Weird Science (1985)
Parental Guidance Recommended for Younger viewers.
Coarse language
| Director: | John Hughes |
| Actors: | Anthony Michael Hall, Bill Paxton, Michael Berryman, Robert Downey Jr., Suzanne Snyder, Britt Leach, Ivor Barry, Robert Rusler, Vernon Wells, Kelly Lebrock, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Anne Bernadette Coyle, Judie Aronson, Barbara Lang, Suzy J. Kellems |
Teenage geeks Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) are sick of being ignored by girls, abused by cool guys, and forced to spend their weekend nights watching nerdy old sci-fi movies. Left alone for the weekend, they use Wyatt's computer to create Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), a stunningly beautiful woman with a body that stops traffic, a heart of gold, and a genius IQ. The boys embark on an adventure with their creation, going to bars, driving Ferraris, throwing a killer party, and keeping Wyatt’s psychotic older brother, Chet (Bill Paxton), in check. But in the end, they learn that wearing cool clothes, hanging out with cool kids, and being popular might not solve all their problems. Written and directed by the king of teen flicks, John Hughes, this film was released after Sixteen Candles and in the same year as The Breakfast Club. Like many of his films, Hughes's Weird Science is set in fictional Shermer, Illinois. A young Robert Downey (sans the "Jr.") appears as Ian, a cool kid who takes pleasure in tormenting Gary and Wyatt.
| Run Time: | 94mins |
|---|---|
| File Size (Approx): | 0.8 GB |
by Simon Miraudo, 17/07/2012 11:40:00 AM
Though the late John Hughes is remembered with glowing affection by plenty, his films have been subjected to claims of misogyny, racism, and homophobia over the last few decades. I figured they were unfair, clinging desperately to my memories of childhood favourites. Since growing out of adolescence (physically, if not mentally; and perhaps only barely physically), I revisited The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and found they mostly rise above those criticisms (mostly). It's hard, however, to argue in defence of Weird Science, a severely dated and unpleasant comedy in which a grown woman continually offers sex to a couple of 15-year-old boys. That grown woman, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), is the invention of nerdlingers Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith). H...
Though the late John Hughes is remembered with glowing affection by plenty, his films have been subjected to claims of misogyny, racism, and homophobia over the last few decades. I figured they were unfair, clinging desperately to my memories of childhood favourites. Since growing out of adolescence (physically, if not mentally; and perhaps only barely physically), I revisited The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and found they mostly rise above those criticisms (mostly). It's hard, however, to argue in defence of Weird Science, a severely dated and unpleasant comedy in which a grown woman continually offers sex to a couple of 15-year-old boys.
That grown woman, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), is the invention of nerdlingers Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith). Having spent their day lusting over the female gymnasts at school - and shamed by bullies (Robert Rusler and ... Robert Downey Jr.?) - they decide to create for themselves a girlfriend of their own; one that answers to their every whim. Inspired by a late-night screening of Frankenstein, and utilising hilariously improbable 80s technology that includes uploading pictures of Playboy models, Albert Einstein, and David Lee Roth into a supercomputer, the final product emerges from their bathroom in skimpy underpants and a cut-off shirt. "You control me," the cheeky Lisa informs them. Oh boy.
LeBrock walks away from the movie unscathed, thanks to her knowing ability to transcend sex symbol status and take charge of every scene and scenario in chaotic manner. The same can't be said of Hall and Mitchell-Smith, who reminded me more of the awful teenage protagonists in Project X than the realistic and deep-down-secretly-sweet heroes from Superbad.
Watching Weird Science again in the harsh light of my 20s was like catching up with an old friend who I had recalled as a raucous party animal, but was now clearly a shaky meth addict with no teeth. All that hold up are the theme song and Bill Paxton's wonderfully douchey performance as Wyatt's brother Chet. I dare not dig out the TV show spin-off, for fear of ruining the mental image of that too.
1/5
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