Summary
Overview
Paul Scheer, Scott Aukerman, Kumail Nanjiani, and Danielle Schneider dissect the 1993 rollerblading film Airborne at Largo in Los Angeles. They explore the movie's bizarre identity crisis as it attempts to be simultaneously a surfing, rollerblading, and hockey movie while following Mitchell Goosen, an aggressively cheerful California surfer who moves to Cincinnati. The panel highlights the film's confused plot, lack of real stakes, Mitchell's inability to learn anything or contribute meaningfully, and the misleading title given that the protagonist barely gets airborne. Despite these flaws, they acknowledge the strong direction and early appearances by Seth Green and Jack Black.
Introduction and Movie's Identity Crisis
The hosts introduce Airborne as an important rollerblading film but immediately identify its core problem: it can't decide what kind of movie it wants to be. The film tries to be about surfing, rollerblading, and hockey simultaneously, leaving everyone confused about its actual focus. This confusion extends to every aspect of the film, from the sports featured to the character archetypes to the villain, with the hosts struggling to identify what the movie is even about despite its brief 83-minute runtime that somehow feels interminable.
- The movie runs only 83 minutes but feels like the longest movie ever, with no real plot pushing it forward
- Airborne features surfing, rollerblading, AND hockey, making it impossible to identify what sport the movie is actually about
- The movie has the plot of maybe one Saved by the Bell episode, as told by someone who doesn't remember it
- There are multiple bad guys, multiple good guys, and multiple sports with no clear focus
" I didn't know this was a rollerblading movie. I was confused because it was also a surfing movie. And also a hockey movie. That is my core problem with this movie. "
" It has the plot of maybe one Saved by the Bell episode as told by someone who doesn't remember the episode of Saved by the Bell. "
Notable Production Details and 90s Excess
The panel discusses fascinating production details including Stuart Copeland from The Police doing the Beverly Hills 90210-style guitar score, the director Rob Bowman being a competent X-Files veteran, and the aggressive 90s aesthetic throughout. They note the film's relatively small $2.6 million budget that somehow looked expensive with underwater shots and extensive stunt work by Team Rollerblade, and how it barely made its money back with $2.8 million at the box office.
- The music is by Stuart Copeland, drummer of The Police, giving it that Beverly Hills 90210 guitar lick sound
- Director Rob Bowman directed many X-Files episodes and later did the X-Files movie and Elektra
- The budget was $2.6 million and it made only $2.8 million at the box office
- The production logo features fire, an elf with a sword, and gleaming effects that have nothing to do with the film
" I would argue this is one of the most aggressive 90s movies I've ever seen. The guitar licks alone were so Beverly Hills 90210. "
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