Nobody needed a remake of 1973’s American Graffiti – especially a bad one.
Set in 1967, Scott Jacoby plays David Wakefield, a senior at Griffin High School and a distance runner on the track and field team who struggles with deep-seated inadequacy and self-doubt.
When his close friend Dean Berger (Joe Penny) is killed in action in Vietnam, David gets inspired to win the upcoming state championship (his only realistic path to securing a vital college scholarship) and, well, you know the rest.
After some awkward adolescent social scenes – including a disastrous double date at a drive-in theatre – David forms a meaningful relationship with Alice Baker (Deborah Benson) who becomes a key source of encouragement, pushing him to believe in his own athletic potential.
There are lots of familiar ’60s scenes: hanging around the hamburger joint, necking at the drive-in and playing chicken with souped-up cars.
Some unknowns give promising performances, especially Jan Smithers as the sister who falls in love with the doomed friend and Dennis Quaid as the buffoonish pal, Paul Morelli. But director Joseph Ruben and writer Nick Niciphor don’t help them.
David Wakefield
Scott Jacoby Alice Baker
Deborah Benson Paul Morelli
Dennis Quaid Burton Fleishauer
Robert Wahler Jerry McDuffy
Randy Herman Dean Berger
Joe Penny Cathy Wakefield
Jan Smithers Cindy Hawkins
P.J. Soles Susie Wilson
Wendy Rastattar Miller
Damon Douglas Sheila
Joanna Cassidy Coach Michael Murphy
J. Don Ferguson Eddie Rice
Jeff Soracco Mr Wetzle
Ted Henning Waitress at Snack Bar
Earleen Carey Officer McNally
Joe Dorsey Priest
Carl Mariani Sergeant
Pete Robinson
Director
Joseph Ruben
Video
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When his close friend Dean Berger (Joe Penny) is killed in action in Vietnam, David gets inspired to win the upcoming state championship (his only realistic path to securing a vital college scholarship) and, well, you know the rest.
Some unknowns give promising performances, especially Jan Smithers as the sister who falls in love with the doomed friend and Dennis Quaid as the buffoonish pal, Paul Morelli. But director Joseph Ruben and writer Nick Niciphor don’t help them.
David Wakefield
Sheila
