Brink!
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| Brink! | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Based on | Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge |
| Written by | Jeff Schechter |
| Directed by | Mike Schondek |
| Starring | Erik von Detten Sam Horrigan Christina Vidal Robin Riker Geoffrey Blake David Graf Patrick Levis |
| Theme music composer | J. Peter Robinson |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Bernadette Caulfield |
| Cinematography | Rodney Charters |
| Editor | Lee Haxall |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Production company | Fake-Reel Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney Channel |
| Release | August 29, 1998 |
Brink! is a 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie set in the backdrop of aggressive inline skating.
Plot
Andy "Brink" Brinker and his in-line skating crew—Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella—who call themselves "Soul-Skaters" (which means they skate for the fun of it, and not for the money), clash with a group of sponsored skaters, Team X-Bladz—led by Val—with whom they attend high school in southern California.
On the first day of school, the Soul-Skaters and Team X-Bladz race on school grounds and latter skater Boomer is seriously injured while Brink and Val are both caught and suspended. Brink learns that his family is in financial trouble (his father Ralph has been on disability for 6 months) and goes against the wishes of Ralph and his friends and joins Team X-Bladz for $200 a week. He keeps this from his friends and working at Pup-N-Suds(another job that Brink has that his friends know about) until they see him skating for Team X-Bladz in a local competition. Brink's friends feel he betrayed them and agree to a downhill race - Soul-Skaters vs Team X-Bladz (specifically Gabriella vs Brink).
Although Brink's original crew chose to ignore him upon discovering his alignment with Team X-Bladz, Val was willing to be his friend again and then agreed to remain on his team. However, Boomer doesn't believe him and tries to warn Brink not to go through with the race. During the race, Val intentionally sabotages Gabriella's part of the course by tossing gravel onto the road. Gabriella wipes out big and sustains minor injuries. At this point and Val's intention, all of the Soul-Skaters disown Brink as their friend; they call him a sell-out and stop talking to him. Later on, Ralph learns the truth from Gabriella's mother and has heart-to-heart talk with him. Brink finally confesses his true reasons for joining Team X-Bladz and wanting to be a somebody from it. He admits that though he got what he wanted, it gotten him into a mess. Brink lost his friends in the process and started becoming like Val. Ralph reveals that though the family is in financial trouble, Brink shouldn't be skating for money and rather for fun.
Inspired by his father's words, Brink meets Val at the local boardwalk and quits Team X-Bladz. He reveals his own disgust with Val for his part in sabotaging the race and that Gabriella nearly died because of him. This leads to an argument between both boys and Brink to toss a chocolate milkshake in Val's face. Val calls Brink a coward and a traitor in itself, revealing that he didn't have the nerve to finish the race and in the process has no friends. Boomer disagrees and calls Val out for who he is. He reveals his own friendship with Brink and why he quit X-Bladz after his injury. Boomer admits that he had witnessed Val cheating in past competitions and that he never thinks about the consequences of his own actions that come with it. Brink closes the argument by telling Val off that he's not a true skater for skating for money rather than fun and challenges him at the in-line skating competition. Val readily accepts his challenge and walks out with the other X-Bladz. Boomer walks away with Brink, thanking him for showing Boomer the meaning to skate for fun and will show his support for him. In the days before the competition, Brink meets his friends at the skate yard. After giving them new skates and equipment, Brink tells them of his plan to sponsor the team under the name "Team Pup 'N Suds." They accept Brink as their friend again.
As friends once again, they compete in the competition with their families' support. At the end, it comes down to Brink and Val in the championship race. Brink, his friends and his family celebrate the long-awaited victory. Immediately after the race, Team X-Bladz manager, Jimmy, fires Val for cheating and trying to sabotage another skater. He offers Brink the captain position of the team. Brink quickly turns down the offer, stating he remembers that he skates for fun and not money.
Cast
- Erik von Detten - Andy "Brink" Brinker
- Sam Horrigan - Val Horrigan
- Christina Vidal - Gabriella Dellama
- David Graf - Ralph Brinker
- Robin Riker - Maddie Brinker
- Patrick Levis - Peter Calhoun
- Asher Gold - Jordy
- Walter Emanuel Jones - Boomer
- Lauren Snead - Uncle Greg
- Geoffrey Blake - Jimmy
- Joey Simmrin - Arne "Worm"
- Jake Elliott - B. J.
- Nick McNally - Jason
- Katie Volding - Kate Brinker
- Harrison Hapin - Jump Rope #2
- David Fashingbauer - Student who retrieves the school nurse
- Mike Roch - Offended skateboarder
- Courtney White - Leader of "The White Stuff" gang
Soundtracks
Original music composed by J. Peter Robinson, additional music by Phil Marshall
- "Give" by The Suicide Machines
- "Sooner or Later" by Fastball
- "Apology" by Clarissa
- "Come on Brink" by Mark Mason and Rick Allen[1]