Tuff Turf (1985).
imdb / wikipedia / amazon instant / netflix
I was expecting a more lighthearted movie - something less jokey than Sixteen Candles... more along the lines of Some Kind of Wonderful. It was much darker! Knife fighting! Guns! The music they use in the trailer makes it look like more of a romp. False advertising.
James Spader's family moves to California from Connecticut. He's in trouble before school even pops into session: he invades the "turf" of a "tuff" neighborhood gang and ruins a robbery they were in the midst of.
They are not pleased. They demolish his bike and spritz his face with paint after class gets out on the first day.
RDJ plays James Spader's sole ally.
Let's just say that there are many other teen movies from the 80s that you should watch before this one.
Look through all the previous movie posts here.
