Vision Quest

Director: Harold Becker 

Screenplay: Darryl Ponicsan

Minutes: 105

Year: 1985

Score: 5.4

Release: Warner Archive

Vision Quest drips with 1980’s machismo and music. If I had seen this before The Karate Kid, I would have probably like wrestling more than I did karate. Same for Linda Fiorentino over Elisabeth Shue.

From WBShop.com:

High school wrestler Louden Swain is a man obsessed, trying to shed 23 pounds in a dangerously short time and take on Shute, the undefeated, tough-as-nails 168-pound champion who’s the best wrestler in the state. Matthew Modine stars as the mop-headed student undeterred in his Vision Quest…until the day a sexy drifter (Linda Fiorentino) threatens to pin Louden and his dreams to the mat of unrequited love. The hit soundtrack features Journey’s “Only the Young,” Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded” and John Waite’s “Change.” In her first film, Madonna shines while performing “Gambler” and “Crazy for You.” You’ll go crazy for Vision Quest.

The Warner Archive continues their march into the 80’s with a film that I wish I watched years ago. As flawed as it may be I it is bubbling over with coming-of-age lessons or sacrificing health for ambition and finding and keeping your goals rather than becoming side-tracked.

It is nice to see Matthew Modine and Linda Fiorentino in an early appearance but there isn’t too much meat on this bone. It is a fine flick which I will probably spin up again. Like most of the Warner Archives releases the transfer of this film is almost perfect.

Director: 6 – Cinematography: 5 –  Edit: 5 – Parity: 1 – Main performance: 6 – Else performance: 6 – Score: 9 – Sound: 5 – Story: 7 – Script: 5 – Effects: 5 – Design: 4 – Costumes: 3 – Keeps interest: 9 – Lasting: 5