Product Details

• Actors: Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul, Janice Rule
• Directors: John Badham
• Writers: Steve Tesich
• Producers: Gareth Wigan, Gregg Champion, Paula Weinstein
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: December 21, 1999
• Run Time: 113 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000399WF
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,780 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "American Flyers" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

American Flyers could roughly be referred to as a cross between Breaking Away (also written by Steve Tesich) and Brian's Song. Sports physician Marcus (Kevin Costner, sporting a ludicrously big mustache) coaxes his flaky brother David (David Marshall Grant) into doing something with his life and training for a grueling bike race in the Colorado Rockies. The scenario is complicated, though, by family frictions and the fact that the brothers' dad died of a cerebral aneurysm that has been handed down to one of the brothers. The two train rigorously for the big event (part of their routine involves outrunning an angry pit bull every day), then pack the van and head West. Marcus's girlfriend is also the ex-wife of his main rival in the race circuit, providing a bit more intrigue. Veteran action director John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, War Games) excels during the bike-race segments, capturing the breathtaking scenery and the demanding nature of the event nicely. The film is somewhat hobbled, though, by the screenplay and character development; the film plays a bit too much to the sports-movie cliché and the dysfunctional-family story seems like a lengthy prologue to the race. Also, try not to be too bothered by the annoyingly dated soundtrack, and this should be a fairly entertaining, unpretentious little film. --Jerry Renshaw

Product Description

Sports physician Marcus persuades his unstable brother David to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains. He doesn't tell him that he has a cerebral tumor. While David powerfully heads for the victory, Marcus has to realize that the contest is now beyond his capabilities. Features great views of the Rockies and an insight in the tactics of bicycle races.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars American Flyers is one of Kevin Costners best kept secrets! June 22, 2003

By Craig Goodman

Format:DVD

American Flyers was originally released in the Theaters on August 16, 1985. Before or after no film has ever as realistically and effectively captured bike racing in such a manner as this film. It depicts the "Hell of the West" a fictitious bike race modeled after the Coors Classic held annually in Colorado. It even features a cameo by the legendary Eddie Merckx who is considered by many to be the greatest cyclist of all time. In addition to the cycling aspect, this film should appeal to every one since the story is of a long standing rivalry between two Brothers and a family history of Brain aneurisms which may now threaten the life of one of the Brothers. The brothers are played by Kevin Costner and David Grant. They decide to compete in the Hell of the West and in the process of training for the race as well as competing in the race itself forge a renewed bond that is very touching and heart warming. For Kevin Costner fans this is one of his best performances and surprisingly I have never heard him mention the film in any of his published interviews. John Badham skillfully directs the film and viewers will find themselves thinking about the film long afterwards. In addition the soundtrack is fantastic featuring music composed by Dave Grusin, and songs by the likes of Chris Isaak, and Credence Clearwater Revival. It is a truly wonderful film and will leave you very satisfied. For any true movie fan this is a must for your collection, and your friends will thank you when you lend it to them.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars American Flyer... November 21, 2000

By "jaylinii"

Format:VHS Tape

O.K. I'm biased. I grew up in Colorado and was very involved with the cycling world during the late 70's and early 80's. Watching this movie takes me right back to those times and I enjoy it. Many of the scenes, including the hotel scene with the TV broadcast of the Star Spangle Banner and blatant display of the KBPI banner at the beginning of the first leg of the race, tap right into things I remember only too well from my youth. (Not to mention the girl with the streak in her hair ... I had a similar one at that time myself ...) I'm also a Costner fan and feel that any Costner collection cannot be complete without this movie. That said ...

Yes, the movie is dated. Yes the movie is predictable. Yes, some of the acting is cheesey. And yes, it's an inspirational movie despite all that. I really enjoy this movie and manage to toss it into the VCR twice a year or so if for no other reason that I love to see the Colorado scenery go by during the race scenes and to hear the Star Spangled Banner .... Hey, they are playing our song!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT movie December 31, 2003

By James

Format:DVD

This movie will inspire those who have competed with and against their brother. The fights and the competition between the brothers brings back good memories of how competitive my brother and I were. The dedication and effort put forth by the competitors also brings back memories of a better time and place. The scenery great -- how can Colorado not have great scenery ?

