Roadracers (1994)

By Greg
Score: 7/10
 A 50's era film that deals with a young man's struggle with a local Sheriff, rival youth, love, life and his rebellious future. For a great surprise, it was directed and co-written by Robert Rodriguez and with no surprise, its an entertainingly fun ride.

From start to finish the film is fast paced, just as the title is, "Roadracers" races on with a slice of 50's life with Dude (David Arquette) at the wheel. He's a carbon copy image of the greaser, the rebel without a cause, he is dirty and doesn't care. Lubes his hair with so much palmade, that one could slip right off it. He drives a Chevrolet convertible, smokes Lucky Strikes, he is the image of an American rebel. His girlfriend, Donna (Salma Hayek), and best friend Nixer (John Hawkes) are along his rebellious ride against the local Sheriff (William Sadler) who has a grudge against Dude. Not too mention the misguided son of the Sheriff, Teddy Leather,(Jason Wilkes) wants revenge when his girlfriends hair was burnt off in a stray match to the head type accident. Teddy also has two cronies (they don't have names in the film, Crony #1 &#2) to give aid in their pursuit to punish Dude. All the while Dude is living his life fast and hoping not to die faster. He listens to Rock-a-Billy music which he idolizes and eats Hamburgers at a greasy diner with the chef smoking as he prepares the food. The scenery and locales adds to the magic, aside of the diner, there is also the nightclub where the rock n' roll band plays, Dude's home/garage and the local theater where the classic sci-fi film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is playing and Nixer is obsessed with. The film all comes to head with violence only Rodriguez could dish out.

 This film is the fifties, this film is the dirty version of "American Graffiti" or "Rebel without a Cause" or even "The Outsiders" which depicted the social struggles of greasers v. socials. Rodriguez captures Americana with this film. He truly is an artist and this film shows a side of the fifties that has gained in popularity over the last decade. I plan to not just support this film, but spread the word and Roadracers is the word.

Starring: David Arquette, Salma Hayek, John Hawkes, William Sadler and Jason Wiles
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Budget/Gross: $1,000,000 (estimated)/made-for-television
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
Tomatometer: n/a critics and 66% audience liked it