Out of Bounds

A pretty silly film, "Out of Bounds" begins as a teeny-bopper

style of movie that would suit John Hughes' tastes, and ends

like how a Charles Bronson vigilante film would be. Anthony

Michael Hall plays Darryl Cage, an Iowa teen who travels to L.A.

to visit his brother, only to have his duffel bag accidentally

switched with a bag belonging to a dope runner. What follows is

a frantic yet unbelievable streets of the city of angels. Hall

is a likeable actor (in my book, he's a lot cooler than Leo

DiCaprio!), but I wasn't used to seeing him in a gritty action

film like this. He's too much of a pretty boy to look ind

I'll make this short and sweet (well, at least short...)

Good, fun Crime/Thriller. Teen actor Anthony Michael Hall actually did a pretty good job in his role. Interesting casting since he just finished a couple of Classic John Hughes films ('BREAKFAST CLUB' & 'SIXTEEN CANDLES' to name 2) But, all 'n all I think he did a decent job. I personally thought that his performance was just a TAD underplayed; I think being an 'Iowa Farmboy' suddenly dropped in L. A. and found in the situation (and personal loss) that he did, I really think that he would have reacted with a tad more emotion than he did, but it worked okay. The lead girl was decent. But, it wasn't really the acting that stood out in this film. It really was more the story and the way the director kept the pace moving briskly.

Like I mentioned in my title, if you are so inclined, the soundtrack, done by the Police's Stewart Copeland, along with some great songs of the time I thought really added to the enjoyment and pacing of the story. It was cool to see ol' Siouxsie Sioux and her group, along with a lot of other great songs.

Just ONE thing, if I may... Not giving anything away, but the cop was a total, and I mean a TOTAL D*CK! Geez... Personally, I think that the story would have been much better served if that character had been played in a smoother, cooler, more appealing way, like many cops in these kinds of films. Somewhat understanding and sympathetic, but still having to do their 'Duty' But, THIS guy was just a complete D*CK! Period. Had a chip on his shoulder about 2 blocks long. Just plain stupid in my lowly and wretched opinion, and quite honestly detracted from what otherwise could have been a very appealing role. No... Just pure D*CK 😊 Sorry, this guy really annoyed me. Or, I guess I should say, that the way the director had him portray the character was really lame.

But, with that one minor proviso, I thought it was a fun, entertaining movie that kept the tension going really well and therefore held the audience's attention while providing an entertaining backdrop for the story in various cool locations and clubs. Not to mention, some nice car chases and shootouts. The bad guy was of course played to perfection as that actor usually does with these kinds of roles.

So, yeah, I would say if you enjoy a straight forward mid-level Crime/Thriller with a youthful vibe and soundtrack of the time, then you might find this movie entertaining...

Farm boy Daryl Cafe leaves behind a life on the farm with his feuding parents, for one in The Big City with his brother, expecting a better life, things instantly go wrong when he picks up the wrong bag at the airport.

First off, credit to the film's pacing, it doesn't give you a slow, tedious buildup, it's essentially straight into the action, it's a fast paced, man on the run, in strange surroundings film.

The script isn't great, some of the dialogue is flat, some of the situations are absolutely crazy, you'll be scratching your head wondering if it's reality or not, if you're aware that you're watching a crazy thriller, you may just get some enjoyment from it.

The acting is actually really good, Anthony Michael Hall is great as Daryl, one thing he will do, is put you on edge, I think you get a sense of the character's stress levels. I adored Jenny Wright, she was a bundle of fun.

7/10.

I always liked this film because it showed that Hall was not just some goofy nerd all the time. In this film he is faced by drug dealers and murderers and more real to life situations than that of other movies, such as the "Pretty in Pink" genre 80's movie. I don't see that it ever got released on DVD like some others from that time, why is that? Hall proves himself in a dramatic, thoughtful role as a simple teen who is able to develop survivor instincts under pressure. I have seen it many times and like it much more than the "Breakfast Club" or even "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" where the comedy pales after a few times of watching. I do not think it got the press it deserved. Many of my friends have never seen it. The film barely gets a mention anywhere, I think because it is not a comedy and is R-Rated for showing violence. I think people needed to see Hall do more dramatic acting than just stuck doing continual comedic roles. I think this movie shows part of the man who became one to play in the "Dead Zone."

Anthony Michael Hall leaves the farm to visit his brother in Los Angeles; his parents are going through a bust-up. When he gets off the plane, he picks up the wrong bag, one full of drugs. When he wakes in the morning, he finds his brother and sister-in-law dead and im on the run. His only help is Jenny Wright, a woman he met on the plane, and who came on to him.

There are some nice bits of writing here, simple solutions to obvious problems. Why doesn't he call his parents? Because his father is traveling and his mother is visiting in Kansas..... and he wrote down the wrong phone number! But while Hall, who was trying to break out his his 'nerdy teen' phase, is very good in the early scenes as an unsure farmboy, after one day in the city he moves through a punk club with an air of assurance. In addition, there's little to interrupt the increasing level of apprehension throughout. A few breaks, a la Hitchcock, would have been nice.

Miss Wright has a far more nuanced and interesting performance to give that would seem to foretell a longer career. Alas, a dozen years later, she made her last film. It's mildly surprising. She's what makes this movie watchable.