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It’s disappointing to be letdown by a film that wants to be warmly received by all its audiences. While not ever as sharp or as blissful as Adventureland, the aim for its emotional appeal is the same. And, yet, it doesn’t quite make the mark.
Everyone involved in the production of director Anthony Burns’ Skateland owes the creators of Larry McMurtry’s The Last Picture Show some serious dough. It isn’t the theatre that’s closing this time. For this small Texas town, it’s the local skating rink. While the film is an easy slice of apple pie, Skateland’s lack of originality and wandering structure makes it seem a whole lot longer than it actually is.
Set in the early 1980’s, back when pop music was actually interesting, Skateland tells the story of one teen’s first dramatic summer out of high school and the choices he makes to fend off the coming storm known as the Reagan Era. Ritchie Wheeler (Shiloh Fernandez), a writer and self-admitted capitalist, is completely unsure of his next move. His parents (Brett Cullen and Melinda McGraw) are breaking up their marriage and the skating-rink he works at is shutting its doors for good. All he has is his kid sister Mary (Haley Ramm), his girlfriend Michelle (Ashley Greene), and his motorcrossing buddy Brent (Heath Freeman) who is back in town for a bit.
All anyone wants to do is party and not deal with the closing of Skateland and the changing of the times. Tough times are ahead for this gang from Longview, Texas.
That fact alone becomes the largest of Skateland’s problems. None of the characters are unlikable, yet neither are they worthy of your concern. Vapidity knows no limits with this cast. Bonding moments are lost to party scenes which don’t add much to the mix except beer and weed…which, in turn, does little for the viewer. The timelessness of one teen’s self-absorption gets reduced to a nostalgic fist-pumping soundtrack full of Van Halen, New Order, and Falco nods. Without the soundtrack? Consider the film lost.
For children of the 1980’s the movie has its fair share of moments that will inspire a sort of earnest nostalgia and, while the film is well-crafted, it comes across a little too meandering than it should. Fernandez’s performance certainly hints at better things to come, but here his smile and cheekbones only remind viewers of Joaquin Phoenix’s mad skills. Greene’s performance does little to elevate her out of the Twilight saga and, while aimless at best, Freeman adds a bit of futureshock paranoia to the movie.
Ultimately, the epically low-lit cinematography of Peter Simonite keeps this film elevated. You can, in no way, possibly mistake the laborious plot for a Lifetime movie with Simonite’s photographic talents. His vision is soaked in wistful sunsets and glorious pink-and-blue hues. It’s a nice touch that moves the picture into its era.
Skateland’s heart is certainly in the right spot. It wants to take a spin around the rink. Its laces are tied by the expert cinematography that sparkles with thoughtfulness and detail. Unfortunately, the movie, when you take it as a whole, is not quite ready to leave the safety rails.
MPAA Rating: 
