mdf-87936

With many coming of age films like "American Pie" or "Porky's", you get the usual bacchanal of boozed up, horny teenagers looking to lose their virginity. "Breaking Away" is a different animal all together. It doesn't try to insult your intelligence. It's a wholesome piece of middle Americana that still holds up all these years later.

In my opinion, Paul Dooley's portrayal of Dave's loving, yet perplexed father is one of the best acting jobs I've ever witnessed. How this man did not win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is downright criminal. Melvyn Douglas was great in "Being There", but come on guys, Paul's performance was awesome.

The "Cutters" would be four dudes you would want to hang out with. And to me, that's what makes this film so special.

There was always one thing that bothered me about forensic t.v. Shows like "Bones" or "Quincy". It was the fact that 2 medical examiners will be standing over the corpse of a murder victim. While the investigation of the body is underway, one of the ME's notices something odd and quickly points it out to the other. He explains what he sees using a long, scientific, usually Latin term. The second ME gives a stunned look and repeats what the 1st one said. However, he says it in Layman's terms. I realize WHY he says what he says; to have the television audience understand what they are talking about. But if you think about it, in reality there would be no need for them to speak using everyday vernacular. I realize that's a bit of a lame reason for why it gets to me, but it does. As for the show itself...it's okay. The characters are average and I really can't root for or against any of them.

This show does tend to get a little "soap operay", which is a bit of a turn off.

Oh yeah. One more thing. Where the HELL did they come up with the names Temperance Brennan and Sealy Booth? Those have to be the most ridiculous names ever.

UPDATE: My wife has begun watching this show religiously. I try coming in with an open mind. After sitting through quite a few episodes, I've come to the realization that this really isn't a good show.