Timerider Reviews

Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann is a mildly entertaining time travel movie from the mind of enigmatic musician and former Monkees frontman, Michael Nesmith. It's one of the few movies he actually had a hand in along with Elephant Parts. Here he plays it a little too straight, never allowing it to be as fun as say, Back To The Future 3. Was this an inspiration for BTF3? Maybe.

Lyle Swann is a champion off-road dirt bike racer who is sent back in time to 1877 thanks to a computer malfunction. Upon arrival, he gets into it with a group of outlaws led by 80s everyman, Peter Coyote. Only here he is brilliantly cast against type, sporting silver fronts and uttering such classic bits of dialogue as "Piss on that, piss on you!" and "You yellow chickenshit head, you yellow craphead!" Swann is given a love interest played by Aussie babe Belinda Bauer. As is the case with most Australian babes of the 80s, they ain't no damsel in distress.

There's some cool tech bits sprinkled throughout, such as the helmet with a computerized viser. Poor Fred Ward, every time he takes off the helmet it looks like he just got out of a hot shower. Fred Ward is good in the lead, but lets be real, it's not quite Remo Williams level Fred Ward. In closing, I'd say Timerider is your typical bottom shelf 80s sci-fi/western fair. Watch BTF3 if you want to see how it's done right.