A high school diver fights his fear of heights and Diving to get onto the team. He gets onto the team, only to find that he must dive the high platform in order to compete. His problems are further compounded by social issues out of the pool. His sister is being taken advantage of by the local tough-guy, and his coach writes him off as a loser. To aid in his overcoming of his phobia, he enlists in a previous women’s olympic coach, whom he falls for and crosses the line between business and pleasure. During his training with the new coach, he experiences a bad diving accident and is warned not to dive in the championship. He ignores these warnings, and enters the competition…
Matt Adler was the Zac Effron of his era. A good-looking kid who appeared in a few classics and more than a few duds. Diving In fits into the latter category and is an uneasy mix of drama and sports competition movie. It’s Addler, who is cast in the lead role of this silly aquatic-themed story, that forces him to continually be embarrassed, harassed, or generally abused by his co-stars. All of the conflicts presented in the film are settled by the big moment during the third act, when Adler is forced to face his fears and aggressors in a diving competition.
Conceivably, one could make a compelling movie about any athletic endeavor with the right story and filmmaker. Diving In has a very derivative story with some major logical loopholes, and the creative behind the camera didn’t find a compelling way to deliver the narrative. This is a movie that drowns under the figurative weight of its own foolish premise and the mediocre craftsmanship of the director.
Directed by: Strathford Hamilton
Written by: Eric Edson
Starring: Matt Adler, Kristy Swanson, Burt Young
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