Wuchak
Dec 14, 2023
**Fun sports drama on the slopes with softcore bits** An upstart skiing ace (Patrick Houser) travels to Squaw Valley in northeast California to compete, including facing off with the pompous Austrian world champion (John Patrick Reger). On the way, he picks up a comely female hitchhiker (Tracy Smith), but is eventually awestruck by a statuesque blonde at the resort (Shannon Tweed). David Naughton is on hand as a charismatic veteran who befriends the newbie. "Hot Dog …the Movie" (1983) is, thankfully, not an all-out comedy, but is more of an energetic drama/sports flick with amusing bits meshed with some softcore nudity and sex scenes. The latter is likely due to the success of “Porky’s” from two years prior and is reminiscent of the soon-to-come “Two Moon Junction.” The nudity is displayed early-on with the curiously naked motel clerk (Crystal Smith), which diminishes realism. If you can roll with that, this is an entertaining flick with great skiing action, superb alpine cinematography and a dynamic early 80’s soundtrack, just don’t expect the greatness of the grim “Downhill Racer” (1969). "Aspen Extreme" came out ten years later and isn’t as entertaining, but it’s the better movie, marginally. This one’s a tad too sleazy for my tastes. Tracy Smith is a highlight in the feminine department, as is Victoria Rae Walker as the beer-chugging contestant and girl-in-the-gondola. The movie runs 1 hour, 38 minutes, and was shot at Squaw Valley and Sierraville in northern California, just northwest of Lake Tahoe. The Squaw Valley ski resort changed its name to Palisades Tahoe in 2021 and the corresponding city changed its name to Olympic Valley in 2022. GRADE: B-/C+