Don't look for this movie to have great meaning or fantastic acting - look for it to be just what it was meant to be, an inspirational movie.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for cyclists or '80s cheese fans; hell for others June 24, 2002

By "jburke7445"

Format:VHS Tape

At times sublime, at times laughably awful, this ever-so-'80s relic of American cycling's grass-roots days never fails to put a smile on my face.

This is the story of a type-A+ doctor/Olympic cycling team alternate (Kostner) and his unfocused-but-talented brother Danny and their somewhat wobbly voyage of male bonding, family catharsis and, of course, competitive cycling. We start with the annoyingly, eternally cowboy-hatted Danny getting a call from his estranged brother, a very skinny and huge-moustached Kostner (the pair in fact look far more like gay porn stars than athletes) informing him that he'll be visiting the family. We soon learn that their father has died of a cerebral hemorrhage and that each family member is bitter at the other for the way the final days were handled. Mom, worried that favorite son Danny may be next, has Kostner take Danny to his sports lab/university/hospital to check him out.

After a few more minutes of painful family pathos and the introduction of Rae Dawn Chong as Kostner's love interest, the focus soon turns to training for the Big Race, and '80 cliches start a-flowin'. To blaring, cheezy synth music, we see Danny overtrain to a horrifying degree at the sports lab to cheering Spandex-clad "athletes," the pair take goofy training rides (inexplicably spinning about a 140 cadence) replete with whooping and hollering, dog chases and Danny improbably pulling a mile-long wheelie while waving that freakin' hat, which he must have Velcroed to his head for the ride. Oh yeah, along the way they also pick up a beautiful hippie chick who, naturally, will soon become Danny's love interest/the film's gratuitous nudity....

The foursome finally get the team van to Colorado for the Big Race and there run into two of the most hilarious '80s stock characters ever: "The Cocky Bad Guy" in Cannibal and, of course, "The Russians." Who is more ridiculous is subjective. Cannibal rattles off some of the best bad one-liners in memory, charges photographers, and spends the most of the rest of his time either screaming or scowling. The lead Russian "cyclist" is a burly, furry giant in a hockey helmet, probably pushing about 290 pounds with 10 more in beard. About the only cliche' missing was a pre-race "wodka" chug and a diatribe against the evils of capitalism.

Mercifully, the film turns 180 degrees with the start of the race. For the next half-hour or so, we are treated to some of the most beautiful cycling footage ever. The remarkably well-done scenes of the racers duking it out in the red rocks of the mountains are simply exhilarating. It truly captures the essence of racing, the speed, the sprints, the pain, the fear, the flow--it kicks butt. The rest of the film, while as predictable as the sunrise, is still great fun.

Certainly, this film is not for everyone, and many will find it a truly painful experience. For me, though, the mix of hilarious '80s camp and incredible race footage make it a favorite. Read more ›

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Dances With Wolves" The Early Years August 16, 2001

By Diana M. Carr

Format:VHS Tape

I am an avid book reader and do not generally care to give up MY interpretation and imaginations for the "movie version". Yet, when I read some of the reviews for "American Flyers" (one of the movies I do enjoy), I felt compelled to respond. Kevin Costner is probably one of the few "Actor-Producers" that continually goes for the story and not for the glory. Even as early as "American Flyers", Kevin demonstrated his ability (and he was only an actor at the time)to take the cliche and transform it into joy, sorrow, love, and anger that was palpable. And, at the end, when the inevitable occurs, I find myself crying and smiling with everyone else. But I also think, "Wow, what a powerful performance to be able to evoke such emotions each and every time I see this movie!" Since "American Flyers", Kevin has continued to work "outside the box". If you think about it, most every movie is pretty predictable. What makes it great is that you want to watch it again!