When top-notch cyclist Dave (Dennis Christopher) learns that the world's bicycling champions are always Italian, he attempts to turn himself into an Italian, driving his parents (Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley) crazy. But everything changes after he meets the Italian racing team, an encounter that ultimately leads him and his friends to challenge the local boys in the town's annual bike race.
Directed by
Peter Yates
Written by
Steve Tesich
Starring
Dennis Christopher (Dave Stoller); Dennis Quaid (Mike); Daniel Stern (Cyril); Jackie Earle Haley (Moocher); Barbara Barrie (Evelyn Stoller); Paul Dooley (Raymond Stoller); Robyn Douglass (Katherine); Hart Bochner (Rod); Amy Wright (Nancy); Peter Maloney (Doctor); John Ashton (Mike's Brother). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
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Readers' Comments and Opinions
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Great film but a couple of questionable remarks
Nick Alexander (United States)
Opinion: Recommended
I just saw this film again a few weeks ago and I love it dearly; I think it's a lasting work of art. However, there are a couple of throwaway lines that some may consider to be anti-Catholic that should be taken into consideration. I'm thinking of the mother's quip "Don't turn Catholic on us", and the subtle-slam about a negative Confession experience. The confession dialogue is short, but it had Dennis Christopher and Jackie Earl Haley walking towards the town's Catholic church… Dave: Did you ever go to confession? Moocher: Twice. Dave: Did it make you feel better? Moocher: Once. That's it. I took this as a slam on confession, because it didn't appear that Moocher was going to confession anymore, probably since that negative experience, and because he was, for lack of a better phrase: "living in sin" -- although towards the end of the film he does try to remedy his situation. I still think this is a great film, and a negative confession experience of a single character is simply not the point of the film -- I just think that before the film is recommended, it needs to be cleared upfront, for example so youth leaders can be prepared and address it properly. It may even represent a good opportunity to raise a discussion on confession.
