Disaffected teenager Eric Roberts (a solid and likable portrayal by Brandon Douglas) runs away from home and goes to New York City, where he joins a gang of juvenile delinquents who eke out a living pushing dope for smooth and cunning drug dealer Otis Travis (ably played with lizard charisma to spare by Howard E. Rollins Jr.). Meanwhile, Eric's worried mother Sue (an excellent and affecting performance by Joanna Cassidy) desperately combs the streets of New York in search of her missing son.Writer/director Curtis Hanson relates the engrossing story at a brisk pace, maintains a pretty tough and gritty tone throughout (Eric at one point even finds himself in a car with some creepy pedophile), displays in a realistic and unsentimental manner exactly why certain kids fall into a life of crime and vice, and makes fine use of the grimy Big Apple locations (yep, there are plenty of choice shots of Time Square in all its sublimely seedy mid-80's glory). Better still, Hanson never gets preachy about the subject matter and doesn't pull any punches concerning the ultimate dismal fates of certain characters. Moreover, the sound acting from the capable cast holds this picture together, with especially stand-out contributions from David Ackroyd as Eric's jerky stepdad Peter, Larry B. Scott as the streetwise and ambitious Skater, Jason Bernard as the practical Lt. Devins, and Danny Nucci as the decent, but down on his luck Luis Sotavento. Joe Spinell has a nifty small role as a gruff street vendor. Michael Shrieve's moody and pulsating score hits the funky-throbbing spot. Robert Elswit's slick cinematography provides a glittery neon look. Recommended viewing.

I just watched this movie online because I love watching movies about the "Old New York City" before gentrification and this one is definitely one of the funniest that I've seen.The movie's about this kid from Pennsylvania who's life really isn't all that bad(which I think kind of undermines the movie's premise), but decides to runaway from home because he just doesn't like his step dad who makes does such horrible things like, making him watch his younger brother, while his parents get a much deserved night out.So, after disobeying his parents and not watching his 3 year old brother, leaving the baby in it's crib by itself, and going to a rock concert, he gets in trouble, and overhears his parents say that life would be "easier without him" while eavesdropping on their conversation and decides to just leave his relatively comfortable suburban existence and go live in Time Square in New York City.It's there he runs into child molesters and falls in with a drug gang called The Leopards, which is the least intimidating sounding gang of all-time. Even worse, the main gang member is the gay Black dude from "Revenge of the Nerds", who's playing some sort of street smart tough with some some of jewelry wrapped around his head.The leader of the gang is the terribly miscast Howard Rollins who plays some sort of slick drug kingpin, who uses children to sell drugs for him because they won't get much jail time.Ultimately, these types of movies usually end up the same eventually, but this one's good for a laugh at the ridiculousness of the '80s and for the landscape of a bygone era in Old New York.

One of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. The plot is predictable. The handling of this interesting and relevant topic is clumsy and superficial. The editor was clearly not much involved with the film; the editing is shoddy and looks like it has been completed in a hurry. The acting? Stilted and unnatural. The characters, even that of the protagonist, is one-dimensional. The actors are supposed to be homeless and work on the street, but every day they look as if they have just left a beauty parlor, not a hair out of its place. Typical sitcom looks. I am trying to find something positive to add, but sorry, there is nothing. I am not going to waste more time with this one. It is not worth it.

The 80s was the primal decade for assorted cautionary tales about the delinquent teen, the victimized teen, and the troubled teen, inspiring a slew of dated after-school specials that most of us were forced to watch at some point in high school. This one, however, was done much better than most (and is even less so burdened by dated appearance, dialogue and more).Brandon Douglas, somewhat of an 80s-bit part sitcom regular, plays 14 year old Eric who runs away to the romanticized Times Square after confrontations with his step-father who makes it clear he doesn't want much to do with the boy. His mother tries to stick up for the boy in instances, but ultimately defers parenting authority to the idiotic step-father, so Eric decides that since he's ultimately unwanted, he's ready to head out on his own into parts of New York city where the lonely teen seeking affection finds solace in the false securities and affections of all the wrong people--hustlers, drug dealers, etc. Eric befriends a young drug runner who's part of a disciplined gang called 'The Leopards,' run by a fast-talker named Otis, the only adult these kids seem to be able to trust. He promises security, family, and money for all who obey the rules and successfully do their part in dealing cocaine. And all the while, Eric's mother is frantically searching the city in search of her runaway son (played very well by Joanna Cassidy).There is another story that shares some of the spotlight, that of a struggling single mother and her three young children. Danny Nucci plays the oldest, Luis, who is tired of seeing his mother working so hard to provide for he and his young sisters. So, when their apartment burns down and they're moved from a shelter to a hotel, it is not long before he finds a fast, but dangerous way of making money: The Leopards. Though we switch from Eric's position to Luis position in an almost rhythmic pattern, the story is largely centered on Eric.I'm not sure how true to life some of these depictions are. This story seems to move rather quickly and in some instances, it doesn't look like Eric or Luis exhibit much judicious forethought about the situations they find themselves in such as when they're asked whether they want to join The Leopards. It's taken to a level that models somewhat 'Chain of Gold,' the Joey Lawrence/John Travola movie made a few years after this.But, it does its best to add particular doses of reality. There is hardly much cheesiness, and it does make it's seriousness clear, especially during the latter half of the film when the kids find themselves in more trouble than they bargained for. And it doesn't end on a sappy, unrealistic high note where the mother's love for her son and the comfort of family is realized for all.There's lot of 80s favorites here, cast-wise. Brandon Douglas and Joanna Cassidy, as mentioned before. Plus a young Danny Nucci; Larry B. Scott (of Revenge of the Nerds); and Ami Dolenz among other familiar faces. Worth trying if you can find it.