DVD Review: Steve Boyum’s Supercross on Fox Home Entertainment

Was it too much for Fox to include Daryl Hannah’s deleted scenes on this DVD edition of Supercross?

SupercrossThe press notes for Supercross indicate Steve “Timecop: The Berlin Decision” Boyum’s new film is supposed to run a scant 98 minutes, but according to my watch it barely clocked in at 80. I’m all for curbing anyone’s misery, but what gives here? At the very least, someone has to explain what the hell happened to Daryl Hannah, who, according to the film’s invite and press stills, was supposed to make an appearance at some point. Guess someone didn’t want Hannah and Robert Patrick’s presence in this ode to “the second-fastest-growing motor sport in the U.S., behind only NASCAR” to turn off the film’s prospective audience: the same 16 to 25 year olds who patronize and participate in Supercross events every year. The message is clear here (too many geezers stink up the Gen Y pot!), but who’s the messenger: Fox or Clear Channel? Since I can’t imagine any suit at a film company showing this kind of wanton disregard for storytelling, character development, and pacing, my money’s on Clear Channel, official promoter of Supercross and one of the film’s major sponsors. Something of a cross between Nintendo’s Excitebike and Beverly Hills 90210, Supercross: The Movie hastily fashions a plotline involving sparring brothers, the chicks they love, and the cold lessons of the motorcycle association around a banal spectacle of bikes flying into the air and dirt flying into the camera. Lousily shot and seemingly written by a prepubescent girl (“Typical guy, when it comes to the real deal, they’re all duh”), the film is nothing but a Clear Channel shill.

Image/Sound

There’s lots of dirt in the film, but there’s little of it on the actual print-that’s good news, of course, except the image quality is muted and dull. Edge enhancement isn’t a problem but I noticed some combing in spots. In short: a mixed bag. Audio is much better. Dialogue is really clear and the surround work is outlandish whenever a bike revs into high gear, which is quite often.

Extras

Well, Steve Boyum’s commentary track isn’t exactly the worst thing in the world, but I still can’t imagine anyone wanting to suffer through any of it for more than a few minutes unless they have a vested interest in the film or the world of supercross. Also included here are five preposterously short featurettes (subjects include: “stunts,” “stunt doubles,” and-get this-“the story”) and an Inside Look at The Sentinel.

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Overall

Was it too much for Fox Home Entertainment to include Daryl Hannah’s deleted scenes on this DVD edition of Supercross?

Score: 
 Cast: Steve Howey, Mike Vogel, Sophia Bush, Cameron Richardson, Robert Patrick, Channing Tatum, Daryl Hannah, Carolina Garcia, JD Pardo, Ryan Locke, Robert Carradine, Aaron Carter  Director: Steve Boyum  Screenwriter: Bart Baker, Ken Solarz  Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment  Running Time: 82 min  Rating: PG-13  Year: 2005  Release Date: January 31, 2006  Buy: Video

Ed Gonzalez

Ed Gonzalez is the co-founder of Slant Magazine. A member of the New York Film Critics Circle, his writing has appeared in The Village Voice, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications.

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