WFG RATING: B+

Random Media presents an Electric Shock Productions film. Written, produced, and directed by Samuel L. PIerce. Cinematography by James Starlin and Ian McGrath.

Stars Samuel L. Pierce, Forest Campbell, Hana Hyde, Doran Danielson, Christopher Noordman, Aaron Doran, and Jeremy Moller. 

A young man hopes to break into the world of inline speed skating in this pretty good film from 18-year-old actor and filmmaker Samuel L. Pierce.

Mark Stevenson has had a love of inline speed skating. He trains at a local place with best friend Jake Flyer and Angela, a girl who Mark has a bit of a crush on. When he learns that the NSC is planning to enter a team into the European Grand Prix, a 24-hour race, he decides it would be a dream come true. However, when his coach thinks he’s not the right one, he offers Mark a chance a shot by meeting a legend.

Danny Peterson was once a champion speed skater. However, in his last race against rival Winston Law, Law’s antics caused Danny to be forced to give up the sport. At first, Danny is reluctant but eventually he does train Mark, Jake, and Angela for the national circuit. When Mark miraculously defeats Winston’s champion, a series of events lead into the Americans having a chance to take on their European rivals to earn respect of the sport back. 

Seeing this film, I was quite surprised to learn that the filmmaker behind it is only 18 years old and kudos goes to Samuel L. Pierce for making a film that despite some minimal technical flaws, created a really good story about the ideas of dreams and redemption in a cutthroat world where it’s about corporations and sports, two ideas that can go awry when things don’t go as planned or expectations aren’t met. 

Pierce himself takes center stage in one of the two central roles here. As up-and-comer Mark, who lives for the sport of inline speed skating, we see him struggle with not just those who don’t have the same vision as him, but how it affects his relationships with best friend Jake and love interest Angela. On the other hand, you have Doran Danielson as Danny, an ex-champion of the sport who has practically given up only to find Mark as a chance to redeem himself and once again feel the love of the sport he once enjoyed. Kind of like the Gordon Bombay of inline speed skating if you will.

There are quite a few shady characters in the film. The worst is definitely Winston Law, played with such a condescending and arrogant manner by Jeremy Moller. He is the reason why Danny retired from the sport, lying about how it all happened only to be some corporate big shot who thinks he knows it all and even tries to convince his boss to go against his own son, who has the idea of the NSC joining the Grand Prix. 

Off the Line is actually pretty good despite some minimal technical flaws (sounds fades at times), but you have to hand it to Samuel L. Pierce, who at 18-years old, made a movie and a pretty good movie.

The film will be released on Digital on May 13.