From: blake7@herahera.cc.bellcore.com (berardinelli,james)
Subject: Review:  ASPEN EXTREME 
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 13:36:20 GMT
Summary: skiing melodrama


ASPEN EXTREME

     Running Length:  1:55
     Rated:  PG-13 (Language, partial nudity)

     Starring:  Paul Gross, Peter Berg, Teri Polo, Finola Hughes
     Director:  Patrick Hasburgh
     Producer:  Leonard Goldberg
     Screenplay:  Patrick Hasburgh
     Music:  Michael Convertino
     Released by Hollywood Pictures

T. J. Burke (Paul Gross) is a failed writer whose life is going nowhere.  
Together with his best friend Dexter (Peter Berg), he heads off to Aspen, 
Colorado to become a ski instructor.  T. J. soon learns, however, that with 
the glamor comes a price.  He meets the ultra-rich Bryce (Finola Hughes), 
who's willing to give him just about anything money can buy - if he throws 
over his true love (Teri Polo) and moves in with her.  Meanwhile, Dexter 
becomes involved with Aspen's seedy underbelly, dealing drugs, drinking, 
and snorting cocaine.

Without a doubt, the most impressive thing about ASPEN EXTREME 
is its cinematography.  Photographed by Stephen Fierberg and Robert 
Primes, this movie is a prime example of how to make good use of a camera, 
moving with the skiers as they fly down slopes and sail over embankments, 
twisting and turning to highlight the action without confusing or obscuring   
it. The numerous "scenery shots" (filmed in British Columbia rather than Aspen, 
where the mountains are more imposing) are picturesque and breathtaking.  
ASPEN EXTREME is almost worth the price of admission just to see 
such photography.

That would be the only reason to see the movie, however.  It does not 
possess an abundance of redeeming qualities.  Writer/director Patrick 
Hasburgh, a ski buff, is unable to put together a convincing story with real 
characters.  He knows his stuff on the slopes, but this is a film that tries 
unsuccessfully to be a lot more.  For this, his first effort, he might have had 
some success trying for a comedy instead of a drama.

Aside from being fragmented (it's difficult to tell how much time has 
passed at any given point during the film - the seasons change, but it's 
unclear how quickly), the plot is flat and unoriginal.  Various formulas, 
some of which don't make sense in the context of the movie - are spliced 
together without concern for whether they make for reasonable entertain-
ment.  The drug-dealer subplot is especially out-of-place.  And, of course,
there's a skiing competition to be won.

Probably the biggest failing of ASPEN EXTREME is its characters.  Movies 
that try to be dramatically effective need three-dimensional characters.  This 
picture has a stock, made-to-order population.  They can't grow, because 
there's nothing for them to grow into.  The only way we know they've changed 
by the end is because there are lines of dialogue that tell us this.

Perhaps experienced actors would have helped, but I doubt it.  Although 
none of the principles are great performers, they're likeable and energetic, 
making up for range with enthusiasm.  While that the lack of talent might 
hurt a better movie, it actually helps to lighten the load of ASPEN EXTREME.

In the end, ASPEN EXTREME is a predictable, pointless melodrama - a kind 
of TOP GUN in the snow.  Ski enthusiasts might be tempted to see the 
film based on subject matter alone, but, unless they're undiscriminating about 
the quality of their movies, I would caution against it.  Even as vicarious 
entertainment, ASPEN EXTREME is feeble.

                       Rating:  5.7 (C-, *1/2)


- James Berardinelli (blake7@cc.bellcore.com)

Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies