Summer Throwback Series - “Point Break” (1991) A High Octane Adrenaline Rush

Up next for my summer throwback series is the 1991 hit movie “Point Break.” Initially released on July 12, 1991, “Point Break” opened to generally positive reviews, while grossing over $83.5 million worldwide and gained quite a cult following after its release.

After a string of bizarre bank robberies in Southern California, with the crooks donning masks of various former presidents, a federal agent, Johnny Utah, infiltrates the suspected gang. But this is no ordinary group of robbers.

They’re surfers - led by the charismatic Bodhi - who are addicted to the rush of thievery. But when Utah falls in love with a female surfer, Tyler, who is close to the gang, it complicates his sense of duty.

Sure, the plot for “Point Break” can be a bit on the cliched side at times. But, this 1991 movie does an awesome job entertaining viewers with its high octane action and thrilling stunts.

Throughout this cult classic, there are quite a few intense chase sequences that can also be really exhilarating. There’s a key moment in the movie where Utah (Keanu Reeves) chases down Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) after a bank robbery that is easily one of the major highlights of this movie, especially since it’s when Bodhi finds out that Utah is an undercover FBI agent.

While the bank robbery scenes and the many surfing scenes are highly entertaining to watch, one of the most exhilarating moments is the skydiving sequence towards the movie’s conclusion. This scene shows that even after the gang finds out about Utah, they still share a brief moment of unity and exhilaration while freefalling. The scene also highlights the movie’s theme of embracing life to the fullest, even in the face of

potential death.

If you are into movies filled with high octane action and incredible stunts, then I highly recommend the 1991 movie “Point Break.” The chemistry between Keanu Reeves and the late Patrick Swayze is really great, which also makes some of their scenes quite intense after the FBI reveal. Filled with exciting, fun action, “Point Break” is one of those movies that you can re-watch many times and it will still be highly entertaining.

Trivia: For many of the surfing scenes, Swayze refused to use a stunt double, as he never had one for fight scenes or car crashes. The female surfer (Tyler) explains to Johnny Utah that Swazye’s character is named Bodhi, the Bodhisattva. “Bodhisattva” is a term in the Buddhist religion meaning an enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others. “Bodhi” means “Wakefulness.”

20th Century Fox had made plans for a sequel to be released in the summer of 1993. In fact, a script had been written and was in pre-production. Despite the movie grossing roughly $90 million worldwide, the studio decided to scrap the sequel.

Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. released a remake of the movie in 2015, which received negative reviews and flopped. 

MPA: Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity   (runtime 122 minutes)

You can currently stream the 1991 cult classic on Paramount Plus or rent it through various PVOD rental services.

• Patrick Swayze was an accomplished skydiver, and took part in the big skydiving scene. He made fifty-five jumps in total.

• Two months before filming, Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, and Lori Petty trained with former world class professional surfer Dennis Jarvis on Kauai, Hawaii. Jarvis remembers, "Patrick said he'd been on a board a couple of times, Keanu definitely had not surfed before, and Lori had never been in the ocean in her life."

• Patrick Swayze, who participated in skydiving as a hobby, was told to stop, for insurance purposes, once production began. Producers coaxed him into the agreement with the promise of letting the star do one actual skydive on-screen. The uncut shot of Bodhi yelling "Adios amigo!" and falling from the plane features Swayze actually making a jump. Unbeknownst to the producers, when not on the day's call sheet Swayze and others would occasionally run out to an airport and go skydiving anyway.

• For many of the surfing scenes, Patrick Swayze refused to use a stunt double, as he never had one for fight scenes or car chases.

• Tyler explains to Johnny Utah that Patrick Swayze's character is named Bodhi, the Bodhisattva. Bodhisattva is a term in the Buddhist religion meaning an enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others. Bodhi means "wakefulness".

• 20th Century Fox had made plans for a sequel to the film to be released in the summer of 1993. In fact, a script had been written and was in pre-production. Despite the film grossing $90 million worldwide, the studio decided to scrap the project.

• This was Kathryn Bigelow's highest grossing film until Zero Dark Thirty (2012).

• Officially uncredited (because of an unresolved issue with the Writers Guild of America), James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow re-wrote the final script together.