The Dirt Bike Kid is a film from 1985 starring Peter Billingsley as Jack Simmons, a boy who wants a dirt bike. He spends his mother's grocery money on a dirt bike that turns out to have a mind of its own. Jack also attempts to save the local hang-out, which is in danger of being torn down by greedy bank owner Mr. Hodgkins, who wants to build a new bank there.
This movie provides examples of
- Blatant Lies: To get Jack away from his house when having a client over, Mr. Hodgekins agrees to let him come to a board meeting to appeal to the board of directors to pick a different location for the new bank, but when Jack shows up, Hodgekins denies anyone of that name having an appointment (in his haste, it's likely he forgot about it). Then when he manages to show up during the press conference, Hodgekins agrees to check his computer for a better location, only to start construction the next day anyway, having told Jack he could not find a better location (Jack later hacks into his computer and finds that the computer showed results for many better locations, but Hodgkins needs this one).
- A Boy and His X: A boy and his dirt bike.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Mr. Hodgkins. He specifically wants to tear down the Hot Dog place to build his new bank (which is due to [[spoilers:due to tricking his board of directors to buy from his realty company, and somehow that means only that land will do]]). Additionally, he hires female employees for their looks and arranges meetings at his home, with unfortunate intentions.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Jack's friend Bo is sometimes called Pee-wee, in a mocking tone.
- Exact Words: At a press conference, Jack gets Mr. Hodgkins to agree to check his computer for a better location to build his bank, then the next day is at the site of the hot dog store with plans to tear it down regardless. Hodgkins points out that he only said he'd check the computer, not that he would consider another location. In fact Jack later finds that his results did show several better locations.
- Failed a Spot Check: The chief decides to take a short cut to catch the bike, not noticing the nearby "road closed" sign.
- For the Evulz: For unknown reasons, a gang of adult bikers take a disliking to Jack, later agreeing to take down Jack's bike for Mr. Hodgekins.
- Heel–Face Turn: After his motorcycle gets destroyed, Big Slime decides to end his biker ways, and at the end takes a job at the new bank.
- Just Following Orders: Miss Clavell is Mr. Hodgkin's assistant, but doesn't agree with his evil or greedy ways, and is on friendly terms with Mike and Jack, though occasionally has to act like she's unclear of certain things for the sake of her employment. She later has enough of Mr. Hodgkins and quits.
- Police Are Useless: The police force, especially Flaherty, have a hard time arresting the bike (understandable, considering the bike is magic and has a mind of its own).
- Rhetorical Question Blunder: When Jack's mother asks him "if you can't do a simple thing like stop the bacon from burning, how do you expect to get through life?", Jack happily tells her "with an 80 cc dirt bike!"
- Sentient Vehicle: The bike has a mind of its own.
- You Didn't Ask: Whenthe chief complains to Flaherty that he didn't tell him the road he was going down was closed, Flaherty smugly tells him "you didn't ask".
- Win-Win Ending: Downplayed. Mike's hot dog restaurant gets to stay in business thanks to Jack threatening to blackmail Mr, Hodgkins, and Hodgkins has to do embarrassing things like wear a hot dog costume at the grand opening, but Hodgkins otherwise gets to build his second bank around the restaurant.
