Break, The MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 Content: -2

Nick Irons, much like the actor Vincent Van Patton who plays him, is a former tennis star from the 1980's. The fictional Irons has taken up drinking and gambling and leads a bleak existence as a part-time tennis instructor. His mounting gambling bets force Nick to coach his bookie's 17-year old kid Joel (Ben Jorgensen) at one of the many satellite tennis circuits in Florida. Very quickly, Nick goes from being an uncaring, mean coach to seeing Joel's potential. He decides to earnestly help develop the boy's talent. Joel must use all his courage and stamina to face his nemisis in a final test. Unfortunately, the movie falls into cliche somewhere close to the beginning and never recovers a sense of originality. Tennis fans may find this predictable movie enjoyable, but it's doubtful others will.

Vincent Van Patten co-wrote the script and unfortunately added an abundance of foul language and some fairly revealing bedroom scenes. Nick Irons is a one-man swearing machine who accounts for most of the 25 s-words and many crudities. Nick is seduced by an older woman and also reacquaints himself with his ex-girlfriend who happens to be on the circuit. The former is shown in revealing lingerie, and Nick and his girlfriend are shown kissing several times. Also, Joel invites a girl back to his room who ties him up in his underwear and then undresses down to her skimpy underwear. They are interrupted just as she announces that one of her girlfriends will be joining them. Brief shots of male rear nudity in the locker room and Nick's constant beer drinking only point out the lack of a solid plot line to carry the action. A double fault for the language and the sexual situations keeps The Break from winning a trophy of acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: Trimark Pictures, 2644 30th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405