DUDES

US, 1987, 86 minutes, Colour.
Jon Cryer.
Directed by Penelope Spheeris.

Dudes is an offbeat comedy drama directed by Penelope Spheeris, director of small-budget action films. It is also a vehicle for Jon Cryer (No Small Affair, Pretty in Pink, Hiding Out, Superman IV).

The film is designed for youth, opens with the punk atmosphere in New York, moves to the open spaces, draws in the legends of old westerns and sees the youngsters of today acting out the myths of the old West. The film is offbeat, has some humorous touches as well as a belief in the American way for all.

1. An enjoyable film? The pop atmosphere? The heritage of the movies? American myths? Vehicle for Jon Cryer?

2. The title, the young men in the city, going out west? Application to the group and their experiences in Arizona?

3. New York, the punk musicians, the clubs, the streets? The American highway? Arizona and the West, the town? The American desert and western landscapes? Songs? Musical score?

4. The opening and the punk group, the young men involved in the group, their way of life, their songs, performance, bar-fights? Drinking, the tightrope walk and the potential fall? Money and the decision to go West?

5. On the road, the three, their driving, hopes? Arizona, camping, the encounter with the bikies, the comic fight, the deadly serious fight, the death of the friend? Changing the mood of the film?

6. Jon Cryer and his comic presence and style? As a type, punk, going west, his reaction to his friend's death, his relationship with Biscuit? Their being lost, the police finding them, the decision to chase the bikies? The inspiration of the visionary cowboy?

7. The girl at the garage, her warning about the diner and the fighting, their being thrown out, her home, her story, enjoying the West, wanting to help, giving them the car, going to the rescue? Romantic lead?

8. The western vision, the dreams, their being transported into the past and its western conflicts? Jon Cryer as hero, Biscuit as the Indian, his vision and being caught up in the Indian camp life?

9. The gang, bikies, their violence, dissension in the group, tracking them, with the girls in the bar, their not recognising the young men, the falling out, the violence, the chase and the shoot-out?

10. The chase in the cars - and the echoes of the horses and the West? (Hero and heroine on horses - the hero learning to ride?) The confrontation and fight? The western hero and the Indians congratulating and disappearing?

11. The western achievement? The American dream? American myths in the present day?