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American Flyers

Name: American Flyers
Director: John Badham
Released: 1985
Duration: 113 min

Representation Score

2.6/10

Limited

1985

PG-13

Director

John Badham

Runtime

113 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

American Flyers is a traditional sports drama that emphasizes conventional storytelling and a narrow demographic. The film centers on a homogeneous white population and reinforces traditional masculine and Western social norms through male competition and individual struggle. While the plot uses a medical condition to build emotional tension, it does so through a lens of physical vulnerability rather than a nuanced exploration of living with a disability.

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Category Breakdown

Does American Flyers have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on heterosexual family relationships and does not include any characters with LGBTQ+ identities or queer undertones.

How does American Flyers portray gender?

Limited

The story revolves around masculine traits such as toughness and physical strength. Male characters take the lead, while female characters play minor roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is American Flyers?

Minimal

The setting and cast are predominantly white and Anglo-Saxon. Characters from diverse racial backgrounds are not represented.

How does American Flyers represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative upholds traditional Western values like meritocracy and individual effort. It avoids deeper critiques and stays within a familiar cultural framework.

Does American Flyers include disability representation?

Fair

A hereditary brain disorder is used to create emotional tension, but it is portrayed through a lens of tragedy rather than a nuanced look at living with a disability.

Present on Screen

The film uses a medical diagnosis to develop characters and emotional connections.
It offers a focused look at familial bonds and brotherhood through shared athletic passion.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, focusing on a homogeneous white demographic.
Gender representation is limited, with female characters playing minor roles.
The portrayal of disability relies on traditional tragic clichés rather than nuanced lived experiences.
There is no engagement with LGBTQ+ identities or queer undertones.

Official Synopsis

When Dr. Marcus Sommers realizes that he and his troubled, estranged brother David may be prone a fatal brain disease that runs in their family, he decides to make peace with his sibling, and invites him on a trip to the Rockies. There, the brothers bond over their shared enthusiasm for cycling and decide to enter a grueling bike race through the mountains. However, Marcus' health soon begins to fail, and David must compete without his brother at his side.

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