Very disappointing...

Sadly Over-hyped

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Kevin Costner and David Marshall Grant are a pair of brothers named Summers who are not the closest pair going. Both are bicycle racers. Costner was a champion and has now retired from the sport and is a sports medicine doctor. The other one is a talented racer but a playboy and won't settle down to train for the sport and has no great career ambitions.It's Costner who gets Grant to train seriously by promising to come out of retirement and race with him in the great Colorado bike race known as American Hell because of the stark barrenness of the landscape they race on. What Grant doesn't know is that Costner has an aneurysm which can break at any time and cause instant but painless death. It gives Costner an added incentive to get Grant to straighten up and fly right.There are some nice scenes with Costner and Grant and Janice Rule who plays their mother. Their dad died of this same thing and the tendency to aneurysm is inherited. There's a couple of women attracted to the Summers boys, Rae Dawn Chong and Alexandra Paul who become biker groupies. I suppose every sport and every musician has them.The cycling scenes are beautifully photographed in Colorado and are worth seeing the film alone. But the essence of American Flyers isn't sport or scenery, it's the conflict between the brothers who come together in the end as good families do.You might want to take up cycling yourself after seeing American Flyers.

'American Flyers' features a strong cast who gamely (and yet sadly unsuccessfully) attempt to breathe life into a script that is leaden with an overflow of 80s melodrama; the most egregious of which is a third act switch-a-roo that feels every bit the cheap storytelling gimmick that it is.The race action is well shot, but dull and un-engaging. If director John Badham thought he was delivering a rise to your feet and cheer sports movie, he was sadly mistaken.Despite the best efforts of the impressive assembled talent, 'American Flyers' gets a flat long before it crosses the finish line.

PlotWhen David Sommers (David Marshall Grant) is not struggling as a college student, he is an avid cyclist who routinely goes on long bike runs. Recently his father died of a brain aneurysm and his mother fears that David has inherited the same condition as her husband. One night David's brother, Marcus (Kevin Costner), comes over for a visit. Marcus is a seasoned cyclist who has competed in several big races. He is also a practicing doctor with a steady girlfriend named Sarah (Rae Dawn Chong). After a series of tests are performed by Marcus, David gets a clean bill of health, but when David overhears Marcus talking he believes he really is going to die. Little does David know that the one who is endangered of dying of a brain aneurysm is his brother Marcus. Marcus had intended to keep this piece of information a secret because he didn't want anything to stand in the way of the big race he had planned to enter with his younger brother. Only Sara and a trusted friend know he may die any day now. Soon Marcus, David and Sara are off to train on the way to Colorado. Along the way the trio finds their way to a fast food restaurant where David meets Becky (Alexandra Paul) awaiting her hamburger order. She agrees to join him on his journey and become a part of Team Sommers.Character DevelopmentBecause events are moving so quickly there most likely wouldn't be time for character development, yet some characters are noticeable changed to a degree. It is a little more than a crack of light, but it is there. One character that comes along is the mother, yet this character only has a bit part so the overall effect is marginal at best. David becomes a little more worldly and Marcus seems more grounded and at peace with himself. They are all layers of degrees.ActingThe acting was fairly solid with the lend actors and the surrounding cast, though there was one scene I found cringe-worthy every time I see it. Even though it is during an emotional moment I thought it was completely over the top. Thankfully the scene was short and there were no more scenes that display this similar type of awkwardness. The only other time where events reached near this point was at a dinner party that got out of hand, but I can forgive this because in comparison this was a slight imperfection. I think the lesson to be learned here is that oftentimes less is more because over acting is drawing too much attention to one performer and not letting the writing and the other actors pull their own weight.OverviewThis is an enjoyable film that I have seen a number of times. It has some nice shots early on during the opening and some outstanding ones during the big race. The producers really went all out with quite a few of them. I wouldn't be surprise to hear that riders were injured during the course of filming. Needless to say the "Hell of the West", the race the staring leads entered onto definitely looked dangerous, living up to the hype that the movie was trying to sell the viewer on and then some.

Delightful film, directed by John Badham, stars Kevin Costner and David Grant as brothers who decide to participate in a Colorado race as a team--one of the two dying of a brain illness--and it's a difficult, grueling three-stage(each stage is one day)affair where they will be competing with the very best bikers in the world, including a Russian Olympiad and the previous winner(who Costner could've beaten had he not been content with second, letting off so that Cannibal could win). It's one of those kinds of adventure dramas with plenty of heart, sincerity, and tenderness, maybe a bit too "feel good" for some. The story is ultimately about brotherly love and even develops a romance with a hitchhiking traveler trekking cross country(an adorable Alexandra Paul) and Grant. Ray Dawn Chong is Costner's love interest who drives the team van, assisting them when they need repairs. Costner is really good as the big brother who has been keeping a secret from his sibling and has reasons for motivating him to join him in the Colorado race. Not only is the cast irresistible, but the race is quite thrilling and compelling, albeit predictable in the ROCKY/KARATE KID tradition. A real winner, I believe, with a satisfying conclusion containing a great message about perseverance against multiple obstacles. I have always been partial to bike race movies(or stunt bike movies)and believe this would be an ideal pairing with BREAKING AWAY. Luca Bercovici is the Brother Sommers' nemesis, Muzzin(nicknamed the Cannibal), once married to Chong's character. Paul and Grant have wonderful chemistry on screen and the love Costner and Chong share is quite genuine and heart-felt. I really think the film hums nicely when the Sommers ride together where you can see the joy visible on both of their faces. John Amos, as Costner's business partner operating a fitness gym, is wonderful. Paul really shines here, her engaging smile and exuberant personality really won me over.