the Lakers vs. the Spurs... nah...
the Australian Open... only the 2nd round...
the Clippers vs. the Warriors... *yawn*...
American Idol... Seattle... hmmmm... not much talent there...
... oh... wha... hey - SIDEOUT (on one of the HD channels, no less)... I've struck GOLD!!!!!!!! Whoo-hooo (doing the happy dance)... it's my birthday... party over here... haaayyy!!!
*ahem - sorry about that*
This volleyball epic (1990) stars C. Thomas Howell, and Peter Horton, as the infamous "dead-beat", Zach Barnes. It also has appearances by Courtney Thorne Smith, a cameo by supermodel, Kathy Ireland, and a host of professional volleyball players - including Sinjin Smith & Randy Stoklos as the Kings of the Beach. In this film (which strangely didn't do as well as I thought it would at the box offices... just like the plethora of Van Damme movies I rather enjoyed... hmmmm, I think I just outed myself on the quality of movies I like... *heh*) - anyway, we find our hero Monroe (Howell) taking up the game of volleyball one summer and manages to find fulfillment both on the court... and off. In a short time (really, we're talking only ONE summer) Monroe acquires the skills necessary to take on Hermosa Beach's best volleyball players with the washed-up "former" King of the Beach, Zach Barnes. Barnes has his own demons to battle - a gambling problem, and serious lack of motivation to do anything more with his life. Still, he takes on the young Monroe, and together they overcome all obstacles vanquishing their archenemies (Smith & Stoklos) and capture beach volleyball's most prestigious title, Kings of the Beach.This film (which must've been shot over a weekend) teaches us that volleyball players (professional ones, anyway) shouldn't quit their day jobs and start an acting career. Of course, the converse is also true - that actors should not (and tend to be ill-equiped) to take on a career as a professional volleyball player. Yeah, there were a bunch of missteps in this movie - but it sure was fun watching some of volleyball's elite on the bigscreen. I especially liked the low camera angles, and close-ups used (oh, and the low net) to make Howell and Horton appear to jump 42 inches! The professionals were viewed at a wide angle, so you can see them playing on a regulation net...
How could this NOT be an award-winner!?!?!?!?
Okay, all kidding aside, this story line is as far from believable as you can get. Any seasoned player can see that both Howell and Horton were the WRONG picks for this film (unfortunately I was unavailable when shooting began). Not only was the acting bad (oh my gawd, it stunk like 4-year-old cheese), but there's no WAY some kid off the street (in this case a farm boy from Wisconsin) could pick up the game and beat the best players in professional volleyball - C'MON!! The final shot of the final game was made when Monroe did a 180-degree turn in the air, set the ball (illegally, mind you) to a waiting Barnes who crushed the ball to take the championship.
Yeah...
... it could happen. =S (And I'm going to win American Idol, too!!) *hahaha*
Geez... I can't believe I just finished watching the whole movie...
... again.
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