James Spader

Kim Richards

Paul Mones

Matt Clark

Claudette Nevins

Olivia Barash

Robert Downey Jr.

Panchito Gómez

Michael Wyle

Catya Sassoon

Francis X. McCarthy

Art Evans

Herb Mitchell

Ceil Cabot

Donald Fullilove

Vivian Brown

Bill Beyers

Jered Barclay

Lou Fant

Gene Pietragallo

Donna Fuller

Evonne Kezios

Cheryl Ann Clark

Matt Gavin

Chad McCann

William Bergman

John Berry Jr.

Rick Braun

Mark Campbell

James R. Coile

Peter Freiberger

Andrew Kastner

Jack Mack

John Paruolo

Greg Smith

Dale Gonyea

Randy Lowell

Jon Ewen

Tom McShane

Wes Moczulski

Ray Zimmerman

Jim Carroll

Eric Kiertzner

Mike Lea

Tom Sims

Fritz Kiersch

Jette Rinck

Marc Grossman

Bob Manning

Pat Kehoe

Donald P. Borchers

Willy Kurant

Anne Kuljian

Greg Collins O'Neill

Linda Francis

Craig Stearns

Jonathan Elias

Kathie Clark

Murray Michaels

David DeCoteau

Kathy Webright

Teresa M. Austin

Susan Gelb

Susan Emshwiller

Patrica Swenson

Peter Borck

Craig Felburg

Ed White

Nancy Fogarty

Frankie Nixon

Terri Fricon

Scott Elias

Julia Evershade

Gay Jones

Robert Banas

Gregg Barbanell

Vince Deadrick Jr.

Christy Ann Newquist

Paula Moody

Steven Lambert

Steve Picerni

Pete Antico

Jeff Smolek

Bernie Pock

Spiro Razatos

Scott Wilder

Chuck Waters

Bob Yerkes

James R. Murray

Jesse Wayne

Stuart B. Hagen

Julie Purcell

Tandi Slater

Robert J. Anderson Jr.

Richard Davis Jr.

Peter Freitas

Lillian Youngblood

Giovanna Ottobre-Melton

Nita Nickerson

David E. Harshbarger

Anna Rita Raineri

Gregory R. Wolf

Joe Woo Jr.

Elliot Davis

Tracy Trotter

Martin J. Layton

Robert Isenberg

Allen Shelley

Peter Kalisch

Ron Wisnesky

James J. Gilson

Pascal Franchot

David Howes

John Reade

Jerry Workman

Tracy Neftzger

Woody Perkins

Richard Kuhn

Michael Haney

James R. White

Lonnie Sutter

James Gavin Bedford

Ellen Murphy

Greg Jacobs

Blake Leyh

Neil Brody

Gary C. Bourgeois

Joseph D. Citarella

Frederick Wasser

Richard Foreman Jr.

Arnold Finkelstein

Roger Armstrong

Drama

Action

Romance

Tuff Turf

Planet Productions

New World Pictures

New World Production

United States of America

1980s were a great time for young actors in Hollywood. So many performers were given vehicles to launch their careers, even if not always of top material, it got them visibility. This was the first lead for James Spader, as the moody new kid in school, in a situation striaght out of "Rebel Without A Cause". The rought boys pick on him, although he is instantly smitten by temptress Kim Richards, who has the longest hair in film history. Another misfit, Robert Downey Jr. befriends him, showing with a comic charm that would become a trait in later years. The movie has a feel that these are kids play acting as adults, but "Rebel" did that that as well. The fashions are on-trend, the frequent music interludes are new wave cool. This is a fun watch, if unremarkable.

**_A troubled new kid on the block has to dance and fight for a girl, not to mention respect_**

A prep from Connecticut (James Spader) starts his senior year at a public school in Los Angeles after his father loses his company and scales down in SoCal. He sets his eyes on the beautiful girlfriend (Kim Richards) of a gang leader (Paul Mones) and all hell breaks loose.
   
"Tuff Turf" (1985) is similar plot-wise to “The Karate Kid” from the year prior, but isn’t as effective because it tries to be too many things. It’s a musical, a coming-of-age drama, a teen comedy, a romance, an art film and a bloody gang flick all rolled into one.

The first half is an amusing musical with pizazz while the second half turns dramatic and violent. In short, it’s a mishmash of “Grease” (1978), “The Warriors” (1979), “Valley Girl” (1983), “Rumble Fish” (1983) and “The Karate Kid.”

I like it, but the finale in the warehouse devolves into larger-than-life surrealness. Still, the music’s great, Spader carries the movie, Robert Downey Jr. is entertaining in an early role and Kim Richards (child actress from the 70s) is jaw-dropping with her stunning hair. 

The film runs 1 hour, 51 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area.

GRADE: B-

English

Tuff Turf (1985) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]