Point Break *** (1991, Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey) – Classic Movie Review 1,179

The 1991 tongue-in-cheek cat-and-mouse thriller film Point Break is deliriously unconvincing yet very enjoyable, and beginning to stake its claim as a cult classic. It is sweet to see the two heartthrob stars in their prime.

Thanks to a lively but fairly ropey script, the 1991 tongue-in-cheek cat-and-mouse thriller Point Break is deliriously unconvincing yet it’s very enjoyable none the less. It is beginning to stake its claim as a movie cult classic. And in retrospect, it is sweet to see the two heartthrob stars in their prime, so it isn’t too bad a vehicle for them after all.

A very young and fit-looking Keanu Reeves shines as Johnny Utah (!), an ex-footballer now a highly unlikely FBI man on the trail of Bodhi (!), a sensation-seeking psychotic Californian surfing bank robber, played by an even more unlikely Patrick Swayze. The film’s as mad as a box of monkeys, and about as entertaining, with a great Californian atmosphere and thrilling action sequences, especially the bank robbery in ex-American Presidents rubber masks.

It’s a shame about the preposterous, formulaic, illogical story and the incredibly silly dénouement. But this isn’t a serious film, it’s just a fast-moving piece of fluff. So the normally very serious-minded director Kathryn Bigelow (Oscar winner for 2008’s The Hurt Locker) proceeds sensibly by simply ignoring the daftness of the script and keeping her film pacy, amusing and tense.

Meanwhile the two stars have huge fun running around after each other and trying to look tough, while keeping their beautifully coiffed hairstyles looking perfect. As Pappas, Gary Busey heads a strong support cast, who certainly have the acting clout to help it out.

Also in the cast are Lori Petty, John C McGinley, James LeGros, John Philbin, Sydney Walsh, Vincent Klyn, Julian Reyes and BoJesse Christopher.

In the film they make a big deal about the surfing in a small Australian town (Ocean Grove) but it wasn’t filmed there, it was filmed in Hawaii. The locations are Waimea Bay, Waimea Bay Beach Park, O’ahu, Hawaii, for the surf scenes and Ecola State Park, Highway 101, Cannon Beach, Oregon, for Bells Beach, Australia.

Astonishingly, the movie has inspired a hit stage show, Point Break Live!. But then now they’re turning From Here to Eternity into a musical for the theatre. A live, stage version of the movie cult classic, Point Break Live! has been running since 2007. Johnny Utah is played by a volunteer each show. Can you Keanu? Coming to an American city near you, it’s claimed to be 100 per cent pure adrenaline.