The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide
|
The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide |
|
 | Tuff Turf (1986) |
Summary |
The new kid at a California high school becomes the target of thugs. |
Direction |
Fritz Kiersch |
Downey Factor |
Low. |
Character |
Jimmy Parker, the not quite bad boy drummer and pal of James Spader's lead. |
Looks |
Pretty good. Not as bad as in his other movies of the same era. |
Performance |
Comic relief. |
Love & Sex |
Makes out with 80s chick in back seat of car. |
Dies, Gay or Villain |
No, no, no. |
Other Actors |
James Spader |
Connection |
James Spader in Less Than Zero. |
Location |
The Valley, California, near Los Angeles |
RDJ Says |
I was a teenager when I went to L.A. to do Tuff Turf. I was on the Universal lot. I went to Los Angeles and it was like all my dreams came true. With no repercussions. It was the Eighties. And I fit in real well. |
Availability |
I had some trouble finding it on video. Released on DVD in Regions 1 and 4. |
Foreign Titles |
Brazil: Turf Tuff, O Rebelde (Turf Tuff, The Rebel) France: Quartiers Chauds (Hot Districts) Italy: Ultima Possibilità (The Last Possibility) Sweden: Rivalerna-Gatans Terror (Rivals: Terror of the Streets) |
Rotten Tomatoes |
20 % Fresh | 5 Reviews |
Critical View |
Rogert Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Tuff Turf is the worst teenage exploitation movie since Where the Boys Are. It even has an equally wimpy hero, a young actor named James Spader who seems so laid back and introspective and sensitive and zonked that it is occasionally all he can to do rouse himself to the level of speech. |
2 Reasons to See It |
1. Downey plays a shirtless drummer in an 80s band. 2. James Spader. |
Overall |
Cheesy. Really cheesy. |
If You Liked It |
You might also like Less Than Zero (1987), Weird Science (1985) |
Photos |