All he cared about was Gleaming the Cube… until the night they killed his brother.
A quintessential early Christian Slater Film.
Plot of Gleaming the Cube (1989)
An Orange County teenager’s carefree life of ditching class and skateboarding abandoned pools comes to a screeching halt when his brother dies.
The cops rule the death a suicide, but the bereaved skater believes he was murdered. It’s up to him to solve the case – with a skateboard.
General Audience Vibe
Audiences tend to view Gleaming the Cube as a quintessentially ‘80s skateboarding film – not high cinema by any stretch, but fun, nostalgic, and memorable for its skating, atmosphere, and youthful energy.
Positive impressions largely come from its style and heart, while criticisms focus on narrative and acting quality.
My Take on Gleaming the Cube (1989)
A classic Christian Slater film that’s pure entertainment. When I first saw it back in 1989, I wasn’t especially impressed – probably because I watched it after Pump Up the Volume (1990), which set the bar incredibly high and made this feel like a step down.
Revisiting it about two years ago, though, I enjoyed it far more, appreciating it for what it is: a fun, over-the-top skateboard ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Over to You
What do you think of Gleaming the Cube? Piece of Shite or Classic 80s? Let me know in the comments below?