Skatetown U.S.A.

source: Skatetown U.S.A.

"Let's film a skate contest at an impressive rink and find some way to work a movie around it." As a kid, I was big into disco but never got around to seeing this movie until today. After looking at the cast, my expectations weren't high, but... wow. The sole good point was that the soundtrack was better than "Roller Boogie", but why did they have to use "Boogie Wonderland" AGAIN in a roller disco movie? Dave Mason wasn't even a disco artist and somehow wound up in this movie. The script is LAUGHABLY bad and the dialogue seems to be written by a 12-year-old, made somehow worse by all-around lousy acting and directing. The cast is comprised of TV comedy actors who couldn't get hired for anything else that year. Even Maureen McCormick's hotness was negated by the part they wrote for her. Most of the women spend their time giving flirty looks when they aren't behaving stupidly (like how an 8-year-old IMAGINES grown women act and speak in a club). As far as the "skater gang" idea: how tough can you really be in disco uniforms on roller skates? For a disco movie to work at all, you need at least one actor/actress with extreme sex appeal to take your mind off the fad saturation, and Swayze wasn't quite there yet. It's not funny. It's not romantic. I'd have been better off watching somebody fart for an hour and a half. Kudos to Patrick Swayze's career for surviving this. Ugh.

This is the very definition of a guilty pleasure film. Teenage blondes in hot pants and mini skirts, Scott Baio, Marcia Brady, stoners, food fights, midgets, cross dressers, and "Introducing Patrick Swayze" it all takes place within one night within the wall of Skatetown USA! The plot: Yes, there actually is a plot. True to the Greek unity of time and place the entire film is set in one night inside a roller disco which appears to be the space ship from 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' only BRIGHTER! The night starts with Scott Baio placing huge bets that his rookie friend Stan can sweep the roller disco competition. But there are troubles in techno paradise as Patrick Swayze and his Ron Jeremy look alike gang arrive on scene and black mail Flip Wilson (no puns intended) Skatetown USA's owner into rigging the contest. Swayze's performance boldly says that no closet can hold him. But Stan's puts John Travolta performance in 'Staying Alive' to shame. All in all this is a fun film that never takes itself to seriously. There's some good music which is difficult for the 70s and some really impressive dance scenes. There's also plenty of PG T&A.

I really wish they would release this on DVD. You gotta love those late 70's early 80's movies about Rollerskating. If you liked Rollerboogie, you'll love this! It's not a work of art, but it's a lot of fun, especially if you grew up in that time period. If anything it's fun to laugh at and say, "I really liked this crap?" How can you beat the all star cast of Scott Baio, Maureen McCormick, and that blonde guy who "acted" with Scott Baio as the jerky jock in Zapped. If you loved the 70's and afterschool specials, I highly suggest (if they ever release this) to give it a viewing. You'll laugh, you'll cry (that your actually having fun watching it), and it just might become your favorite movie about late 70's Rollerdisco.

I know this isn't saying much, but after Saturday Night Fever, this was the best of the disco themed movies. Unlike SNF, this movie took the tact of most other disco films and tried to capture the "fun" side of disco, and greatly succeeds where many others of this type failed.Although most of the skits are only mildly amusing, the characterizations are on the money and work well.As with any musical, the dance numbers and songs make this movie and really make you want to dance and sing along with it(if you know how to roller skate)Once again, if you want a semi-historical document that seems to capture the tone of disco, this is a classic.

This movie falls in with ALL of the disco movies....it is better off mothballed and forgotten. As most of the disco era movies go, they reflect a time that is ridiculed for the idiocy that goes hand in hand with Disco music.

Skatetown USA along with Roller Boogie is a celebration of that brief time that roller disco was ruling the youth culture. Unless you like the music scene, rollerskating, or want to see this variety of current and former performers from television stroll on the screen and do their bit one better avoid the film. But the music and the choreographed skating numbers are the thing here and the plot such as it is just gets in the way. Scott Baio from The Valley is manager of skating brother and sister Greg Bradford and Maureen McCormick and he's brought them to that Mecca of roller disco palaces Skatetown USA to take on the champ Patrick Swayze who has a large and menacing posse. In fact Swayze will do just about anything to win so Baio has to be on his toes. Flip Wilson owns Skatetown USA along with Billy Barty and Flip has some scenes as his drag character Geraldine. A whole lot of other familiar TV faces make an appearance and hopefully their paychecks cleared the bank. Greg Bradford was and remains the ultimate surfer boy. He and Swayze are both talented dancers and the competition is fierce. This was Swayze's film debut. His acting chops were displayed later in his career. Unless you are nostalgic for the era, Skatetown USA is not your film.

I really loved this movie it was so cool and oh man Patrick Swayze looked so hunky. I am also a big fan of Kelly Lang she is one of my favorite actresses from Bold and the Beautiful she was so young and beautiful and she still looks hot. I would love to see this movie again again and again I love 70's disco skating movies. I love all the wonderful skating tricks that are performed it really was just great. Also the blonde guy in the movie was pretty hot too is he in any other popular movies? Also I really liked that little short guy he really made the movie fun and wonderful to watch as well as miss Marcia Brady herself in that nice little outfit she wore wow! She has good taste in skating attire. Oh and let us not forget the skate town doctor he was really just funny man cool guy love the actor. You just got to watch this movie.

As with "Xanadu", "Roller Boogie", etc. you have to watch this one and decide for yourself. If you liked those other disco movies, you'll very probably like "Skatetown U.S.A." The basic plot consists of clashing roller skate gangs and who's going to win the contest. Actually it's not bad in some respects. Much better skating sequences than Xanadu for example. And the cast combined a lot of teen talent of the time; Baio, Swayze, etc. (In fact I believe this was Swayze's first film). The story is predictable and weak, but it's the music that makes this type of film. I also liked the wild-haired DJ! I wish this film would be released on video. My copy is a 16mm print with mono sound. I'm sure a stereo track would enhance it quite a bit. Skatetown U.S.A. has never been released on video and I've never heard of it being aired on TV so it might be tough to find a copy.

If anyone knows where i can get a copy, please email me at kimpossible1969@sbcglobal.net I have been looking for this movie for a long time. I called everywhere I have looked on line and it is no where to be found. I don't understand how you can get movies from the fifty's but you can get a movie made in 1975. Any ideas would greatly be appreciated. Out of all the movies i remember this one the most as a child and would love to get it. I loved this movie. I thought for sure there would be more people looking for it. Going skating in the 70's as a child and then going to see this movie was a great memory for me. Thank you! Kim :0)