Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

I wrestled with whether or not to write this review only because it would involve admitting that I had viewed this particular film and, in fact, had done so recently. It represents a lot in film that I, as a rule, avoid. I'm not opposed to movies that make a viewer think judgmentally, use their intuition, and even balk a bit at "real" life. But I also attempt to fill myself up with what is good, that which I strive toward rather than that which I want to avoid. With that disclaimer...River's Edge....

This is a film which seems to run in opposition to itself. A typical 1980's use of film throwing in the requisite music, fashion, and general theme that parents know nothing and simply yell a lot while their children hold far superior morals and understanding. I don't recall actually feeling that way about my parents in the Eighties, although to view many of the teeny bopper movies of the day it seems my peer group was experiencing this very thing.

Yet while the "I-Love-Her-She-Doesn't-Love-Me-But-Now-She-Does" formula of many films of this decade presented the essential plot, River's Edge is decidedly different. It attempts to present a moral debate among a group of friends of the high school generation. Rather than revolve around romance, sex, athletics it chooses to revolve around murder. In fact, rather than begin from a high point and move lower, it begins at the low point and stays that way throughout most of the experience.

While it could have been an interesting Independent Film utilizing unknowns, part of the potential is wasted in casting. Keanu Reeves delivers a performance with the swagger he forgot to leave with the Bill And Ted's... films, adding with it the constant use of joints in the film and I was very distracted waiting for him to say "Duuude!" or some equally deep exclamation.

Thrown in the mix is Ione Skye ("Ione Skye Leitch" at the time of this movie), the 1980's big-lipped, pouting teen who always gets her man (men). She is as unstimulating in this movie as she was in Say Anything (ruining John Cusack's performance in that one). She plods through, possessing the biggest female role in this movie never really doing anything significant. Apart from needing a love scene for Keanu, her presence is unmoving and fairly unnecessary.

Crispin Glover is the "leader" of a group of high school students, reminding viewers of the warped sense of what makes a good leader that we had as adolescents. He is initially annoying but pulls off something redeeming toward picture's end, perhaps the only role truly getting across some form of a message to take with post-credits. He is a joint-smoking lad with Dennis Hopper as a friend. Doesn't get much more interesting.

And speaking of Hopper, his portrayal of a middle-aged recluse of a man in a constant haze of marijuana was not much of a stretch. Unfortunately, he wasn't given many interesting lines, and while necessary as the source of pot for our band of adolescents he wraps up the film a bit too neatly just minutes before the finale.

River's Edge fails in most respects. Some form of moral or message and story of teen angst was purported, while instead we see a stereotypical group of 80s actors stumbling through a concept that had potential. Throw in their lives as the children of irresponsible white dysfunctional parents and you have what is essential a John Hughes film with a dead body thrown in for interest.

Please avoid this one both for the sake of your precious time. No new lessons will be learned except, perhaps, that the 1980s was really quite a ridiculous time when it came to making movies about adolescence.

Recommended: No

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: None of the Above
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age