It was hard to know what to expect from this film, I have vague memories of the name Eddie Kidd while growing up in the UK. This movie was obviously made to showcase his abilities and perhaps start off a film career. In the UK Kidds name was as well known as that other bike stuntman from the states, Evel Kenievel. This movie dropped the year after Silver Dream Racer, that massive downer of a bike movie, so it remained to be seen whether this was any better.
The first thing that stands out about this is the cinematography which is stunning and far better than you would expect from what is obviously set up as a cheesy David vs Goliath stunt competition movie. The only time the visuals are a let down are at the outset with some POV footage which is too blurry and jittery to be any use, such is its contrast with the rest of the movie its a surprise it hasn't been cut.
The script is as you would expect, although its obvious this is a UK versus USA movie with the American biker supposed to be Evel. Being a UK movie everyone of the American characters is basically a cartoon. Well thats what happens when every Brit sounds like Dick Van Dyke in Hollywood movies.
Other stand out aspects are the stunts, including one which I didn't even think they would attempt it looked so dangerous, footage of the UK in the 80s, not sure which towns and also a soundtrack so good it was released on record.
Sure scenes come across as corny and Kidd isn't a great actor, but as a UK action comedy it will certainly been appreciated by a UK audience, particularly of a certain age. This has cult classic written all over it and a reminder of who Kidd used to be before the inevitable happened and he ended up in harder times.
