American Flyers Movie Review (1985)
A heartfelt 1980s sports drama about two brothers reconnecting through competitive cycling while confronting a troubling family health history, American Flyers feels somewhat dated, but the supportive brotherly dynamic, exciting races, and spectacular aerial photography still make it an enjoyable ride.
It’s funny how some movies made a huge impact on you as a child, and other people have never heard of them. I first watched this movie when I was around 10 years old, and we would watch it regularly at my dad’s house. I probably saw it a dozen times over five years, and then never watched it again (although I’m not sure why). That means that I probably haven’t seen it for about 35 years, so when it popped into my brain one day, I had to see how much I remembered.
American Flyers is about Marcus and David Sommers, brothers who haven’t seen much of each other in recent years because Marcus has had a difficult relationship with their mom and David lives with her. Arriving in town one day, Marcus convinces both David and their mother that David should come stay with him for a while and try to get some direction in life. He feels their mother has coddled them, and in light of their father’s death from a cerebral aneurysm years earlier – and the lingering tension that it may run in the family – he wants to help set his brother straight and encourage him to compete with him in the upcoming Hell Of The West cycling competition.
This is an engaging film that takes a little while to set up in the first half, then moves into an exciting, kinetic second half. It feels a little old-fashioned, and I’m not wholly surprised that it has gone the way of history, but it wouldn’t shock me if it made a huge impact in the cycling world.
Starring a mustachioed Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, and Alexandra Paul (with a bit part for Jennifer Grey), there is a natural on-screen chemistry between the foursome who are each still getting to know each other. Costner’s Marcus is earnest and goal-driven, and with Grant’s David secretly believing he will die from the same condition his father had, a looming darkness hovers but never takes over the suspense of the cycling action.
The bike races, split into three sections, are exhilarating, intense, and the best parts of the film. For a 1985 movie, it has lots of amazing aerial shots of hundreds of bikers racing in the Rocky Mountains. It’s right there on display how physically demanding cycling is, and I have never seen it captured in such an intimate, immersive way. You want Marcus and David to succeed, and once you meet a few of their competitors, the story gets that much more interesting.
American Flyers is an emotionally layered film that had me invested in the dramatic aspects, like the growing affection between the two brothers, and really taken with the scenic views and excitement surrounding the Hell Of The West. I remembered quite a bit from watching it as a kid, but as an adult, with an entirely new appreciation, so much so that I cried – I understand why we watched it as often as we did.
Runtime: 112 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Yes, I did
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Available: Free with ads on YouTube, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
