Streets of Fire – Review

Another time, another place. Slick beats and neon lights. Looks like it’ll be a full house tonight in The Richmond. Manager Billy Fish (Moranis) isn’t sure about the gig, but wants to get it started. Welcome to the stage the one and only Ellen Aim (Lane), and her band The Attackers!!

Fuckin BOOM! Pop music is blasting your ears. How can you deny this 80s style jam?!?! Even Billy Fish can’t help but finally smile a bit. So, what can ruin these great concert vibes?! Maybe a whole fleet of motorcycles being revved to high gear by a bunch of criminal assholes? Well shit, there just so happens to be one of those, named The Bombers.

Creeping through the crowd and leading this gang of Village People rejects is Raven Shaddock (Dafoe), of course, who is after his treasure: Ellen Aim. Her music and moves are just too amazing. Chaos breaks out at the concert. Who will save Ellen?! Maybe, just maybe there is hope: her ex-boyfriend just happens to be Tom Cody (Paré), mercenary and all-around bad ass. Well, if Tom can be bothered to do anything, then maybe Ellen has a chance.

If you can handle the hardcore throwback vibe of this self-professed “another time and place” movie, then you will enjoy the ride. The film itself is entertaining and leans into the cheese and overacting. The atmosphere is well realized and includes nuances from multiple decades like the 50s through the 80s. For me it all fully worked.

The music flows along with the story and enhances the presentation even if you aren’t really into that period. The dialogue is mostly timeless, as it has a unique flow and cadence to match its overall vibe. The longer the film runs, the more you slip into the world. I found it all quite enjoyable.

Try it again, punk!

There apparently is some unauthorized and unofficial sequel called “Road to Hell” from 2008, but beyond that info there I don’t know more.