BMX Bandits (1983)


It's striking how curly Nicole Kidman's hair was back in the day.  Hollywood has clearly tamed her hair and sanded off other rough edges since she departed dusty Australia.  The only other recent Nicole Kidman joint I've witnessed is her in-theatre promo for AMC.  She describes how magical the theatre experience is.  Too bad it's not as magical as BMX!  I swear Nicole, bring back the bike tricks!  Yes, yes, it's  stunt people doing the real riding, I know!  In the bonus features they imply Nicole is not proud of BMX Bandits, her first feature.  What's it about?  Ah... something about Nicole and her boy pals kinda stealing some special walkie-talkies that are intended for a bank heist.  The crooks try to get the walkies back and hijinks ensue.  It's fun, great to see the world back in, whatever it was, the 1980s.  There's a few fun tricks and the absurdity accelerates as the movie goes, becoming increasingly screwball.  Making this movie was fun, and it comes through!  The crooks are out-ridden until they're faced with an onslaught of bike-riders and caught in a torrent of bubbles.  Clearly Nicole has great things ahead for her.  This actually makes me want to watch the other oldest films she made that I remember: Days of Thunder and Far and Away.  Tom and Nicole, where art thou?  Keep your Eyes Wide Shut.  Ugh.  For you movie freaks that was actually an excellent-looking Blu-ray.  Nicole's fans are keeping hope alive, as well as for all you bike-lovers out there.

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