Vision Quest

Vision Quest is about two things at once. On the one hand, it is about a high school wrestling star who sets himself a nearly impossible goal, to drop a weight class and beat the seemingly unbeatable state champ in that division, because mountains are there to be climbed. On the other hand, it is about a young man struggling with how attraction, romance, and sex factor into growing up and becoming a man. Unlike many movies that try to be about multiple things, Vision Quest does an adequate job of finding the cross over and integrative components of those two ideas so that the movie feels like a singular, focused story. However, there is some unevenness with how well the movie covers these two topics. On the first, Vision Quest does quite well. On the second, it is a bit more disappointing.

The desire to go test the unknown as a right of passage or ritual of entering adulthood is a central theme of the movie. Not only is that idea what the central wrestling challenge is built around but it is also discussed philosophically with various adult figures in the main character’s life, such as teachers, coworkers, and coaches. It is also where the film draws its name, from the associated tradition practiced by some Native American tribes.

In keeping with this idea, Vision Quest is a sports movie that builds an interesting twist into its ending. Usually, the impossible task awaiting the team or competitor at the end of the movie is there out of necessity. The Americans will have to play the Russians in Miracle by virtue of being at the Olympics. The boys in Hoosiers will have to beat all these teams from bigger schools by virtue of competing in the state basketball championships. In Vision Quest, however, the protagonist, Louden, chooses to give himself the impossible task. He purposely leaves the weight division where he was already winning with the express purpose of taking on the seemingly unbeatable, reigning champ.

Perhaps most interesting in this deviation is how Vision Quest is willing to toy with the downsides of pushing oneself this hard. As Louden pushes himself to the extremes in his need to drop weight for the competition, his body reacts with lightheadedness, nosebleeds, and other issues. Those around him even begin to question the wisdom of risking so much for something like this. In a way, this is like another version of the obsession explored in The Wrestler or Black Swan, only softer and with less insanity.

Sure, the movie does not provide the most high minded take on these concepts, the striving or the dangerous obsession that may lurk beneath it, but it is also told from the point of view of a seventeen or eighteen year old kid and so I see that as perfectly understandable. It is, after all, still a coming of age story.

The love and sex side of things, on the other hand, is much weaker. Louden’s side of things is annoying but realistic. He acts like many boys his age do act. He can be immature, jealous, a little controlling, and moody. It doesn’t make him a great potential boyfriend but it does make him realistic as a character. However, the slightly more mature object of his affection doesn’t really have a good reason to put up with his behavior. The movie desperately wants the audience to buy their growing relationship but it just doesn’t work. While Louden does make some improvements in his character, like learning to manage his jealousy, the whole fling that the romantic side of the movie is building to seems very contrived and unrealistic.

Would Recommend: If you are interested in a sports movie with a tad bit deeper emphasis on philosophical themes.

Would Not Recommend: If you are looking for a teenage love story for the ages.