BMX BANDITS at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

TITLE : BMX Bandits
YEAR OF RELEASE : 1983
CLASSIFICATION : PG
DIRECTOR : Brian Trenchard-Smith
STARRING : Nicole Kidman, David Argue, John Ley, Angelo D'Angelo, James Lugton, Bryan Marshall, Brian Sloman, Peter Browne, Bill Brady, Linda Newton, Bob Hicks, Guy Norris, Chris Hession, Norman Hodges, Tracy Wallace.
TAGLINES :
* A High Flying Ride To Adventure!
* They're Burning up the streets!
* Three friends find a treasure and big trouble!
* What does a beautiful model have to do with a gang of BMX riding teenagers? That's just what she'd like to know!

If you were an Australian teenager in the 1980's chances are you would of caught "BMX Bandits" at the local cinema. It was the ultimate bike flick for teenagers, a white-knuckle thrill-ride of bike stunts and slapstick action comedy. "BMX Bandits" features A-list Hollywood superstar Nicole Kidman in her first major starring role. See a youthful 16 year-old Nicole as you have never seen her before, dressed in a BMX bike suit, complete with helmet and a blazing mass of curly red-hair. This critically acclaimed teen action flick from Down Under was nominated for 4 AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards including, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Supporting Actor (David Argue) and Best Screenplay.

Supermarket checkout chick, Judy (Nicole Kidman) and her two BMX biker buddies PJ & Goose (Angelo D'Angelo and James Lugton) become involved in a madcap crime caper after they discover a carton of stolen walkie-talkies that were going to be used for a bank robbery. In no time at all the three BMX Bandits (all in matching outfits) are on the run from a bunch of bumbling crooks who will stop at nothing to get their "talkies" back. Long before mobile phone were commonplace, our 3 BMX heroes use their walkie-talkies to outmaneuver and out muscle the hoods.

"BMX Bandits" makes excellent use of Sydney's scenic locations. The trio wreaks havoc at Warringah Mall as they ride down escalators and crash through shopping stands and terrorise local shoppers as they desperately try to escape from the crooks. Also, look out for the spectacular Manly waterslide sequence in which the three teens and their BMX bikes make their way down the waterslides with the creepy goons in hot pursuit. By the end of the film, every Australian teen that owns a BMX bike gets involved in the rousing "cavalry to the rescue" finale that comes complete with a massive flour bomb fight and a Keystone cops car pile up that causes an explosion of frothy foam. The end credit sequence even features the trio at the Grand Opening of the Manly BMX track, all-competing for trophies in the BMX championship races.

Director, Brian Trenchard-Smith of "The Man From Hong Kong" fame is on a winner with "BMX Bandits". He has successfully created an action-packed teen flick with a wacky plot that is brimming with bike stunts galore, crazy villains, stupid cops, outrageous situations and not to mention a very cute Nicole Kidman at her youthful best. "BMX Bandits" is an absolute delight, a highly recommended teen adventure that can be enjoyed by everyone and a definite must-see for any Nicole Kidman fan. For a great Saturday night at home watch "BMX Bandits" on a double-bill with "The Goonies", you won't be disappointed.

BMX Bandits [Blu-ray](1983)
A trio of bike-riding teens is up to its handlebars in action and suspense when they get in the middle of a skewed hi-tech crime caper. Loads of daredevil BMX stunts and high-flying excitement; David Argue, John Ley and Nicole Kidman (her first film role) star. AKA: "Short Wave." 88 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; interview.
BMX Bandits [DVD](1983) DVD
A trio of bike-riding teens is up to its handlebars in action and suspense when they get in the middle of a skewed hi-tech crime caper. Loads of daredevil BMX stunts and high-flying excitement; David Argue, John Ley, and Nicole Kidman (her first film role) star. AKA: "Short Wave." 88 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; interview.