The Outsiders (1983)

The Outsiders is peculiar, in that its biggest weakness is what also makes it so memorably charming. That is, of course, that the novel of the same name is very obviously the product of a 16-year-old girl. Even with heavyweight names like Francis Ford Coppola attached to the movie, the film remains a faithful adaptation of the novel and therefore isn't any more or less complex in its portrayal of the Greasers, its poor main characters, and the Socs, the rich rival gang.


But there is something to be appreciated, nonetheless. Published in 1967, The Outsiders makes a sympathetic case in favor of underprivileged teenage boys in a city that's clearly divided by wealth. However, any further analysis is absent, no doubt because of S.E. Hinton's age when she wrote the book. For this reason, The Outsiders carries a melodramatic air to it, choose instead to opt for a simple story of found family and understanding in the face of adversity.

Such an approach may prove unpopular with a more mature viewer, but it seems unfair to judge a movie that is meant purely for teenagers with the same standards reserved for movies meant for older audiences. And it seems unfair for me to act like I'm emotionally detached from this film, as I have very fond memories of watching this when I was 13 years old. My experience certainly isn't unique; nearly everyone I discuss The Outsiders with speaks positively about both the novel and the film. In that aspect, then, The Outsiders is hugely successful as a teen film with likable characters and a story that positively affects a broader perspective on life. Maybe adults don't need to be taught not to judge a book by its cover, but it certainly isn't bad to reiterate that for younger audiences, especially through a story that reiterates its reliability to teens who feel ostracized through means as obvious as its title.

The casting plays in favor of the ageless nostalgia of the film, at least in my opinion. With exception of C. Thomas Howell, the rest of the Greasers are all well-known 80s icons with their youth permanently remembered because of this movie. For that reason, it's at least fun to revisit and see the main cast as they were in their late teens and early twenties.

Another personal point of interest is that this is the first time we get to see Tom Cruise preform his own stunt and get injured. As the story goes, Cruise learned how to do a back flip and can be seen performing it off the hood of a car before the rumble at the end of the movie. This rumble is also where Cruise broke both his thumbs and needed dental work after a punch in the jaw, allegedly. It's also during this movie that Cruise received the script for Risky Business, which came out only five months later.

The Outsiders is a great movie to check out if you want something simple and sweet, albeit that too much nostalgia or melodrama doesn't bother you. It's not quite the masterpiece I once thought it was, but I'll always appreciate what it gave me when I was younger.

Rating: 3.25/5 - January 15, 2020