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Weird Science

Weird Science

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Ridiculous, but a classic for teens in the 80's
Review: One of the most quoted of movies by anyone who came of age in the 80's, alongside another Hughes/Anthony Michael Hall classic, Sixteen Candles. This may be its only redeeming quality, but that's all it needs. Perhaps only surpassed in quotable lines by Caddyshack.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: How about a greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray?
Review: Of all the John Hughes-helmed 80's-teens-living-in-a-quaint-Chicago-suburb dramatic comedies, "Weird Science" is my favorite. While it's yet another take on on the 'losers who show everybody up in the end' genre of comedy that was so big at the time ('Revenge of the Nerds', anyone?), I find it far more hilarious than "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", and much more fun to watch than "The Breakfast Club". And you can hardly beat 'WS' when it comes to showcasing the fab fashions of the era. Ya know, big over-moussed and/or -crimped hair styles, narrow ties, pastels, spandex, and an overall lack of good taste that only the 70s can beat...

The two teen losers Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) & Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) have some great lines-- most of which I can't print in this review, but take my word: many of 'em are pretty freakin' funny. Bill Paxton's portrayal of nasty big-brother Chet was definitely a springboard for his career of playing whiny scumbag-type characters (remember Hudson from "Aliens"? Or the weasely car salesman from "True Lies"?). Robert Downey Jr. even makes a strong appearance, looking very much the epitome of 80's suburban new-wave fashion as one of our heroes' many tormentors, many years before his substance abuse problems made the headlines in the Hollywood gossip pages.

And then there's Kelly LeBrock as Lisa, a new take on 'Frankenstein'-- oh man, the wrong things I'm thinkin' as she struts about in the various outfits she throws herself into... and out of. Oh yes, heh. Er, excuse me; I gotta go hose myself down...

Okay, hormonal balance re-established, thank God. Speakin' of Lisa: my favorite part is where she takes the geeky buddies out to a bar with a predominantly black clientele. As Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) drinks himself into a near-stupor he becomes "pimp-daddy", doing the shuckin'-and-jivin' routine that Eminem couldn't even hope to touch. Amos 'n' Andy move over! Another great scene is Lisa letting Gary's parents know just what'll be goin' on at the house party she's taking their son to. Their overwrought reaction and Gary's complete embarrassment to her brutal honesty here is priceless!

Please note that there are two versions of 'Weird Science' on DVD. The latter release, part of Universal's "High School Reunion" series, includes the original soundtrack used in the theatrical version, as well as a much clearer and brighter picture, and superior audio quality and separation than the former release. Oh, and it also includes the original theatrical trailer as a bonus feature, and English subtitles. Unfortunately, the subtitles only catch about two thirds of what the subjects are actually saying 'cuz much of the dialogue is fairly swift. Otherwise, this is the best video release of the film to come out yet, and is a highly recommended addition to any 80s-teen-comedy fan's video shelf.

'Late

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Chips, dips, chains, whips...
Review: This is one of the great 80s flicks, courtesy of the great 80s flicks guy, John Hughes. There are a hundred moments in this movie that flash me back to being an awkward 13 year old dork (as opposed to the awkward 32 year old dork I am now). And so many great lines! "Do you realize it's snowing in my room, godd**it?" Or when Gary opens the bathroom door and the cute girl asks, "What are you guys doing in there?" "Gary was just takin' a s**t!" *flash to a hand slapping Wyatt's face*

And, ya gotta love the bar scene, where a drunk Gary "tells his tale."

Anyway, it's a funny, funny movie, and highly recommended to anyone who loves the John Hughes 80s. An essential!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A really fun movie to watch again and again.
Review: "Weird Science" is another John Hughes 80s flick, made after his masterpiece, "Sixteen Candles", and the excellent "Breakfast Club". No Molly Ringwald this time, but Anthony Michael Hall is in fine form, playing one of a duo of socially-inept (but computer genius) nerds who decide to create their own woman.

The movie is quite odd, with several surreal scenes that will have you shaking your head (but in a good way). Who could imagine, while the opening credits roll, that very soon AMH will be imitating an elderly black man in a bar, talking about women who have broken his heart? Who could imagine that an MX missile will play a role in the movie's denoument? Who could imagine that a slurpee could be a deadly projectile?

Kelly LeBrock is smoking hot as Lisa, the girl created from a Barbie doll and some microchips. Robert Downey, Jr. and Bill Paxton also appear, but it's the John Hughes directing touch that really propels this film.

Buy the DVD - despite having no extras, this is a film you won't get tired of. It bears repeated watchings very well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pretty cool 80's movie!
Review: I just recently saw this movie after hearing a lot about it. I tend to stick with the classics, which include "The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink," and "Sixteen Candles," but thought it would be nice to try another John Hughes movie. I was not disappointed. You can clearly tell it's from the mid-80's, as in one scene of the movie, you see David Lee Roth doing his show DAVE TV, plus the hair and fashions are totally 80's as well.

Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell Smith) are two high school students who feel rejected from the popular crowd, not that they were ever a part of it. They desperately want to fit in and have difficulty doing so. On one weekend, Gary is spending the night at Wyatt's house and gets the idea to create the ideal woman after watching a Frankenstein movie. Wyatt is apprehensive, but it isn't long before they are typing away at their computer, designing the dimensions for their ideal woman, and feed different body parts into the computer. After some major explosions in Wyatt's room, Kelly LeBrock emerges as the ultimate woman. Essentially, in a nutshell, what she does is to show them that standing up for themselves is good, and gives them self-confidence in the process. They really needed this. In certain scenes, Wyatt is quite a looker, but he just needs self-confidence.

I found Bill Paxton's character, Chet, to be utterly hilarious in his delivery and his military-like persona. He is such a bully, but he serves his role well. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the popular punks who helps in dumping a slurpee on Gary in one scene. Love his yellow socks. He has a guy friend who likes to pick on Gary and Wyatt as well, and they have a couple of beautiful girlfriends who actually seem very approachable. They are getting tired of their boyfriends' immaturity and come close to dumping them after the slurpee incident. But in the end, at the party, Wyatt and Gary finally get these girls as a result of their newfound confidence. They actually make pretty cute couples. Love the scene when Chet hits them in the morning with the butt of his rifle.

This was a great movie, and I am pleased to add it to my favorites of John Hughes movies.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: An okay movie.
Review: I just saw this for the first time, so I really had very little in the way of preconceptions about it. My impression of the movie is that it was somebody's dream. The whole thing is very dreamlike--there isn't much background; there isn't much explanation; there doesn't need to be. We understand what's going on despite the lack of supporting material.
Besides the lack of explanation or the need for it, other features of the movie add to the list of dreamlike characteristics. The main characters get 'pantsed in front of lots of girls they find attractive. People/creatures who are straight from imagination keep appearing. A missile shows up in an unlikely spot.
And the boys somehow manage to learn from all this--it gives them perspective and teaches them about themselves.
Weird Science is a decent movie. I doubt it will ever be one of my favorites, but it's fun to watch.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Dreams Of Geeky Teenage Boys!
Review: I saw this as a child and then again as an adult. I think I enjoyed it more as an adult. It is an amusing story of two teenage boys. This is another cheesy 80s movie that I watch over and over again because it is entertaining. It is potentially better than anything released in recent years. The story line is more possible today than it was back then. I will be interested to see how the story line holds up when this is actually possible.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my favorite John Hughes movies
Review: I am a big fan of '80s teen comedies. I grew up on movies such as "The Breakfast Club", "Sixteen Candles", "Better Off Dead", and "Weird Science". Those are movies that I can constantly watch and still laugh at the sure silliness of the films. "Weird Science" is a silly premise when Anthony Michael Hall (Gary) and Ilan Mitchell Smith (Wyatt) create their perfect woman Kelly LeBrock (Lisa) with a Barbie doll and a little computer hacking. Gary and Wyatt aren't exactly popular with the girls in school so they decided to create their ideal woman one night when Wyatt's parents leave for the weekend. The results is non-stop chaos and hilarious comedy. In two days, the boys learn to become more confident in themselves and more comfortable in their own skin thanks to Lisa. I can never tire of watching this movie no matter how many times Comedy Central or any other cable network airs this movie. I can still laugh at when Chet (played by the hilarious Bill Paxton) gets turned into a Jabba the Hutt-like creature by Lisa or when the boys take the girls home. For me "Weird Science" is a timeless movie.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Typical John Hughes, only more so --- unfortunately
Review: Simply put, this is a juvenile boy's fantasy run amok, trying to pass itself off as comedy with some insight into the teenage "experience," whatever the hell that is. I saw this years ago, and found it to be stupid & inane beyond words. I saw it again on TV this weekend, and found that time has in no way improved it.

All of the John Hughes hallmarks are here --- teen angst galore, loads of pithy, self-aware dialogue that no real-life teenager would ever utter, broadly stereotyped adults that are nothing more than cardboard cutouts. Additionally, of course (giving us a hint of what was to come with the "Home Alone" movies & "Baby's Day Out"), there runs throughout the film crass & vulgar slapstick masquerading as humor. It is embarrassing to thing that a movie as crude and unfunny as this even managed to be made in the first place.

I do admit that I found Bill Paxton (as Chet) to be funny throughout the movie, and Anthony Michael Hall has a certain dorky charm to him that makes him almost impossible to like. However, it just isn't enough for me to get past the sheer stupidity of the movie. The scary thing is, this is far from the worst of John Hughes' efforts, and that is indeed saying something. Maybe that is why I didn't give it one star.



Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just Plain Great!!!!!!!
Review: The best of John Hughes. I watched this at least 100 times as a kid. It does not get any better! The only thing that could have made this one better was a bit more skin from Kelly LeBrock, what a woman! I recommend it.


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