Mask

The difference between this movie and many other biker films is this one is based on the true life story of Rocky and Rusty Dennis a mother and her son. Making this movie even more amazing was that the real life Rocky Dennis played fantastically by Eric Stoltz suffered from a rare and debilitating disease that caused facial deformity sometimes referred to as Lions disease. Yet in the gentle hands of his mother’s friends he felt safe and loved and had as near a normal a life experience as was humanly possible.

This 1985 biker flick can’t be called a feel good flick because it is just too damn sad. It does however portray the local outlaw bike club the “Turks” in the way a lot of us remember clubs to be. This unique group of misfits; who accept one another unconditionally often times treating each other better than family. It goes back to the way things used to be. This group of fun loving, yet family oriented, Harley riding, hard partying bikers show us the very best humankind has to offer, acceptance, compassion and forgiveness.

The bikes are authentic and stay true to the times complete with kick starter’s and tall fishtail pipes. You gotta love the clothes and the hair styles; again they do the eighties justice. I was surprised at the amount of big names that were in this one. From Cher who plays the loving but sometimes drugged out mother Rusty Dennis, to Sam Elliot, who plays Cher’s handsome biker love interest. The other well known names are Laura Dern and Estelle Getty to name just a few.

Although this may be considered the chick flick of biker films it most defiantly deserves a look. Pull out the Kleenex for this one because it will tug at your heart strings. I don’t care how tough you are this will make you laugh and cry.

This receives six out of six shots it’s right on target.