Gaylord Films producer Casey La Scala makes his directorial debut with the teen comedy Grind. Just before entering college, young skateboarder Eric Rivers (Mike Vogel) decides to take a road trip from Chicago to California with his smart friend Dustin (Adam Brody) and his wacky friend Matt (Vince Vieluf). Despite their underdog status, they intend to make it big in the world of skateboarding in the wake of legendary touring skater Jimmy Wilson (Jason London). They end up recruiting a fourth team
member named Sweet Lou (Joey Kern) as Eric romances the film's token attractive female Jamie (Jennifer Morrison). Grind also features appearances by real-life pro skaters like Bam Margera, along with an energetic pop/rock soundtrack. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
Without the charm or irrepressible imagination of the Farrellys or 'American Pie' writer Adam Herz, the filmmakers succeeds only in making their protagonists look like jerks, who well deserve the misfortunes that befall them right up to a happy fadeout.
It's the sort of movie that makes American Wedding look... subtle by comparison. [T]his summer's notorious bomb Gigli is starting to look better and better.
First-time director Casey La Scala may have taken his fledgling film's title too literally, grinding together borrowed ingredients like a mischievous chef.
Viewing the earthbound sequences in "Grind" is like watching the dialogue portions of pornos. Pity the viewers who catch this one without the benefit of a fast-forward or chapter select button.
They say it takes a certain knowledge of a subject to truly empathize a movie based on it, but I'm guessing it will take more than that to show any sort of genuine interest in a movie like Grind.
While it has heart, and compassion, and a great ending, not even the awesome soundtrack, or skate tricks can make up for the sometimes funny, mostly stupidly mundane scenes in the middle of the whole trip.
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