Emotionless ‘Skateland’ touches life in the ’80s

Anthony Burns has a knack for setting a mood.

The director/co-writer of “Skateland,” a story of small-town Texas youth circa 1983, catches the feel of teenage dreams stunted by circumstance, powered by a soundtrack that captures that era’s first flirtation with MTV (A Flock of Seagulls, Modern English, Blondie).

It’s no accident that the film is dedicated to director John Hughes (“The Breakfast Club,” “Sixteen Candles”), who virtually defined the ’80s coming-of-age movie.

Though reminiscent of Hughes’ movies and Richard Linklater’s “Dazed and Confused” in some ways, “Skateland” lacks the kineticism of the former and the humor of the latter. Its self-seriousness only serves to underscore the cliches.

Ritchie (Shiloh Fernandez) is drifting through life with high school in his rear-view and a dead-end job at the local roller rink. But change is coming, even in the deep, far reaches of tiny towns across America, where it’s game over for decidedly old-school amusements like roller rinks as video arcades commandeer the youth dollar.

Meanwhile, his younger sister (Haley Ramm) is urging him to go to college (he has vague ideas of being a writer), his parents (Brett Cullen, Melinda McGraw) are separating, and his best bud Brent (Heath Freeman) is back in town, his desire of being a pro motocross rider in shreds.

When there’s not much of an emotional connection to the characters, it’s hard to care much about them. Yet, especially for anyone who was on the cusp of adulthood in the ’80s, “Skateland” provides some bittersweet, if passing, pleasures.