/Mike: Jamie Lee Curtis and her tough tenderness? story: her father and his building of the arena, heart attack and death? her own marriage and divorce and coming back? Keeping the derby going? Friendship with Slam? Relationship with him? Cowboy and his mother and her care for them, Cowboy and his slowness of wit? His reaction to her selling the cars? His burning of the grandstand and the property? The council inspector and the pressures? Her meeting Tim, helping him? The various counters? Her talking directly to Slam, the truth about his wife? The council meeting and her speech, Tim and his revelation about his father, her appreciation, the sexual encounter? Slam's anger? The fire and her discovering the truth? Forgiving Cowboy? Selling at a just price? A new beginning with Slam? Giving the money to Tim?

5. Tim and his youthfulness, living in his fantasies, the details of family life: his father and his authority, the use of the car, his sister and her criticisms - and not loving him, the presence of his mother? The meal sequence? Going to the dance, going out in the car, petting and the sinking of the car? His girlfriend's father's reaction? Fascinated by the demolition derby? Following Michelle? His fantasies about her - as a rock singer? Her dancing? The pursuit in his school daydream? His hope to work with dolphins and his father's reaction? Pressures from parents? The council meeting, his revealing the truth? Going away, the sexual encounters with Mike and their effect on him? Her allowing him to go in the derby? Driving, Slam's attack? Blaming his father for the fire? The truth and reconciliation? Getting the cash from Mike and Slam? Going to fulfil his dreams?

6. Slam and his story, the derby, a good driver, his life, suspicions of Candy, fighting with her, reconciliation, the discovery of the truth and her boyfriend? Disillusioned? Angry with Mike about Tim? Crashing into Tim? The reconciliation at the end? His separation from his wife, the encounter with her lover and his slick style? The demolition of the house and his going to jail?

7. Cowboy and his slow-wittedness, friendship with Mike, feeling he owned the cars? His burning the grandstand because his cars were sold? His mother and her looking after him, her anger with their home being destroyed? Mike forgiving him?

8. Tim's parents and their style, the meal sequence, the car and his father's reaction, the council meeting and the photo, the valedictory speech, the clash after the meeting, the reconciliation? The sassy young girl?

9. The portrait of the town, youth, activities, school, the demolition derby sequences and action?

10. Small town life, American values, American morality and amorality? The optimism of the American dream?