Scriptwriter Steve Tesich returns to bicycle racing, but he's forced to throw in a subplot about an incurable movie disease to make the thing work.
American Flyers (1985)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 12
Rotten:8
Average Rating: 5.5/10
Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Kevin Costner and David Marshall Grant star as two estranged brothers driven apart by the untimely death of their father. Marcus (Costner), the older brother, is a renegade bicycle racer and doctor... Kevin Costner and David Marshall Grant star as two estranged brothers driven apart by the untimely death of their father. Marcus (Costner), the older brother, is a renegade bicycle racer and doctor who returns to his family home and discovers that David (Grant) may suffer from cerebral aneurysms, the same ailment that killed their father. In an effort to discover the truth about David and mend their failing relationship, Marcus brings his brother home with him to Wisconsin, where he works at a state-of-the-art sports medicine facility.The two brothers, although quite different, share the love of bicycle racing, and decide to go to Colorado to participate in "Hell of the West," the most difficult bike race in the country. As they undergo the grueling journey, they mend old wounds and realize the importance of family, before it is too late. Director John Badham's film features spectacular racing footage, including fast-paced rides along spine-tingling drops in the Colorado wilderness. [More]
Starring: Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul
Starring: Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul
Director: John Badham
Director: John Badham
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Reviews for American Flyers
Unfortunately, overblown production just pumps hot air in too many directions and comes up limp.
Its overwelming sentimentality obscures the excitement of the race and some fine performances.
The performances aren't bad, but they aren't good enough to give the film the heft it doesn't otherwise have.
There are certainly worse ways to spend 100 minutes - particularly if you’re a bicycling enthusiast.
Thankfully, Costner and Grant are able to overcome the bumpy screenplay and ride American Flyers to a satisfying, if predictable, conclusion.
American Flyers is shaky at the core, because it tries to tap-dance around its own central issues.
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