Review of Skateland (2011) by Brittany R — 20 Aug 2011

Much like its main character, Ritchie Wheeler (Shiloh Fernandez - Red Riding Hood, Happiness Runs, Cadillac Records), Skateland doesn't know what it wants to be or do. Set in a small Texas town in the early 1980's (the costumes, soundtrack and art direction were all spot-on), Skateland takes place in a time that is on the verge of drastic change.

As cassette tapes, Jordache jeans and indoor shopping malls begin to pop up everywhere, Ritchie isn't sure if he wants to change with the times. He is a 24-year old who is content working as a manager at the local roller rink, Skateland, who continues to shun his younger sister's advice of applying for college to become a writer.

When Skateland is sold to make room for a possible "empty warehouse", Ritchie's life begins to spiral out-of-control -- his parents also announce their upcoming divorce and his girlfriend wants to do almost anything to get out of their small-town existence.

Most coming-of-age tales focus on a sixteen or seventeen year old struggling with college plans; but this one is about a late-bloomer. Most highly-indecisive characters tend to annoy me; but Fernandez's (who is a cross beteween Joaquin Phoenix and Billy Crudup) didn't.

While he hasn't made many drastic life decisions, it becomes apparent that his choices (he has made them) have been made to remain close to those he cares about and remain comfortable in the fast-changing times.

With a killer soundtrack (kudos to the cast referencing "mix tapes"), adequate drama and a fair share of laughs, Skateland is a fitting tribute to 80's flair. If it had decided exactly what it wanted to be -- parts of the middle are a muddle -- Skateland could have been rather impressive.

The film's best bits took place at the roller rink and so it is too bad that the entire film didn't unfold there. The look of the movie was an impressive throwback and so it is unfortunate that the rest of it was such a throw-away.