Search - Roadracers on DVD

Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA
Reviewed on 8/31/2012...

Roadracers is an early effort from Robert Rodriguez...and it's not bad for an early effort. I guess the only problem is, his earlier film, El Mariachi, set the bar pretty high...and this one couldn't quite get over it. David Arquette plays Dude, a 1950's era Juveline Delinquet who loves fast cars, fast music, and his hot girlfriend, played by Salma Hayek (growl!) Dude and his loser buddy spend their nights listening to bands at dive bars, messing with the local keystone cops, and racing prepes. Of course, a race goes wrong and the preps try to take the violence to the next leve. It's a Robert Rodriguez film, so you KNOW it's going to be violent! Dude looks like he's going to end up in a bad way, like his dad that ran out on him. But, fate decides to give him a chance...the local rockabilly band needs a new guitarist fast and he could get the job...which would make him for life. All his dreams are in his reach...being in a band, getting some real money so he can marry his lovable, luscious girlfriend, and get out of his two-bit town. But will he take the chance...or get caught up in a duel with the local preps?
The movie itself is very formulaic...it could have been made in the 1950's...it's just in color, but it's more or less a clone of Rebel Without a Cause. Rodriguez takes up it a notch with his penchant for violence and over-the-top comedy. But, it is still a Movie Without a Cause. It's still good just for pure entertainment value, too. And it's got several nods to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which is always a good thing.
The actors do a good job. David Arquette comes across as a funny greaser...he's got the part down pat, but with his usual tongue-in-cheek mode. There are other actos you'll recognize and they all do well. And with the gorgeous Salma Hayek, you almost have to give the movie an extra star because when she's on the screen, they could be reciting the dictionary for all I care...I would still be entranced. This is one of her early roles...and she's smoking hot! (And yes, she does act well, too.)
Overall, if you're a fan of the 50's and miss them or wish you could have been young when they were happening, you'll probably enjoy this. It's probably closer to reality than most of those old films were, anyway.