Surfers mixed with cops and robbers, not in the sense of mingled with them, but in the sense of melded. Four surfing dudes bankroll their perennial pursuit of the Endless Summer by forming a holdup gang called the Ex-Presidents (rubber masks of Nixon, Reagan, Johnson, and Carter — and you may be sure that "Nixon" will take time in the middle of a bank heist to proclaim, "I am not a crook!"). Their leader and spiritual mentor — their "Reagan" — is called Bodie, short for bodhisattva, who articulates their philosophical position: "To those dead souls inching along the freeway in their metal coffins, we stand for something!" This little band of freedom fighters eventually is infiltrated by a rookie FBI guy and novice surfer, Johnny Utah, former star quarterback at Ohio State (not to be confused with the former bench warmer, Johnny Ohio of Utah State). For extra thrills, and extra spiritual and philosophical "meaning," some sky-diving is thrown in just as in that surfing classic, Beach Blanket Bingo, with Frankie and Annette and early, early Linda Evans. That one remains the more entertaining movie. Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey, Lori Petty; directed by Kathryn Bigelow. (1991) — Duncan Shepherd
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