45 years after its initial release, the once thought to be lost Bad News Bears of skating make their triumphant return for a new generation of cinephiles.

Manny Bloom is a Hollywood agent who is completely down on his luck. Divorced and being nagged from his ex-wife, he also loses hard at the tracks and owes local loan shark Sol $3,000. Fearing he may be out of options, Manny comes across a trio of skateboarders and becomes impressed with their skills. He decides to form a team for them to compete in competitions. The newly named Los Angeles Wheels comprised of youngster Brad, the excellent Tony, and freestyler Jenny. The trio tell Manny to include their friends Jason and Randi along with fellow youngsters Peter and Dennis.

The Wheels soon find themselves the hottest team in the competitive world of skateboarding. Competing in freestyle and races, they soon travel the nation to compete as well as perform demonstrations to roaring fans. Jason soon becomes the top name and while Manny tends to do his best to control the team, it’s not enough. With the help of new co-manager Millicent, Manny begins to no longer think so much about the money, but begins to care for the team. As a downhill competition with a major prize is on the horizon, tensions begin to occur involving one of the team members as the fame slowly begins to be too much for them. Will the Wheels be able to overcome their differences, and will Manny stay afloat of Sol and his goons before the big race?

This film from co-writer and director George Gage is exciting as it brings a sense of nostalgia and to think, it almost never happened. Would you also believe that future Law and Order creator Dick Wolf came up with the story and co-wrote with Gage? Only having a 16mm print that was donated, a lifelong fan of the film named Matt Grady was determined to find an actual 35mm print as it was deemed lost. However, a chance encounter with a storage unit led to the print he needed. Add to that a crowdfunding campaign and Grady successfully was able to remaster the print in time for the film’s 45-year anniversary of its release.

The late Allan Garfield gets to show off his comic flair as Manny, the down on his luck agent who finds a miracle in the future L.A. Wheels. As we see the skaters rise to the top, we see Manny go from a grumpy down on his luck man to a confident, father figure type who tends to hilariously bring a smartaleck style of humor when it comes to confronting some of the Wheels for their antics. Kathleen Lloyd is the yin yo Garfield’s yang as Millicent, who is the motherly hen to the group and has a sense of caring and even helping Manny out when he feels down by giving him some good advice.

The skaters of the film are played by either actors who have abilities on a board or professional skateboarders, especially with the sport becoming wildly popular during that time, especially with the Z-Boys of Dogtown. Tony Alva has a major role as L.A. Wheels member Tony Bluetail while Richard van der Wyk plays the “top dog” of the Wheels, Jason. Add to the mix the likes of skateboarding champ Ellen O’Neill and teen idol Leif Garrett (who according to Gage, came in as a youngster who did his best to join the cast on set and fit in well). What’s great about this cast playing the Wheels is that their chemistry comes off so naturally, it felt like you were watching a documentary at times and not so much an overly done feature film.

The skating scenes are a hoot as well as we get to see freestyling, racing, and even pool skating, what would be Alva’s trademark that lives on to this day! The scenes feel as if you’re watching a documentary on the sport as they are very well shot with far shots and overhead shots for some of the racing scenes. They sometimes feel like you entered a time machine and are there with these skaters watching them up close and personal. There’s even a PSA after the end credit about skating safety.

If you’re in the mood for some serious nostalgia into the 1970s, then look no further than Skateboard. If you’re a fan of nearly lost media like I am, then you’re in for a total treat. It is definitely the Bad News Bears of the sport with a natural chemistry in the cast and all around fun. This is one film you should definitely check out!

WFG RATING: A

Universal Pictures presents a Boulevard Associates production. Director: George Gage. Producers: Harry Blum and Dick Wolf. Writers: Dick Wolf and George Gage. Cinematography: Ross Kelsay. Editing: Robert Angus.

Cast: Allen Garfield, Leif Garrett, Kathleen Lloyd, Tony Alva, Richard van der Wyk, Ellen O’Neill, Pam Keannelly, Steve Monahan, David Hyde, Antony Carbone, Sylvester Words, Gordon Jump, Patricia Hitchcock, Joe Bratcher, Jay Adams, Bob Biniak, Paul Constantineau, Stacy Peralta, Shogo Kubo, Chad McQueen.

The film will screen at the Sound Unseen Film Festival in Minneapolis, MN on November 10 and then at the Texas Theater in Dallas, TX on November 26.