Main Cast: Aidan Quinn, Daryl Hannah, Kenneth McMillan, Cliff De Young, Lois Smith
Release Year: 1984
Country: US
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Reckless is the word for rebellious teenaged Johnny Rourke (Aidan Quinn). With a drunken dad and a police-blotter rap sheet as long as his arm, Quinn pursues an "impossible" romance with Tracey Prescott (Daryl Hannah), a girl from a wealthy, highly respected family. Tracey is thrilled at the prospect of kicking over the traces with Johnny, and soon proves to be as big a hellraiser as he is....if not more so. Reckless was written by Chris Columbus, just before he hit pay dirt with Gremlins and The Goonies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Adam Baldwin - Randy Daniels; Dan Hedaya - Peter Daniels; Billy Jayne - David Prescott; Toni Kalem - Donna; Terry Brown - Pinky; Meg Foster; Jennifer Grey - Cathy Bennario; Susan Kingsley - Eileen; Adam Le Fevre - Officer Haskell; Haviland Morris - Mary Pat Sykes; Pamela Springsteen - Karen Sybern; Robert F. Colesberry - Marine Recruiter; Ellen Mirojnick - Physics Teacher
Credit
Anamarie Michnevich - Art Director, Robert F. Colesberry - Associate Producer, Margery Simkin - Casting, Ellen Mirojnick - Costume Designer, Gary Daigler - First Assistant Director, James Foley - Director, Tony Lombardo - Editor, Albert Magnoli - Editor, Carol Baum - Executive Producer, Thomas Newman - Composer (Music Score), Timothy R. Sexton - Musical Direction/Supervision, James Sarzotti - Makeup, David Nichols - Production Designer, Jeffrey Townsend - Production Designer, Michael Ballhaus - Cinematographer, Scott Rudin - Producer, Edgar J. Scherick - Producer, Nora Chavoosian - Set Designer, Chris Columbus - Screenwriter
Johnny Rourke (Aidan Quinn), rebel teenage outcast, local football hero, falls for sexy upper-class cheerleader Tracey Prescott (Daryl Hannah). A random draw at the high school 'Tin Can-Can' dance pairs the two. Worlds collide and opposites attract as the two fall in love. Living dangerously, Rourke's anti-social behavior clashes with the privileged socialite Prescott. Hopes dashed, future prospects dim and the omnipresent American Steel mill looming large in the background of this one-industry-town, Rourke comes to grips with his estranged mother and recently deceased father (Kenneth McMillan). Meanwhile, Tracey is forced to decide between her stable longtime boyfriend Randy Daniels (Adam Baldwin) and the mysterious misunderstood chaotic Rourke.
The film catapulted Quinn, Hannah, Baldwin and Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller's Day Off) to major stardom. The 'Career Day' scene shows the student cards of Gary Daigler (God) and Michael Ballhaus (Brewmaster): both worked on production. The end scene (credits rolling) with Rourke riding a double yellow line, switching from the wrong side of the road to the right, symbolizes Rourke's new found conformity. Chris Columbus went to see this movie with Ed Rabasco (lawyer of Maine), and other friends at a local movie theater. The other viewers had no idea the writer of the movie was sitting watching it too.
