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Motorcross Madness! Watch a bike get put in the slammer in this kid-friendly adventure that sees one boy go all the way in saving his favorite hot dog … stand.
Yes, dirt bikes were once all the rage and, for Jack (Peter Billingsley), they probably still are. Written and produced by Julie Corman, The Dirt Bike Kid, which begins hilariously enough with a mother (Anne Bloom) cutting the wires to the boob tube to get her son’s attention, remains a solid adventure. You see, she wants Jack to go to the grocery store. Instead, he uses the money she gives him on a magic bike; one that only reveals its true abilities to the right rider.
You will soon learn that Jack is that right guy. Plus, he’s got the $50 his hardworking mother gave him for groceries. But, you see, this bike is like the Herbie of the motorcross. It really does have special abilities. With headlamps that move like eyes and a pretty funny attitude, Jack makes a fast friend; the bike follows him around.
And it is all because Jack is pure of heart and intention. See how easy that was?
As we soon learn, an evil banker (Stuart Pankin going for the jugular in his mean-spirited but very funny role) has plans for a beloved local Hot Dog dive and, well, it is The Dirt Bike Kid and his friend Bo (Chad Sheets) to the rescue. They can’t let their baseball sponsor get swallowed up by the suits in the stuffy old bank.
Presented on blu-ray by Scorpion Releasing, this 1980s adventure hits all the right feel good notes to be both entertaining and full of nostalgia-like feels. It’s right up there with Flight of the Navigator and The Goonies in how it unfolds and delivers the age-appropriate thrills. And, yes, the superbike even flies and blows raspberries at people he doesn’t think are decent.
Directed by Hoite C. Caston, The Dirt Bike Kid is completely ridiculous. It even references the Keystone Cops throughout the movie. Full of terrible acting from the kids, the film remains fun and free-spirited thanks to the zippy nature of the production. While cheap, the movie’s overall attitude overcomes its many obstacles in the budget department.
Even with a band of bikers – led by Big Slime (Weasel Forshaw) – after Jack, the film is simple fun. That’s a definite understatement and, yet, for those starry-eyed kids out there, it’s treatment of the fantasy element, as one kid faces down a bad guy from shutting down his coach’s hot dog joint in favor of yet another bank in the town. From flying the friendly skies to wrecking the interior of a bank, this Yamaha is all about business. It even broadcasts directions.
Complete with a comically old security guard, The Dirt Bike Kid and its electronic score are both ripe for rediscovery with the right crowd. Scorpion Releasing presents this film – a favorite to many a child in the 1980s – on blu-ray from a brand new HD master culled from the original camera negative.
Trading its wheels for wings, The Dirt Bike Kid has landed on 1080p.
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[tab title="Details"]
MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Hoite C. Caston
Writer: David Brandes, Lewis Colick
Cast: Peter Billingsley, Stuart Pankin, Anne Bloom
Genre: Comedy | Family
Tagline: When the going gets tough... the tough go flying!
Memorable Movie Quote: "What's the matter? You don't believe in magic?"
Theatrical Distributor: Concorde Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: November 1, 1985
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: November 18, 2014
Synopsis: 14-year-old Jack Simmons (Peter Billingsley, A Christmas Story) takes it on himself to help his friend, coach Mike (Patrick Collins, TV’s Checking In) and save his hot dog stand.
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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]
Blu-ray Details:
Home Video Distributor: Scorpion Releasing
Available on Blu-ray - November 18, 2014
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: None
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
Scorpion Releasing presents The Dirt Bike Kid in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. And the new HD transfer doesn’t disappoint. Colors are bright and fluid – with reds bright and bold and commanding – and shadows are detailed throughout the running time. There’s not a smudge on this print. It’s also not fuzzy which is something when you are dealing with entertainment from 1985. The soundtrack is delivered in an English Mono track.
Supplements:
Commentary:
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Director Hoite Caston is in the captain’s chair for a feature length audio commentary.
Special Features:
With new interviews from Stuart Pankin and Julie Corman, this release might be a bit skimpy, but it is magical.
Stuart Pankin Interview (30 min)
Julie Corman Interview (10 min)
Theatrical Trailer
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