BMX Bandits (1984)

That was an excellent one.

Sorry, this movie sucks

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This is the movie Mad Max: Fury Road could've been. Well, I mean, you know, it's pretty good, anyway. Better than its IMDb average score would suggest, I'd say. Who cares if it's not actually gritty and convincing? It's a kids movie! It's a fun ol' adventure! Plus, the sixteen year-old Nicole Kidman (in her Big Screen Debut, no less) is terrific. Why not watch it? Huh? Why not? Yeah, see? You can't answer me, can you? I thought as much.

Goose (James Lugton) and P.J. (Angelo D'Angelo) are two bike riding buddies who wreck their prized vehicles, after which they encounter young supermarket employee Judy (Nicole Kidman). To repair the bikes, they need quick money, so they go on a fishing expedition. They find a cache of walkie talkies anchored underwater & tied to a boat that they think is abandoned. But these communication devices are actually critical to a gang planning a major robbery and were merely kept there for safekeeping. Soon two of the baddies, a bumbling duo named Whitey (David Argue) and Moustache (John Ley) are hot on the kids' trail."BMX Bandits", as directed by the ever reliable Brian Trenchard-Smith, never pretends to be anything other than what it is: carefree escapism for the younger crowd. As such, it's completely engaging. One can just turn off their brains and enjoy it. The bicycle stunts and camera-work are absolutely first rate and there's a non-stop amount of action. Much of the running time is devoted to chases, and as these chases play out there's a fair bit of destruction that goes on. Argue ("Razorback") and Ley ("Turkey Shoot") are as good a dim bulb comedy duo as you'll ever see and suffer their fair share of indignities. The kids are extremely likable. Kidman, in what was only her second feature film appearance, is cute, spunky, and adorable; she does nothing to be ashamed of here. The movie may not be anything of substance, but that's the whole point. It's lively, harmless stuff that kills an hour and a half quite amiably. The reasonably funny script by Patrick Edgeworth (based on a screenplay by Russell Hagg) has a decent payoff when the kids go on about horror films they've seen and the head villain (Bryan Marshall) expresses disdain for the kind of thing that youngsters watch for entertainment!The pop score is irresistible, and Trenchard-Smith did a fine job of putting a smile on this viewers' face and keeping it there, right through the end credits.Eight out of 10.

Spunky tomboy Judy (a winningly radiant portrayal by Nicole Kidman in her film debut), cheery hunk P.J. (the engaging Angelo D'Angelo), and pessimistic mope Goose (an equally likable turn by James Lugton) are a trio of ace BMX bicycle riders who stumble across a carton of walkie-talkies. However, said walkie-talkies belong to a gang of nefarious bank robbers who need them for their next big job. Director Brian Trenchard-Smith handles the amiably silly script by Patrick Edge and Russell Hagg with his trademark stylish brio and efficiency: the brisk pace rarely flags for a minute, the lighthearted tone keeps things bubbly and entertaining throughout, the stirring action set pieces are staged with real flair and skill (the bicycle stunts in particular are extremely agile, exciting, and impressive), and the amusing sense of goofy tongue-in-cheek humor delivers a substantial number of major belly laughs. The cast have a ball with the frothy material: David Argue and John Ley are hilarious as a couple of bumbling hoodlums, Bryan Marshall gives an excellent performance as hard-nosed British criminal ringleader the Boss, and Brian Sloman is suitably annoying as obnoxious fat jerk the Creep. John Seale's polished cinematography makes exquisite use of the widescreen Panavision format and offers plenty of breathtaking shots of the gorgeous Australian landscape. The funky synth score by Colin Stead and Frank Strangio hits the right-on groovy spot. The bouncy pop-rock soundtrack also smokes, with the catchy theme tune rating as a definite corker. Moreover, it's a total hoot to see a very cute, young, and scrappy pre-stardom Kidman sporting a huge poofy and overpermed 80's hairdo. A really fun film.

This may be interesting to fans of this movie. Most of the movie was filmed in Manly, NSW, Australia which is a coastal town not far from Sydney. A ferry ride across sydney harbour away, in fact.The BMX track at the end of the movie, just before the credits roll is actually Hickeys Lane BMX track which was located in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.Penrith is a city west of Sydney and I lived there from 1984 to 1989. I have fond memories of riding my BMX at Hickeys Lane and it's great to actually see it in a movie.If you play the BMX track part of the movie slowly, you can see the Blue Mountains in the background behind the park.In the end credits there is a thank you message to Western Sydney BMX Club. Penrith now has a new BMX track and from what I have read on the internet, Hickeys Lane BMX track is no longer in use.Regards,Ashley Irons