Machotaildrop is a strikingly visual and fantastical journey, with winks to Willy Wonka, about an amateur skateboarder, Walter Rhum, who dreams of one day riding for the world's greatest skateboard company, Machotaildrop. He submits his golden VHS demo tape [wink wink] in a contest and is quickly summoned by The Baron, owner of Machotaildrop, to come to the company headquarters at once and join the team. Everyone who signs with The Baron signs a lifetime contract.
Rhum's arrival stirs up controversy within the team, especially from current star Blair Stanley. When Stanley aggravates a knee injury during a skating duel Rhum quickly finds himself rising to the top of the team for his fresh face and naivety are exactly what The Baron needs to build his marketing empire on. And after Rhum discovers a seemingly abandoned theme park The Baron wishes to create his own skate amusement park! Alas, the land that The Baron wishes to build this park on is ruled by a feral group of skaters, The Man Wolves. Free of the bindings of corporate sponsorship they are none too keen on the idea of giving up their land for an amusement park.
A young star rises and another falls in the marketing machine that is Machotaildrop. Corey Adams and Alex Craig do riff on this disposable hero culture in the skating world though again you get the impression from them during a Q&A it was not meant to be the key message of the film. You know. You almost get the sense that everything kind fell together by accident for them. Almost.
And though it was never the intention for the filmmakers to define the era in which the film is set each of the group of characters stands out in their own panache and style. The Machotaildrop Company has the look and feel bordering between baroque and feudal periods while The Man Wolves could have you thinking Luther and The Rogues from Walter Hill's The Warriors. While Walter's home and local hangout, a skateboard and cake making company, also seem antiquated with standup arcade style video games and VHS camcorders [VHS will never die!] giving an early 80s vibe. I really felt you could pluck Machotaildrop out 2010 and put it in 1970 and we would be none the wiser, save for some of the music maybe. And can I get a 'what what' for The Black Angels? Anyone? Fans?
Despite citing LSD as an influence, which could explain also the rather odd marketing trailers we saw, you still have to credit Adams and Craig for creating a charming coming of age fairy tale. The sets and locations are fantastic, especially the Postojna Cave in Slovenia. What a jewel of a find. Used as the entrance into the Machotaildrop estate this wonderful and natural cave system has this delightful brightly painted train that tourists can ride. Again, wink wink to Wonka. So Adams and Craig make the most of those European locations to great effect. It truly is a great looking film; and a skateboarding film at that.
Full of great and memorable characters Machotaildrop has a good balance of storytelling and skateboarding to keep everyone happy.