All the Right Moves (1983)

A fairly accurate representation of both High School; the peer pressures of sex, drugs and rock and roll so to speak and living in a depressed dried up steel town trying to make more of yourself, getting a degree and literally making all the right moves, although Cruise and Nelson are the marque stars the performances of Chris Penn and Lea Thompson are superb, 3 out of 4 stars

In small Polaco-dominated town Ampipe the mill is the only stable source of income, now increasingly struggling due to the industrial crisis rumbling through America. Most teens dream of leaving the town - one way or the other. The non-Polish named, but Polish speaking Stefan Djeordjevic (Tom Cruise) is a star player in the local football team, one coached by the inspirational, crafty but simultaneously overly demanding Nickerson (Craig T. Nelson). Stefan dreams of a football scholarship and has placed all his hopes on one key game against the unbeaten team of the division. Backed by his girlfriend Lisa (Lea Thompson) nothing can go wrong...A curious case of a much entertaining drama, which registers several touchdowns in the first period, only to give the ball away later on and then unforgivably flopping in the dying seconds, much like on the key play of the movie. Tom Cruise has magnetic presence and wallops his charm throughout, showcasing why he was soon lifter to fame. Despite that the dramatic build-up about the hopelessness of such small-time community life, fails to direct its attention to a more thoughtful resolution, instead delivering a sequence of gimmicky clichés to deliver a happy ending (especially one laden with non-sensical plot jumps featuring a fired factory worker happily going about his job several scenes after being ditched). In hindsight an promising premise gone astray and ultimately reeping benfits off of Cruise's charm, not cognitive content or coherence.

All The Right Moves is a film about a headstrong high school football star of Ampipe High,Stefen Djordjevic,who dreams of getting out of his small Western Pennsylvania steel town with a college football scholarship. It also results with a head-on collision with his ambitious coach,Coach Nikerson,who also aspires for a college position, resulting in a conflict between them.Definitely,it was one of the better blue collar films made in the 1980's. Djordjevic,played by Tom Cruise in his first dramatic starring film,is a high school defensive back seeking a college football scholarship to free himself from the economic hardship that small Pennsylvania town of Ampipe,a town struggling through the downturn of the recession of the 1980's.While Ampipe High appears headed to win the game,a fumbled play in the closing seconds leads to a Walnut Heights victory.After the game, Coach Nickerson,played by Craig T. Nelson, lambastes the fumbler in the locker room, telling him to quit the team. When Stefen retorts that the coach himself quit, the coach kicks him off the team.After the game,some angry Ampipe fans vandalize Coach Nickerson's residence. Stefen is present and is a reluctant participant, but is nonetheless seen by Nickerson as the vandals flee. From there,Stefen deals with personal battles,including dealing with the coach who bans him among colleges because of his attitude and his relationship with his girlfriend,Lisa,played excellently by Lea Thompson.Stefen,frustrated by his current situation,confronts his former coach and his girlfriend whom he has set aside as his aspirations of getting out of Ampipe has become a big part of his life.At the end of the movie, Nickerson,with the help of Lisa,realizes he was wrong and offers Stefen a college scholarship for playing football at CalPoly where he works on a college position,which he accepts.The movie was simple and ordinary.The story was predictable.What stands out is the acting of Cruise,Thompson and Nelson.The direction of Michael Chapman was also commendable. Also,the movie has great original songs namely: "All The Right Moves";"The Last Stand";"This Could Our Last Chance"; and "Blue Skies Forever".Overall,the film was good but not great.Highly recommended for people who loves Tom Cruise and The Never ending Story star,Lea Thompson as well as people who wants to reminisce their great memories of High School.

I really liked this film, oddly, more now, than twenty five years ago. I saw that someone interpreted the goofing off in the dressing room, as "gay". If you are, or have been an varsity athlete, you'll know that teammates, will do things in front of each other, that they wouldn't do in front of anyone else. Even more so, if they have all grown up together, through elementary, little league etc. Remember the "pat on the ass" in days past, before some said; that looks gay. Don't get me wrong, I know there are, and have been gay football players, which I WAS SURPRISED to learn, but to describe the scene as "gay" I found distasteful. I suppose I like this film, because I've always, loved that part of this country, and what it meant; hard working families, cradle to grave employment, and the best quarterbacks EVER. My Great Grandmother was born and spent most of her life in Homestead, and the girls from there that I've had the pleasure meeting, have been sweethearts, cuties!