Comfort Films 90: Breaking Away (1979)

For the final week of our Spectator Sports month, we discuss Peter Yates's Breaking Away, which combines a sweet and funny coming-of-age comedy, a class-struggle drama, and a fantastic underdog sports film. We discuss the real-life origins of Steve Tesich's Oscar-winning screenplay, the film debut of character actor Daniel Stern and his niche as the lovable loser, the family chemistry of Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley, and Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid's bitter and heartbreaking former quarterback Mike, Jackie Earle Haley's amazing maturity (even as the youngest cast member), and the many other qualities that make this film one of the greatest feel-good movies of all time. Hop on your bike and give us a listen!