Tonight’s 35th-anniversary screening will be ‘Rad’

Above : A 35th-anniversary screening of the BMX movie ‘Rad’ will be held at 7 tonight at two area theaters. (Photo/Vinegar Syndrome)

There’s something about cheesy sports films that make them ripe for enduring popularity. And this applies to pretty much any kind of sport.

The appeal of something like “Hoosiers” is clear. Same with “Rocky.” Or “Field of Dreams.” Or even “Rudy.”

You can even add “Rad” to the list. The 1986 film, directed by Hal Needham , takes the standard storyline about “a kid who could” and applies it to the BMX world (BMX, of course, being a kind of abbreviation of bike motocross).

In “Rad,” a talented local kid named Cru (Bill Allen) dreams that he can win a race, auspiciously called Helltrack, against a bunch of corporate-backed all-stars. Guess what happens?

Since most credible critics were negative about “Rad,” I’ve included at least one comment from a regular fan-boy reviewer. See if you can guess which one it is:

Walter Goodman , New York Times: “The bicycle acrobatics behind the credits at the opening of ‘Rad’ are so spectacular that you wonder what the movie can do to improve on them. The short answer is, nothing.”

Ed Travis , Cinapse: “Brimming with energy, passion, and an underdog spirit… there’s not a cynical note to be found in the absolutely delightful ‘Rad’!”

Michel Wilmington, Los Angeles Times: “The whole thing reminds you more of an overanxious teacher or coach, taking a few slang words and repeating them endlessly in a doomed attempt to ‘relate.’ ”

Oh, by the way, I haven’t mentioned the reason why I’m even writing about this movie: A 35th-anniversary screening of “Rad” will be held at 7 tonight at two area Regal Cinemas theaters: Northtown Mall and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium.

If you’re into 1980s nostalgia, “Rad” might be just what you want. Same if you want to see some fancy bike tricks. Or indulge in watching a cast filled with familiar names such as Lori Loughlin , Talia Shire or even former Olympic gymnast Bart Conner.

The experience is sure to be … well, rad.