Product: Point Break [VHS] (1991)
Rating: 4.0
Like, this is totally rad dude; if you can't get past the BAD acting...
Before I get into this, I'll start by saying that `Point Break' is ridiculously entertaining. It is very much in the same vein as `The Fast and the Furious' or even Ben Affleck's latest directorial effort, `The Town'; both films apparently drawing major influences from Kathryn Bigelow's cult classic. With that said; `Point Break' has some serious flaws (namely, the horrendous acting) that take it down a notch. It is still well worth watching, and I'd totally watch it again, but I can't say that this is great.I mean, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey AND John C. McGinley in the SAME MOVIE. Talk about the trifecta of horrendously bad acting. They even share scenes together. When the three of them unite it's like the world stops spinning and all the heads of those listening to them force emotion explode in unison.Like, totally dude!It's sad when the most reputable actor in your cast is Patrick Swayze, a mediocre talent at best. In fact, this film's `acting' is saved by the little known Lori Petty, who just sizzles as the spunky Tyler.Back to the film itself.`Point Break' centers on Johnny Utah, a young cop recently assigned to the Bank Robbery division of his LAPD. Soon he gets sucked in, by his partner Pappas, to go undercover as a surfer to catch a gang of notorious bank robbers called The Ex-Presidents. They've robbed a ton of banks in three years' time and have never been caught. They're too smart for that. Pappas is convinced they have to be surfers thanks to one of the culprit's tan-lines and some wax he found scuffed on a bank counter. Johnny now has to acquaint himself with the surfer crowd, which comes easier than he expected thanks to a hot young thing and her ex-beau. Johnny soon finds himself getting caught up in the mentality of the surfer crowd, that of a spiritual connection to the sea, but as he closes in on The Ex-Presidents he becomes torn between his old life and the new one he just started.Keanu Reeves is one of those actors who tries way to hard. I love how Petty's character Tyler calls Johnny (Reeves) out for looking so serious all the time. That is Keanu in a nutshell. He looks so serious, but he sounds so goofy. He can't deliver his lines with any real conviction. It doesn't help that he's saddled with some terrible dialog ("You have to go down!"). Busey has been reduced to a joke in recent years, but apparently he was a decent actor in the 80's, or at least he was that one time when he received an Academy award nomination for playing Buddy Holly. Outside of that, he rarely receives much praise. In fact, the best thing he does in this film is punch John C. McGinley in the face (something I've wanted to do for years) so, yay for him. McGinley is a horrific actor who has one gimmick he overuses to no end. It was funny the first three times I watched `Scrubs'. It's not funny anymore and yet he can't stop doing in. I didn't realize he did it with every character he plays. Those long running monologues with minor vocal fluctuations without taking a single breath just aren't effective; at all.UGH, but poor acting choices can't take away from the adrenaline rush that comes from this slickly directed film; and the brilliant cinematography (equal parts sun, sand, water and hair) make for a captivating ride. Like I said, I will TOTALLY watch this again but to say that this is a great movie would be a stretch.