Dangerous Curves

Dangerous Curves

Year: 1988

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: David Lewis

ComedyDrama

What do fast cars and beautiful women share? A recent college graduate is given a once‑in‑a‑lifetime proposition: transport a Porsche for a client and, in return, secure a position at his dream company. When the vehicle is hijacked, he and his loyal friend must crash a glamorous beauty pageant staged by the thief in order to recover the prized car.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Dangerous Curves (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Dangerous Curves (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, San Diego, Lake Tahoe

The film starts in Los Angeles and moves through San Diego before heading to the lakeside destination of Lake Tahoe. The settings are sun-drenched streets, marinas, beaches, and luxury yachts that frame the lighthearted caper. The mix of urban, coastal, and resort locales drives the chase and the social plot around the pageant.

🎬 Urban to coastal settings 🏖️ Beach and marina locales 🏔️ Mountain resort backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

Main Characters – Dangerous Curves (1988)

Meet the key characters of Dangerous Curves (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Chuck Upton (Tate Donovan)

An uptight, rule-following college student drawn into a reckless plan to recover the stolen Porsche. He is cautious about involving the police and stubborn about finishing the job, even as danger and humor push him into uncertain situations. He grows through the caper, balancing skepticism with his budding feelings for Michelle.

🎓 College Student 🧭 Reluctant hero

Wally Wilder

Chuck’s fun-loving, impulsive roommate who loves chaos and pushes Chuck toward risky schemes. He provides comic relief and improvises the plan to retrieve the Porsche, showing loyalty even when plans go awry. His bravado masks a quick-witted partner who helps drive the caper forward.

🎉 Friend 🎲 Risk-taker

Blake Courtland

A confident, adventurous Texan who lures her naive friend into the beauty pageant world. She approaches situations with charm and practicality, collaborating to outwit rivals when needed. Her dynamic with Chuck and Michelle adds a breezy, competitive energy to the journey.

👗 Pageant rival 🧭 Independent

Michelle West

A naive, good-natured contestant who becomes entwined in Blake’s pageant plot and later helps Chuck and Wally. She grows more assertive through the caper and forms a romantic connection with Chuck, contributing to the plan with intelligence and empathy.

💃 Pageant contestant 💫 Romantic interest

Greg Krevske

A successful local businessman who orchestrates the Porsche theft and uses the prize as a manipulation tool for the pageant. He is cunning, resourceful, and the main obstacle the protagonists must outmaneuver.

💼 Antagonist 🕵️‍♂️ Criminal mastermind

Shawn Brooks

A rival pageant contestant whose stage mother drives a controlling and scheming agenda to disqualify competitors. Shawn embodies the pressures and performances behind a glamorous pageant world, adding tension to the plot.

👩‍👧 Contestant 🗝️ Stage mother

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

Major Themes – Dangerous Curves (1988)

Explore the central themes of Dangerous Curves (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Heist

The story centers on a stolen Porsche and a plan to recover it without police involvement. An unlikely alliance forms as Chuck, Wally, and their allies improvise a course of action, using clues and bravado to outsmart a crafty thief. The evidence gathering, boat stunts, and a final swap keep the caper lighthearted rather than dangerous.

👗 Pageant

Beauty contests provide the social playground and catalyst for conflict, deception, and rivalry. Shawn’s stage mother manipulates outcomes to keep rivals at bay, revealing the pressures and manipulation behind glossy appearances. The pageant subplot creates contrasts between sunshine and scheming, adding humor and stakes to the story.

💖 Romance

Romantic tension develops between Chuck and Michelle as danger and adventure pull them together. Chuck’s uptight nature softens through shared risk, while Michelle’s naivete evolves through collaboration and trust. The late-night boat and seaside drive to Lake Tahoe provide tender moments amid the comedy and chaos.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:50

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Unlock the Full Story of Dangerous Curves

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Dangerous Curves Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Dangerous Curves, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Dangerous Curves Summary

Dangerous Curves Timeline

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Dangerous Curves Timeline

More About Dangerous Curves

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