Gleaming the Cube

This sleeper suffers from a pedestrian murder mystery plot, but features such winning performances from Christian Slater and his skateboarding buddies, as well as dynamite skateboarding sequences, that it's bound to be a hit with young adults. Slater is Brian Kelly, a rebel teenager who sports spiked hair, the mandatory earring, and a profound boredom with Orange County, CA life, that is only alleviated by the thrills he achieves from "gleaming the cube" and other death-defying stunts on his skateboard. When his Vietnamese half-brother Vinh commits suicide, Brian is certain that it was a murder. Unable to gather information in his punk attire, he cuts his hair, retires the earring, and hops on a bike (earning the scorn of his daredevil friends). But it works, and Brian discovers the truth behind his brother's "suicide". It all comes to a head in a rousing skateboard chase finale on the freeway (at one point, hitching a ride on a sports car, he crosses traffic lanes, by skating underneath a semi-truck). Director Clifford understands teenagers, their problems, and the social milieu they move in. So, despite the rather tired plot at the center of this film, it is definitely recommended for young adults. (R. Pitman)