5/5 At last this movie gets the recognition it deserves.
  by Liza M. Olivares (Trujillo Alto Puerto Rico)
I almost made a hole in the roof when I saw that this movie is coming out on DVD format. It is my favorite movie of the eighties decade, and quite possibly of all time, heck I even have a webpage dedicated to it. This is truly an obscure and wrongfully forgotten gem. Amidst all those 80's 'Brat Pack' movies, out came this unique and very different movie, which, unfortunately, got lost in the shuffle and was quickly forgoten by many. It deals with 'rebel-without-applause' Morgan (James Spader) who has to get used to a new way of life, new neighborhood, and new 'friends', so to speak. Not only does he anger the local thugs, but he falls hard for the leader's girlfriend Frankie (Kim Richards). Nick (Paul Mones)has the taste of blood in his mouth and he won't give Morgan the tinsiest break. Meanwhile, Morgan befriends the class clown, Jimmy (Robert Downey jr) and Jimmy invites his new pal to see him play that night. A very special appeareance by punk rocker/poet/writer/performing artist Jim Carroll as the 'leader' of the band Jimmy plays with. (Carroll, sans weird make-up...a friend of his told me that's the only performance of his in a movie he enjoys, he even asked for the VHS copy as a birthday gift, I helped my friend get it for him, yay)Things keep getting worse for poor Morgan, leading up to a tense climax and ending in a bitter, bloody finale, where they will truly show who's the toughest of the turf. This movie is for all Spader/Downey/Richards/Carroll fans and for those who have gone through the whole standard list of 'teenie' 80's movies and want something different, I highly recommend it.

5/5 My top ten too!
  by FunkyBeats (Los Angeles)
BUY IT !!! IT'S A STEAL AT THIS PRICE. Besides it never was sold to television and I hear that Spader and the others may be embarrased by it since he and Downey Jr. went on to have "serious" acting careers. I have looked for it forever and I have never seen it on the late nite movies but it would be perfect for that. Former child star Kim Richards (Witch Mountain and numerous Disney Movies/Hello Larry sitcom/Meatballs II) plays a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who falls for a new boy in town played by James Spader. He is immediately befriended by a class clown played by Downey Jr. upon arriving to his new high school. When Kim's street-gang leader boyfriend played well by Paul Mones (actor/ writer/director of the excellent teen/coming of age flick: "The Beat", find it on vhs if you can, although I did catch it on late nite t.v. once) then all you know what starts between Mones and Spader. The movie plays out kinda like a cross between "Rebel Without A Cause" and "West Side Story". But overall "Tuff Turf" is truly alot of fun. The music is diverse and plentiful (Jim Carroll, Lena Lovich, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack) and really great throughout the movie as is the fine score by the now renowned film composer Jonathan Elias. Poet, Novelist, and Musician (The Basketball Diaries) Jim Carroll actually makes a rare cameo appearance and Kim always an angel to me gets to look sexy finally in a more mature acting(non-Disney) role. I have my old copy and I still to this day enjoy watching it. It's an underrated and lost gem from the 80's. Get it now!

4/5 Pretty good 80's teen flick
  by D. de Gruchy (Campbell, CA USA)
I had never seen this movie before (I grew up in the 80's too), but after seeing it pop up in a couple of list mania lists, i thought I'd check it out.
The movie is really well done for its time period, although the majority of the music chosen for the film doesn't age well.
James Spader plays a sort of underdog hero role in this film compared to some of his other teen oriented 80's films where he's the antagonist. He's new in town, and foils a mugging that is taking place. This sets him up as the target for the local gang. Which is pretty much what half the movie is about, how the gang wants to get him, and how he foils their attempts. The other half is the budding romance of Spader and Richards. Kim Richards plays the gang leaders girl friend and slowly falls for Spader. Downey has a few small appearances, but barely seems like he's in the movie.
The story is very predictable for the most part, but is still fun to watch.
I would say buy it if you like 80's, teen or underdog movies.

5/5 A trip back through time.
  by Celeste M. Harmer (Clifton Heights, PA United States)
When people are asked to name great 80's teen movies, they will almost invariably list THE BREAKFAST CLUB, 16 CANDLES, PRETTY IN PINK, etc. But no one will ever mention TUFF TURF. I wonder why this is? In fact, I'd never heard of this movie until my boyfriend showed it to me. Talk about the most underrated flick of all time! One look at it immediately took me back to my own 80's teenagehood. Did anyone notice how typical of the decade the girls dressed? Forget Molly Ringwald; she wasn't 80's. She was Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" look mixed with some kind of post-modern late-80's/early 90's get-up. If you want bona-fide 80's fashion, take a look at Frankie, a.k.a. Kim Richards, of TUFF TURF. Also, there were a requisite number of mullets in this movie, more than in any other 80's flick I can think of. These are the reasons I consider TUFF TURF to be the premier movie of the 80's.

I got a kick out of Robert Downey Jr., who looked no older than a middle schooler!

The story line works well. I felt sorry for Morgan Hiller and his family b/c they had sunk to such new socioeconomic lows; however, I think Morgan's travails are an entirely realistic depiction of what a kid in his situation would go through and how he would react to it.

Marianne Faithful sings the haunting theme song during the movie's opening segment. Yes, that's actually a WOMAN singing, not Ozzie with a sore throat!

5/5 Great 80's Flick
  by Linda (Trafford, Pa. United States)
Action, Adventure, Lust and Romance, this has it all. I owned it on VHS and wore it out, had to get the DVD!
James Spader is very convincing in his role and Kim Richards just complements him.
Robert Downey Jr. is quality as always in his understated roles.
This is a must for anyone who enjoys the movies of the 80's!