LORDS OF DOGTOWN chronicles the rise of professional skateboarding, following the pioneers Stacy Peralta (John Robinson, ELEPHANT), Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch, IMAGINARY HEROES) and Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk, RAISING VICTOR VARGAS). In the late 1970s, polyurethane wheels allowed surfers to copy the sharp turns and tricks they were use to doing on surfboards in the oceans off Venice Beach, California. Owner of the Zephyr Surf Shop Skip Engblom (Heath Ledger, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN) sees the potential in pro skating and ponies up the money to sponsor some of the local kids.
At first Stacy is left off the team, because he has a part-time job, which conflicts with Skip’s desire for total dedication to training. Stacy is the clean-cut kid of the bunch, who has a thing for Tony’s sister Kathy (Nikki Reed, THIRTEEN). But she’s a bit wilder than Stacy and this leads to a love triangle between Stacy, Kathy and rebellious Jay, who gets caught up in gangs and drugs. Quietly, Jay tries to do his best to improve the situation of his flighty mother, Philaine (Rebecca DeMornay, THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE). Tony is a hothead who basks in the spotlight of their increasing fame. He also has a hard time dealing with his tough father (Julio Oscar Mechoso, THE LEGEND OF ZORRO).
Director Catherine Hardwicke (THIRTEEN) does a good job of recreating the 1970s and the skateboard scene of the time. Robinson and Rasuk play their parts well. Hirsch, who has been good in other films, seems to be acting tough more than being tough. However, the real standout is Heath Ledger as the hippie who wasn’t quite ready or equipped to become a major businessman.
At it’s core the film is about friendship and how skating brought those boys and girls together. Other notable performances come from Michael Angarano (SKY HIGH) as rich kid, tag along skater Sid, Melonie Diaz (RAISING VICTOR VARGAS) as Kathy’s friend Blanca, Johnny Knoxville (JACKASS) as pimp-like skate promoter Topper Burks and America Ferrera (REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES) in a scene stealing performance as skater groupie Thunder Monkey.
The real Stacy Peralta wrote the screenplay for the film based on his documentary DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS. His film is far superior to Hardwicke’s effort, which lacks some of the passion for invention that Peralta brought to his film. However, the film still captures enough of what skating is all about — it’s a bit rebellious, it’s a bit about a ragtag family and it’s a bit about fame. For that the film is worth seeing — and watching Ledger channel the vibe of Val Kilmer in THE DOORS is worth the price of admission too.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
