The owner of a roller disco emporium on the pier at Santa Monica, California is nervously awaiting the start of his establishment’s first annual roller disco contest. As the evening progresses, professionals give exhibition performances. Zany patrons and an angry citizen’s committee serve to drive the owner crazy.

For thoughts on Skatetown U.S.A., please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/D6hpN4qYZgE?si=rv0mJEmO_cUjbDgS&t=2027]

Video Quality

Skatetown U.S.A. debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio from a master that was undoubtedly restored by Sony in the years leading up to this release. This appears to be the home video debut of this film, so we are not dealing with an ancient master. This forgotten relic was probably not expected to get such a caring upgrade, but the results will completely dazzle anyone who has longed to see it. The natural film grain stays intact and resolves favorably while bringing impeccable detail to the forefront. Every shimmering element stands out with notable clarity, especially in the clothing and elements of the production design. Colors are quite flashy, both in the stark lighting and bright costumes. Black levels are deep without any egregious blocking or compression artifacts, and the highlights stay firm. This Blu-Ray from Sony put a big smile on our face.

Audio Quality

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings us this Blu-Ray with a faithful DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that shows up as well as the video side of things. The soundtrack is the star of the show as it sets the tone of the narrative with a forefront presence in the mix. The tunes seldom let up, and the tracks chosen are classics that will have you moving in your seat. The environmental sounds of the roller disco are carefully defined and given a welcome presence in the speakers. Dialogue comes through clearly without being drowned out by any of the music or environmental effects. Sony has done a fine job with this one. There are no subtitles provided.

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this disc.

Final Thoughts

Skatetown U.S.A. is an underrated ‘70s time capsule that is very much of its time while avoiding being dated in harmful ways. There is a delightfully cheesy element to the narrative as characters take the most unserious topic of skating and make it the most serious thing in the world. The characters are mostly archetypes, but they all serve their purpose well. Plus, there are even some notable actors who provide an added layer of fun when they show up. The script has no reason to be as funny as it is, and the lack of problematic content here is shocking – even if a few things are not perfect. All of this plus a banger soundtrack keeps this one a truly fun viewing experience. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a terrific A/V presentation and nothing in the way of special features. If you like movies in the realm of Grease or simply appreciate disco hangout culture, give this a shot. Recommended

Skatetown U.S.A. can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.