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Very well executed

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

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

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Here is a movie that creeps into my mind every now & again. It is a film called Tuff Turf, which was released around at this time back in 1985. I even saw this in a theatre! I was only six years old. My family – they were a little lax to say the least. At the time I found the movie to be very entertaining. It is basically a Romeo and Juliet type of story. Boy and girl fall in love, despite her menacing boyfriend. It was romantic, suspenseful, and even slightly humorous. There are two distinct scenes that have always come to mind whenever I think about this movie: one scene is when Kim Richards and a friend were sitting at a table located outside of a fast-food joint and they were running late for something. Her friend was slowly eating her lunch (kinda like me; I'm a slow eater too) so an anxious Kim Richards grabbed her burger and just shoved it in her face. I thought that scene was quite funny. Another memorable moment was the violent climactic end, which was very drawn out. The showdown took place inside some abandoned warehouse. I remember being particularly frightened by that scene because the bad guy just would not die. No matter how hard James Spader fought, the guy would not go down. There is also some cheesy eighties song at the end of the movie, which is kinda catchy. It goes: "T-U-F-F. You're so tough..." Something like that. I have actually seen this film only that one time, but it is something I still kind of vividly remember. I give it a B- I think it's pretty good. Probably somewhat dated now. Also, Robert Downey Jr. is in this. It's one of his earlier roles. Decades before playing Tony Stark.

This mid-80's James Spader vehicle starts off well enough, but its too long for its own good and becomes meandering after awhile. Not to say that this high-school rebellion/revenge movie isn't watchable, as it is, thanks, in no small part, to good acting, a great soundtrack and a perfectly suitable sense of style. It just sadly falls apart far before the end credits, complete with a song based on the title of the film, roll. Still perfectly good for a lazy rainy day afternoon. Also if you're simply looking to get a gander at the awesome Kim Richards topless, I have a little bit of bad news as its a body double.My Grade: C+

Director Fritz Kiersch made the drab "Children Of The Corn". Fortunately, this is anything but drab. James Spader is terrific as a rebellious youth whose family moves from Connecticut to Los Angeles. He gets himself embroiled in some very nasty trouble almost right away when he inadvertently tangles with local sociopath Nick Hauser, played with creepy authenticity by Paul Mones. The fact that Spader has an eye for the stunning girlfriend of Mones, Kim Richards, doesn't help his situation, either, but it's a great set-up for a violent, fast-paced teen flick.After this little gem, Spader starred as one of the screen's greatest miscreants, Eddie Dutra, in Sean Cunningham's incredible "The New Kids" (see my review). Then, "Sex Lies and Videotape" gave Spader's career a big shot in the arm and took him miles away from roles like this, at least for a decade or so."Tuff Turf" has a mean streak and isn't afraid to lather on the violence and bloodshed. Kiersch's direction is energetic and tight, and he is ably assisted in the atmosphere department by composer Jonathan Elias, who delivers a pumping, moody synth score. Kim Richards, with her long straight hair and sexy wardrobe, personifies a teen lust object, and injects her role with more than a little subtlety. A very young Robert Downey Jr. has a subordinate role as Hauser's only friend and acquits himself well.The film's climax, set in a warehouse, is brutal and bloody, and the sequence in which Spader's bicycle is destroyed demonstrates virtuoso cutting, sound design and cinematography. This is a very well made movie with plenty of "attitude" and lots of style.

Tuff Turf brings back memories of watching movies on Select TV. This 80's cult hit is about a young rapscallion who's life is turned upside down when his upper class father hits financial trouble forcing his family to move out to the 'hood. James Spader slowly learns how to deal with street life whilst his family adjusts to dealing with people that are of "lower social class". Interesting film staring James Spader as the young punk rich kid, Matt Clark as his shell shocked father, Robert Downey Jr. as his high school buddy and Kim Richards (Escape To Witch Mountain) as his soon to be girlfriend. The only part of the movie that gave me the willies was when his older (more culturally refined) brother pays a visit, there's an oedipal conflict between the two (the scene where the older brother embraces his mom far too long and hugs her too close for comfort)that would have given Freud a thrill to try and psycho-analyzed. Recommended for 80's fans.