North Hollywood (2021)

(On Cable TV, October 2022) Turns out that there’s quite a difference between Hollywood North and North Hollywood: If you’re expecting a film about moviemaking in Canada, that’s Hollywood North, whereas if you want a coming-of-age film about a skateboard enthusiast forging his own way after high-school graduation, then North Hollywood it is. This low-intensity drama focuses on a young man trying to decide between pursuing dreams of skateboarding fame, or settling for the college professional route that his father prefers. Assorted subplots include a girlfriend and moving away from his two best friends. Written, directed and produced by Mikey Alfred, the film is inspired by Alfred’s life and you can sense the authenticity of the low-stakes drama. From a rough start, the film eventually becomes interesting even if it’s playing with familiar events. Vince Vaughn has a supporting role as the protagonist’s father, and I’m told that there are plenty of skateboarding cameos in the film’s depiction of the subculture. It’s not meant to be a spectacular film, so North Hollywood will more naturally appeal to those with a certain affection for those kinds of stories.