Point Break (AKA The Greatest Movie Ever Made)

Point Break (1991) is one of those rare hidden classics that you find amongst the “VHS For Sale—Everything $2” bin at your local video rental. The crowning glory of the rival surf gang action adventure genre, Point Break takes its star-studded cast (Gary Busey, Keanu Reeves, and Patrick Swayze) and award-worthy script to whole new levels of awesomeness.

I had the good fortune to Netflix Point Break recently—and not, admittedly, because of its cast or what could only be an incredible storyline, but because of a supposed cameo by my own personal rock hero, Anthony Kiedis. But little did I know what a cinematic treat I was in for.

The premise of Point Break is straightforward enough: two undercover FBI agents (the green young Keanu, who is partnered with the seasoned and wise Busey) are directed to find and arrest a gang of bank robbers who have been terrorizing SoCal and call themselves “The Ex-Presidents” because of their choice of disguise (masks of former U.S. Presidents). Somehow Keanu decides that some of the local Malibu surf gangs are suspicious and chooses to take up surfing to infiltrate these enemy actors (and who wouldn’t?). After getting rescued (Keanu’s surf skills aren’t quite up to par for the wilds of offshore Malibu) by the chic and 90s-sexy (meaning flannel and a I’m-a-strong-woman-with-a-man’s-haircut) Lori Petty, Keanu comes to the obvious conclusion that these surfers know what’s up. So, he enlists Petty to teach him how to surf.

Through Petty he comes to meet the demi-god himself, the charismatic and sage-like Patrick Swayze (if ever there were a poster child for the ballet dancer action hero, Patrick Swayze would be it), the leader of the cool surf gang. He takes young Keanu under his wing, teaching him the ways of the surf world and how to master the tides.

But, lo and behold, Keanu becomes too close to his new friends, losing sight of the job at hand. Enter Anthony Kiedis, member of an evil meth-fueled surf gang that throws wild parties and is clearly up to know good. Said surf gang pummels Keanu and nearly kills him until Swayze runs to his rescue. Keanu’s partner, The Man With Teeth Like Chiclets, then realizes that Keanu has become too close to the group he’s trying to infiltrate, and tries to shake some sense into him, but in vain, as Keanu has already fallen for the sexy Lori Petty and is under the enigmatic spell of Swayze.

With red herrings (energized by Anthony’s stellar role as an Indian chief-esque meth lab worker), twists, Oscar-worthy performances, and the ever-present symbolic role of the ocean, Point Break brings good moviemaking to whole new levels. The highlight of the film is obviously when Swayze leads Keanu into certain death by making him jump out of an airplane with no parachute. What happens? Well, you’ll just have to see to find out.

Point Break (1991): Thirty Stars out of Ten