Tuff Turf brings back memories of watching movies on Select TV. This 80's cult hit is about a young rapscallion who's life is turned upside down when his upper class father hits financial trouble forcing his family to move out to the 'hood. James Spader slowly learns how to deal with street life whilst his family adjusts to dealing with people that are of "lower social class". Interesting film staring James Spader as the young punk rich kid, Matt Clark as his shell shocked father, Robert Downey Jr. as his high school buddy and Kim Richards (Escape To Witch Mountain) as his soon to be girlfriend. The only part of the movie that gave me the willies was when his older (more culturally refined) brother pays a visit, there's an oedipal conflict between the two (the scene where the older brother embraces his mom far too long and hugs her too close for comfort)that would have given Freud a thrill to try and psycho-analyzed.

Recommended for 80's fans.

Preppy bad boy Morgan Hiller (an excellent and charismatic performance by James Spader in an early lead role) transfers from an East Coast prep school to a new school in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood. An incorrigible troublemaker, Morgan runs afoul of vicious gang leader Nick Hauser (a nicely menacing portrayal by Paul Mones) and falls for Nick's foxy girlfriend Frankie (Kim Richards at her most insanely hot and appealing). Director Fritz Kiersch, working from an absorbing script by Jette Rinck, relates the engrossing story at a brisk pace, brings plenty of dazzling slick and sinewy style to the sturdy material, neatly blends moments of raucous humor with more poignant and subdued dramatic scenes, and stages the surprisingly bloody'n'brutal violence at the rousing conclusion with ferocious go-for-the-throat brio. The chemistry between Spader and Richards is quite strong and steamy. The sound acting from the capable cast keeps the narrative on track: Robert Downey Jr. handles comic relief duties with delightfully cheeky aplomb as smartaleck Jimmy Parker, Olivia Barash adds a dash of sass as the brash Ronnie, Matt Clark does fine work as Morgan's decent and honest working class dad, and Claudette Nevins likewise contributes a creditable turn as Morgan's worried mother. Moreover, Spader really struts his stuff as he woos Richards, dances, crashes a posh country club (a stand-out sidesplitting sequence),beats up the bad guys at the exciting climax, and even sings while playing a piano. The dynamic rock soundtrack and the funky pulsating synthesizer score by Jonathan Elias delivers an extra galvanizing kick. Willy Kurant's gleaming cinematography gives this movie a glittery neon sheen. A total blast.

James Spader got himself a breakout role in Tuff Turf as a preppy kid from Connecticut resettled in a California public high school. Even though the family has had some financial reverses and aren't living the life Spader has become accustomed to, he still thinks of himself as to the manor born.

So when he spots Kim Richards who is the girlfriend of gang leader Paul Montes he decides to move in. Montes is a jealous and possessive sort and that means trouble all around.

The story has both Spader and Richards growing in character as well as into each other. Spader loses a bit of that preppy arrogance and Richards gradually realizes that Montes is a loser in the long run and she likes being treated with a little dignity and respect.

Robert Downey, Jr. is in Tuff Turf as well in the sidekick role for Spader. Montes gives a most frightening performance when he starts realizing Richards has slipped away from him.

Tuff Turf holds up well for today's audiences. It's a good Brat Pack film of the Reagan 80s.