This is a very coming-of-age movie and focuses a lot on teenagers and issues that they have to deal with as well as on people, who are "stuck" living in small towns or poor areas with limited future prospects. Stef, played by Tom Cruise, has to perform well in football games, impress scouts from universities, and deal with his loving girlfriend Lisa. Other minor characters in the movie are teammate Brian, who unintentionally impregnates his girlfriend which destroys his plan to attend USC on a football scholarship, and Vinny Salvucci, who gets involved in crime and winds up behind bars. The plot peaks in the movie when Stef gets into a conflict with his coach, who, as a result, uses his influence to discourage other colleges from offering Stef any scholarships. Can Stef still make it out of the dying mill town via a scholarship or will he be stuck in a factory for the rest of his life? "All the Right Moves" proves that Tom Cruise had tremendous screen presence from the very beginning. His scenes with Nelson and Thompson provide dazzling hints of greater things still to come. Nelson, who may be better known for his comedic side, turns in an especially strong supporting performance as the coach who is both Stefan's tormentor and supporter at the same time. The story of the small-town kid dreaming to escape his surroundings for better things has been told so many times on television and film in so many different ways that it would be easy to dismiss "All the Right Moves" as just another tired re-telling. However, a familiar story is still engaging if told well and this film is proof of that.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.