If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I have started working my way through Kevin Costner's filmography in order, starting with 1985's Fandango. Plot In A Paragraph: In 1971 a group of five friends who have just graduated from college set out on a final road trip for one last hurrah before Vietnam or adulthood claim them. The destination: Mexico, to dig up their old friend "Dom". Steven Spielberg saw Kevin Reynolds' short film Proof and was so impressed with it that he had him expand it into feature length. Spielberg also produced the flick through Amblin.Kevin Costner (in his first good role) is the leader of the gang of friends who call themselves The Groovers, with Phil Hicks (Judd Nelson) as his second in command. The other three Groovers include the hulking and bearded Kenneth (Sam Robards), the self- conscious Lester (Brian Cesak), and the narcoleptic Dorman (Chuck Bush). Part road trip movie, part coming of age drama. It's a mix of American Graffiti and Stand By Me. This movie is an absolute little gem. The first time I seen it (after finally tracking a copy down to fill the blanks in, in my KC collection) I was amazed I had never seen it before, come to think of it, I'd never heard anyone mention it before. It's not even available on DVD in my country!! Admittedly the title did nothing for it (although someone requests the Fandango be played at the end of the movie) It also had a poor uninspiring trailer.The movie has some serious laugh out loud moments and features a great soundtrack with Alan Silvestri's score and some classic songs. This for me is the first time KC delivers a good performance. He is a charming, smooth talking slacker. It's an enthusiastic performance, and it's impossible not to like his character. In fact his character could quite easily be Crash Davies from Bull Durham or Roy McCovoy from Tin Cup. Judd Nelson also delivers a top performance as the butt of most of the gangs jokes.Inexplicably Spielberg didn't like the results so he took his name off of it. He did however use leading man KC for an episode of Amazing Stories later.Whilst Spielberg didn't like it Quintin Tarantino is a huge fan, and you can see the influence in his work, when you watch this movie. He was quoted in Empire as follows: "Fandango is one of the best directorial debuts in the history of cinema. I saw Fandango five times at the movie theater and it only played for a f***ing week, all right.You can see the influence on him, this movie opens with a description of the word Fandango, just as Pulp Fiction does, and you can see the use of the songs on the soundtrack too.Fandango was barely released in theaters and didn't receive much attention as a result. Warner Bros need to sort themselves out, and give this a real DVD release.

In 1985, the movie FANDANGO was released. It was headlined by a then- unknown Kevin Costner in his break-out role as the leader of a group of young Texan college graduates in 1971 when the U.S. was still in the war in Viet Nam. This is a road-trip movie and while I usually role my eyes at this genre (few are any good at all), I was pleasantly surprised by not only its winning outrageousness (involving parachutes and stoner pilots, among other things), but by its solid character development and deceptive wisdom. You can enjoy it on two levels: a prototype for later "extreme experience" movies like THE HANGOVER and SIDEWAYS, or as a poignant ensemble piece that slowly pulls you into the somber predicament of these young men.As you can see, at the Internet Movie Database this movie has quite a cult following from film aficionados and those who were lucky enough to catch it in theaters when it was originally released. Unfortunately, the movie is not available on DVD, but some kind soul was nice enough to upload the entire work in 9 installments on Youtube. I strongly recommend going there and finding it by searching "Fandango Kevin Costner."So sit back, grab a couple beers and some popcorn, and enjoy.Enjoy.P.S. -- Kevin Costner is at his best when he plays the mischievous jock in comedies (e.g., Tin Cup and Bull Durham). FANDANGO is no exception.

"There's nothing wrong with going nowhere, son. It's a privilege of youth": I think this quote may best summarize "Fandango", which gives much to think about, also in comparison to what is considered the first of all road pictures, "Easy rider". The myth and the out of time fashion of these road trips along US highways, still today pulsing with sense of liberty, is an element of attraction for the public of every time, mainly if accompanied by some good and emotionally powerful music. "Easy rider" was set in the 60's, when the myth of liberty was at its height, it was the celebration of the hippie era, of an ideology and watching it after 40 years, conveys a sense of tenderness towards the ingenuity of these bikers going nowhere, believing in freedom from all constrictions but unconscious of what they were really looking for. "Fandango" is set in 1971 but shot in 1985, US and universal history have taught a lot of things, and what is evident there, mainly in contrast with "Easy rider", is the deep consciousness of these mates, they perfectly know what they are looking for, they want to escape from what is hanging over their future lives, knowing that the myth of life on the road has lost all credibility. It is more a celebration of youth, of an age when you think that friendship and fun will last for ever, but you know that time must come to an end, and you need to do something, in this case an unforgettable road-trip, in order to postpone that end and escape from the forthcoming adulthood. Fandango, although extremely funny, almost irreverent, in situations and dialogues, leaves traces of deep nostalgia, and melancholia, pervaded as it is by such fear about life, in terms of responsibility, burdens, troubles. The skydiving adventure meant as the most extreme searching for life, and a desperate way to exorcise the coming of adulthood, is the most effective moment of the movie. Fandango shows some clichés, which however are part of this kind of movies, it is deeply American in the passionate way it celebrates life, freedom and the feeling of being "born to be wild", through a strong visual impact. However, it is undoubtedly entertaining, moving, thought-provoking, and emotionally engaging: really worth seeing, at least only for the wonderful locations, which frame very good performances, mainly a young and deserving Kevin Costner.

This is probably my favorite movie of all time. Kevin Costner's roll of Gardner as a carefree rebel pays homage to legends such as Marlon Brando and James Dean of past. Judd Nelson is brilliant as a young ROTC student "dying" to become a soldier of war. My favorite part is when they arrive at the parachute jumping school. Truman is a such a great character that adds great comedy to the film. And who can forget the drunk they drag along with them. What, he might have 2 lines in the entire movie!? Awesome! It all comes to the beautiful wedding they conjure up out of nothing down in Mexico somewhere. If you have never seen this movie, you must see it! It is more of a guy flick, but I think females would still enjoy it also. It is a great road trip movie! Magnifico!!!!!!