Though hovering between art and sociology, realism and stylization, Rocco's film serves as showcase for young cohort of actors including Will Smith, Sean Astin, Dermot Mulroney, Lara Flynn Boyle and Balthazar Getty.

Quite a brilliant film that's been swept under the carpet for the most part. Dermot Mulroney turns in a fine portrayal as the coin-rolling "leader" of a group of teenage runaways doing what they can to survive living on the streets of Los Angeles. Drugs and prostitution pose as threats to most of the kids being that they seem to be the alternatives to them going back to live with their families, as well as the bureaucratic ideals that oppose this free- wheeling lifestyle which essentially fuels their need of being apart from what is considered to be the right way of going about their young existences. This film is worth seeing for the brilliant character work by Dermot Mulroney alone, but has a cast that delivers quality performances such as Sean Astin's effective portrayal of a drug addicted teen.

Urban drama about teen runaways on the streets of Hollywood features a dream cast of young actors (Will Smith makes his feature film debut here). Gritty juvenile delinquency film wants to be hard-hitting, but whenever something meaningful happens, the audience is subjected to tedious rock music by Melissa Etheridge and it becomes a music video. (She's credited with 5 songs on the soundtrack, but I defy anyone to tell them apart). Some nice performances, but ultimately a minor film.