Rad is a fun, and just a touch dated, sports teen drama that is fairly entertaining for what it is. For the most art the acting isn’t actually too bad and there is a fun time to be had watching amongst friends.
Rad
(1986)
Genre(s): Drama, Sport
Mill Creek Entertainment| PG – 93 min. – $19.99 | August 17, 2021
Date Published: 09/14/2021 | Author: The Movieman
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Mill Creek Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
PLOT SYNOPSIS |
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Cru Jones (BILL ALLEN) is the best BMX biker in Cochrane. He’s got the talent to become the best BMX daredevil in the world. As the local paperboy, he jumps, spins, twists and flips his bike with amazing ability. Bart Taylor (BART CONNER) is the best BMX biker in the world, and he’s in town to race in the $100,000 Helltrack competition, the most grueling BMX race in history. Cru wants a shot at winning the title, but his mom (TALIA SHIRE) insists he take his college entrance exams which fall on the same day. For the first time in his life, Cru has to make his own decisions. He decides to go for Helltrack, but the race promoter (JACK WESTON) has a dirty scheme for keeping the local whiz kid out of the race and away from his prized champion. Only the gorgeous Christian (LORI LOUGHLIN), a member of the opposite team, can get Cru on track for Helltrack! And teach him a few other things while she’s at it. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 3¼/5 |
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While not nearly as fully-loaded as the Vinegar Syndrome release (which to this day I regret not picking up on 4K), there is a few featurettes here: Against the Odds (10:03) — An interview with Bill Allen Ace in the Hole (13:18) profile on director Hal Needham in the 1980s Breakin the Ice (12:28) — Interview with screenwriter Sam Bernard interview Rad: Q&A Session (40:59) with cast members Bill Allen, Talia Shire, Bart Conner, screenwriter Sam Bernard and hosted by Jorma Taccone Archival Interviews (10:47) with the cast and crew that looks like conducted on location in ’86. Original Behind-the-Scenes Featurette (5:00) Last up is the Music Video (3:34) for “Breakin the Ice” and the Trailer (1:26). |
VIDEO – 4¼/5, AUDIO – 4¼/5 |
| This is the second time Mill Creek released Rad onto Blu-ray, the last as a Steelbook. Presumably this is the exact same disc. In any case, the picture here looks fairly good with sharp detail throughout and colors appear to be nicely balanced. I don’t know how it compares with the Vinegar Syndrome 4K release but as a cheap option, this is a solid pick up for those missed out or passed on (like myself).
The included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track was surprisingly strong, especially when it came to the catchy, albeit incredibly cheesy, soundtrack. Dialogue does come across mostly the center speaker with nice clarity and there is some good depth for the rear channels with the score and some ambient noises such as a cheering crowd during the pivotal racing sequences. |
Check out some more 1080p screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.