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Grandview, U.S.A.

Steven Haynes
May 1, 2016
2 min read

C. Thomas Howell and the late Patrick Swayze teamed up in three films. Two of those, The Outsiders and Red Dawn, are now considered classics. The one they made in between those two, 1984's Grandview, U.S.A., is not. Here's my look back at.

Grandview U.S.A. is one of those slice of life looks at small town America. Tim Pearson, Howell, is a high school senior who has dreams of leaving to go and study oceanography in Florida. That all changes when he meets Mike Cody, Jamie Lee Curtis, the owner of the local demolition derby track. Tim instantly is attracted to her. At first she spurns his advances, but when he helps save her speedway, she gives into temptation. Mike, however, is still attracted to her old high school sweetheart, and head driver at the derby, Slam Webster, Swayze. Slam still has feelings too but is stuck in a loveless marriage with a cheating wife, Jennifer Jason Leigh. When Slam finds out about Mike and Tim, and that she has made Tim a driver at the derby, jealousy rears it's ugly head and Slam takes out his anger on the track.

Directed by Randall Kleiser, who also did Grease, Grandview U.S.A. is a very slight little film, which is probably why it's not well remembered. Like small town life, not a lot seems to happen in the movie. The three leads, especially Curtis and Swayze, are very good and likable which is why I think I like the film. They make you care about the characters and make the film watchable.