Grandview, U.S.A.

OK I must say that this movie isn't the greatest, but hey it was the 80s. This movie is special to me because it was filmed in my home town of Pontiac,IL. I was a little kid when they were filming it and I got to meet Jamie Lee. it was awesome. In Pontiac,IL not much goes on, so you can only imagine how fun it was to have a movie with real stars being made there! The place where they had the race track, was where I played Pony League. They used my high school, and many other parts of the town that I have been to. It's fun to watch this and look out for stuff that's there, not there and see some of my friends in little pieces of the film. So if you are from or have ever been to Pontiac,IL I suggest you watch this film!!

High school senior Tim Pearson (C. Thomas Howell) isn't sure what he wants to do with his life. The night of his prom he meets Michelle "Mike" Cody (Jamie Lee Curtis), the owner of a demolition derby, and becomes smitten with her. This complicates his life as Tim's father (Ramon Bieri) is a city commissioner intent on shutting the track down for his own benefit.

Not sure how this comedy-drama escaped me for so many years. It checks off all the "coming of age" and "life struggles" tropes, but I was still quite entertained by it even if it switches in tone quite a bit. There are several emotional moments and director Randal Kleiser handles them well. Unfortunately, there are also two out of place musical numbers (daydreams for Howell's character) that instantly date the movie. Filmed in Pontiac, Illinois, it is the kind of film that they don't seem to make anymore (or at least big studios don't make anymore) about blue collar struggles. If it was made today, the only thing for certain is there would be one million think pieces about the relationship between the Howell and Curtis characters. There is a stellar supporting cast including Patrick Swayze as demolition driver and Cody's other love interest, Jennifer Jason Leigh as his cheating wife, Troy Donahue as her lover, William Windom as Cody's uncle, and John Philbin as a mentally slow track hand. Also look for small roles by John Cusack, Joan Cusack, M. Emmett Walsh, and Michael Winslow as the track MC doing his thing.

I haven't seen "Grandview, U.S.A." is many moons. After watching it last night my crush on Jamie Lee Curtis is back in full swing. She's so cool and very dreamy in this movie. The rest of the cast is also very good with the standouts being Ramon Bieri and Patrick Swayze. Bieri plays his tricky character just right and Swayze has never been better. This is also a great looking movie with terrific locations. "Grandview, U.S.A." is a very satisfying watch.

Grandview, USA is the film where Jamie Lee Curtis joins the Brat Pack. She plays the owner of a Demolition Derby Track in a small town named Grandview..

Depending on how you look at it small towns are the backbone of the USA or a stifling place one can't wait to leave.. C. Thomas Howell wants to leave and badly, but his dad Ramon Bieri has plans for him and plans for Grandview..

Those plans include taking over Jamie lee's track and building some homes and a golf course. Curtis feels an obligation to keep the track she inherite from her dad. She's also involved with Patrick Swayze who is married but wife Jennifer Jason Leigh doesn't take it all that seriously.

All the applecarts are upset when Howell moves in on Curtis. That sets off a chain events and and everyone starts to move toward their proper destinies.

It's a good brat pack film and a nice slice of life in small town USA that takes neither a positive or a negative position on it..

There have been more bad critical reviews and comments about THIS movie than good. I don't see how it's THAT bad to most viewers. It is one of my top favorites. It contains an excellent blend of comedy and drama about life in a rural American location (no mention of state or town but Texas is a good possibility). Great character acting. They just don't make them like this anymore.