EAT THE PEACH
A film review by Miriam Nadel
Copyright 1987 Miriam Nadel
When I told a friend I had gone to see this movie he immediately asked me, "Why? You don't like motorcycles." Well, motorcycles do play a big part in EAT THE PEACH but they aren't the point of the movie.
It's all based on a true story about an unemployed Irish laborer who sees a stunt in a videotape of the old Elvis Presley movie, ROUSTABOUT, and becomes obsessed with duplicating the "Wall of Death." Vinnie's got the tools to build the wall because a Japanese company left their machinery behind after deciding not to construct their new factory in Northern Ireland. He's also got a grasp of mechanics that would be the envy of any engineering undergraduate. What he doesn't have is the money for wood - but a bit of smuggling can supply that.
Unfortunately, at that point the movie falls apart. The "Wall of Death" itself is treated almost entirely for suspense while the smuggling is treated largely for comic value. The whole quirkiness of the situation is underplayed, which is a pity because this could have been a very funny movie in the hands of someone like Bill Forsyth. But director Peter Ormrod can't resist the urge to melodrama and focuses on too few characters for too long. There was plenty of potential for this to be a truly funny movie or a really moving drama but it just can't be both at the same time.
Still, there is an interesting plot, likeable characters, and a rare opportunity to see how pervasive the influence of the U.S. is on another culture. And you do come to care about Vinnie and his dream. Two and a half stars.
Miriam Nadel INTERNET: mhnadel@gryphon.CTS.COM UUCP: {hplabs!hp-sdd, sdcsvax, ihnp4, nosc}!crash!gryphon!mhnadel
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