Point Break (1991)

1991’s “Point Break”, directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

Starring Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey, John C. McGinley, Lori Petty, Anthony Kiedis, Lee Tergesen, John Philbin, James Le Gros, and Tom Sizemore.

We open with Keanu relocating as an FBI agent to Los Angeles (and looking buff in the rainy training montage). He is teamed with cagey veteran Gary Busey, and watched over by McGinley. Reeves and Busey are tasked with solving a case where a bunch of surfers have been dressing up as ex US presidents and robbing banks across the county. Reeves goes undercover, getting taught how to surf by a local beach babe (Lori Petty), and gradually infiltrates the surfer gang. Charismatically lead by a spiritually and physically dominant Swayze, they are free spirits in search of the ultimate rush. As Reeves hangs 10 in the search for justice, he begins to develop romantic feelings for Petty, and platonic ones for Swayze. Can Reeves stay undercover without wiping out?

“PB” is a very conflicted animal. There’s a spiritual eco-tourist nymph, armed with Mark Isham’s score and Bigelow’s at times romantic direction, throbbing with life inside the sad remains of this outdated buddy cop drama featuring an affectless lead. From the tension between the veteran agent and the hot shot rookie, to the screaming police captain demanding his employees toe the company line, it’s been done before, and better. More of particular interest, is the relationship between Reeves and Swayze, a precursor to the semi homoerotic vibes of the Fast and Furious franchise. You can see why 2007’s “Hot Fuzz” would make fun of this dynamic: where you’re not sure if you want to make your collar- or swap sexualities. Further mucking up the waters, is the selection of Keanu as the lead. He looks buff here, like he is carved out of wood. That’s the only way to explain his acting. Exhibiting a Tommy Wiseau level of fascination regarding his line reading, Keanu manages to make the majority of his dialogue a cross between a statement and a question. The majority of the script doesn’t help either. All of this is such a bummer, because there’s an amazing storyboard in here, aided by Bigelow’s top notch action sequences. From the bank robbery scenes, to a “Raising Arizona” inspired suburban chase, to the surfing, to the skydiving, it’s a classic action film- no matter how much it tries to shoot itself in the foot. As Keanu says, “I’m drawn to it- or something.”

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.