Red Oaks
2014
Original language: English
- comedy
- drama
The story
A coming-of-age comedy set in the "go-go" 80s that is equal parts hijinks and heartfelt about a college student enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end--and the future begins. David Myers, an assistant tennis pro at the Red Oaks Country Club in suburban New Jersey in 1985, is both reeling from his father's heart attack and conflicted about what major to declare in the fall. While there, he meets a colorful cast of misfit co-workers and wealthy club members including an alluring art student named Skye and her corporate raider father Getty.
What it’s like
Warm, sun-faded summer light over tennis courts and clubhouse terraces, with bright 1985 palettes of pastel polo shirts, teal and peach, and the occasional neon glow of a night out. The camera stays loose and conversational, mostly medium shots and easy pans that let scenes breathe, and the picture has a soft, slightly filmic gloss. The soundtrack leans on mid-80s pop and synth-tinged rock, playing under bright, chatty banter that tips between goofy and tender. Its vibe is nostalgic and good-humoured, a lazy July that feels like it could tilt into something sadder at any moment. It suits a comfort rewatch, a relaxed weekend evening, or background company while cooking. Pacing is unhurried, with episodes that wander through jokes, quiet talks and small mishaps. The emotional arc follows a young man caught between his family's worries and his own uncertain future, learning to take stock of himself. Intensity is low: some profanity, sexual innuendo and teen-party drinking, with no real violence and only brief moments of tension. It is for viewers who want a gentle, funny, bittersweet coming-of-age story with a strong sense of time and place.
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