I watched this movie not long ago on TCM. I was surprised by how sexual the film really was. But also delighted that they didn't make it into some lovey dovey, puppy love nonsense. Trying to smother the sexual obsession that 99.9% of teens harbour. Of course the pairing of Darryl Hannah and Aiden Quinn couldn't flop. I mean they're perfect together. The contrast between their looks and acting styles. She's a blonde, blue eyed cheerleader, he the dark haired and light eyed Italian with a leather jacket and enough troubles to fill a circus tent. Yes, I know it's been done a billion times before and in exactly the same setting, mood and dialogue. But hey? Who says that real life characters such as these are ever going to get original themselves? It's one of my favourite raunch-o-rama teen flicks and even though its not in the league of "The Breakfast Club" or "Dirty Dancing", its soundtrack still kicks ass and plus it has a happy ending! Who can beat that?

The drawing card of "Reckless" in 1984 was in seeing its sexy young stars sans clothes. What...you thought it was the plot? The script is a relentless rip-off of every teen-angst drama from "Rebel Without A Cause" on down. Misunderstood high schooler (Aidan Quinn), whose brooding manner derives from an unhappy home and has alienated him at school, falls for the class sweetheart (Daryl Hannah), who is unhappy but doesn't know it yet. Yes, we get to see Quinn and Hannah partly nude, but their characters are clichés, as are the roles played by Kenneth McMillain (Quinn's surly pop) and Cliff De Young (overdoing it as an unsympathetic coach). Lots of gritty, industrial-town atmospherics, fine '80's rock on the soundtrack, but the leads don't act or speak like high schoolers--and Quinn looks far too old to still be cracking the books. ** from ****

Where can you get the soundtrack?? Romeo Void, INXS ("The one thing" - probably their best song) Bob Seger - very nice. Sure it's a little lame in the plot dept. but cool motorcycle, plenty of teen angst-it ain't Schindler's List but it works when you are surfing and happen upon it on a rainy weekend. Besides, Daryl Hannah never looks bad!

I'll admit I love this film. Quite a bit of the dialog doesn't make any sense; some of the characters are just there to hang the plot from; and Cliff DeYoung as the football coach gets most of the bad lines and his character, as well as the snotty cheerleaders, are all clichés. But these flaws don't detract from the appeal of the film. Darryl Hannah, and Aidan Quinn in particular, have a presence and a chemistry that keeps the film vibrant and alive. This was Quinn's first film, and I've liked him ever since I first saw it. Even as a novice he's a great actor. Hannah is not as good as he, but she's still very good as a well-to-do high school senior who's looking for something different but not sure what she wants. Quinn plays the misunderstood poor boy with an alcoholic father, who is beset by teachers, father, peers and police every way he turns. Due to a random pairing for a charity dance, they are brought together and eventually discover that what they are looking for is in each other. The last shot of the film, as the camera speeds down the highway to Bob Seger's "Roll Me Away", is one of my favorite shots of any movie. I'll agree it's corny, but it works and so does this film.The authentic steel-town atmosphere also helps to give the film a gritty realism; dark, smoggy, atmospheric and disturbing, it reminds me of the feel of the 80's. The soundtrack is superb; Romeo Void, INXS, and Kim Wilde's "Kids in America." Whenever I want to recapture that 80's feeling, when watching MTV was still new and exciting and they still played music you could take pleasure in listening to, and when the 80's groups were so avant-garde and on-the-edge, I watch this film. Sure enough, it can take me right back. Look past the sometimes inane dialog and be sure to catch this film; if you immerse yourself in the music it will work its spell. It hasn't been shown on on regular cable in years (it's rated R for some candid but convincing sex scenes), but in mid-2005 it was playing on the high definition cable channel INHD, looking and sounding fantastic, so it does show up occasionally. Warner Archive (http://www.warnerarchive.com) now (2011) offers it for sale as an "on demand," widescreen DVD. A great film for Friday or Saturday night, and don't forget to turn the volume way up!