Tuff Turf

In yesterday's post, I wrote about the 80's take on Rebel Without A Cause, Reckless. Tonight, I'm looking back at another film that treaded the same territory, 1985's Tuff Turf.

Morgan Hiller, James Spader, is a troubled teen who has been relocated to a tough, inner city school. On his first day he already has enemies that he made the night before when he prevented the main gang in his school from mugging an elderly woman. To make matters worse he has eyes for the leaders, Paul Mones, girl, Kim Richards. Trying to clean up his act, Morgan doesn't fight back, even after they trash his bicycle and put a dead cat in his locker. But with the gang out for blood, he might have to resort back to his rebellious ways.

I think this is a better film than Reckless. It's not as brooding and heavy and actually has some humor to it. The cast is pretty terrific too, especially Robert Downey, Jr. as Spader's clownish sidekick. The film also features appearances and performances from The Jim Carroll Band and Jack Mack And The Heart Attack.

This was released by New World Pictures, and I have to say that I loved the teen films they put out in the 80's. Like a poor cousin to John Hughes. They distributed Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Fraternity Vacation, Soul Man, The Boys Next Door, and what is probably the greatest teen film of all time, in my opinion, Heathers.

Tuff Turf is a great flick about rebellion that isn't all about brooding.

It's available on dvd.