One Step Away (1985)

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One Step Away is Keanu Reeves' first starring role, a half-hour short subject apparently meant to scare 80s' kids straight. The National Film Board of Canada has financed a lot of documentaries, artistic fiction, and animation projects over the years, but this feels very definitely made to show in schools to show the dangers of hanging out with the wrong people. Keanu's Ron Petrie commits a crime on a dare, and derails his entire life, and that of his single mom, but though he at first acts out like a teenager would, we eventually find he's a good kid at heart, and maybe it'll all work out (within the confines of what is still a realistic narrative). Blaring with 80s synth and an agenda writ large, One Step Away is still of interest for Keanu fans, especially considering he's playing a teen "one step away" from his famous Ted. He even "faces the music" at one point, which is the name of next Bill & Ted feature. A fun little connection (accidental, surely), but that's about it. 4 years 9 months ago