Side Out: Blu-Ray Review

Peter Israelson directed a great number of music videos for 38 Special, Whitey Houston and more from 1982-2006. However, in 1990 he directed a single feature film, which would be the last for Aurora Productions (Due to flops like Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives). That film would be the beach volleyball dramedy, Side Out, starring C. Thomas Howell, Peter Horton and Courtney Thorne-Smith. This week, the film arrives on Blu-ray for the very first time, courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment.

When law student Monroe Clark (Howell) moves to Los Angeles for the summer, he is expecting some hands-on experience working with his Uncle Max (Terry Kiser), who deals in real estate law. While Monroe loves crashing in his uncle’s pool house, his first day at work, serving eviction notices isn’t what he was expecting. Getting swatted by a broom or having a shotgun pointed at your face isn’t the best way to earn a living.

One of the tenants Max wants to get out of the way is Zach Barnes (Horton), a former volleyball pro who is way behind on his rent. However, it isn’t the rent money that is wanted, as Max and the property owner have bigger plans for that piece of real estate.  It doesn’t take long for Monroe to find volleyball on the beach more appealing than evicting people, so he winds up spending his days playing with his new friend, Wiley (Christopher Rydell). Monroe is also falling in love with local surfer/server Samantha (Thorne-Smith). Zach agrees to coach Monroe and Wiley if Monroe agrees to help delay Uncle Max’s eviction.

Although Side Out is a 1990 release, it feels totally 80’s (In a good way).  The film features a great new wave soundtrack and fit’s new nicely with movies like Rad and Thrashin’.  Side Out is paint-by-numbers, but I like the cast, especially Courtney Thorne-Smith who I was familiar with mostly from Summer School at the time. If you are a fan of this one, now you can finally own it in HD.

By: Marc Ferman