Weird Science (1985)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

John Hughes

Writer:

John Hughes (written by)

Release Date:

2 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

It's all in the name of science. Weird Science.

Plot:

Two nerdish boys attempt to create the perfect woman, but she turns out to be more than that.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Perfect Woman | Teenager | Geek | Science Experiment

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Anthony Michael Hall	...	Gary Wallace
Kelly LeBrock	...	Lisa
Ilan Mitchell-Smith	...	Wyatt Donnelly
Bill Paxton	...	Chet Donnelly
Suzanne Snyder	...	Deb
Judie Aronson	...	Hilly
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Ian (as Robert Downey)
Robert Rusler	...	Max
Vernon Wells	...	Lord General
Britt Leach	...	Al Wallace
Barbara Lang	...	Lucy Wallace
Michael Berryman	...	Mutant Biker
Ivor Barry	...	Henry Donnelly
Ann Coyle	...	Carmen Donnelly (as Anne Bernadette Coyle)
Suzy J. Kellems	...	Gymnast

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Central Street, Highland Park, Illinois, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Anthony Michael Hall makes a reference to a girlfriend from Canada. His character "Brian" from The Breakfast Club (1985) also makes a reference to an imaginary girlfriend from Canada.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Ilan Mitchell-Smith (Wyatt) clearly looks like he's about to start laughing almost every time Bill Paxton (Chet) looks directly at him.

Quotes:

[Wyatt is driving himself, Gary and Lisa back to his home. Gary is very drunk]
Garry: Gimme de keys! Gimme de keys!
Wyatt: [to Lisa; concerned] Is he going to be okay?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Totally Awesome (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

WHY DON'T PRETTY GIRLS LOOK AT ME

Essential Viewing for the 80s generation

Weird Science is the product of the prolific '80s' writer/director John Hughes (who later went on to create films such as 'Home Alone'). This man single-handedly crafted movies about teenagers for teenagers, without ever becoming patronising or authoritative. Weird Science epitomises the 80s with its fast cars, shoulder pads and big hair. To be honest, Weird Science is synonymous with that decade and reflects most if not all, of its hopes and aspirations (computers in every home, robotic servants etc.). Looking back on it now it's incredibly dated, however and more importantly, the film is still as entertaining today as it was over ten years ago!

Anyone who grew up in the 80s and is beginning to reminisce will instantly relate to the exploits of the two lead characters Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith), as they use their computer and associated paraphernalia to create a beautiful girlfriend (Kelly LeBrock). Although not Hughes' best work, this was reserved (in my opinion) for the later 'Ferris Beuller's Day Off' which was far more appealing to a wider audience - Weird Science will always be a 'Geeky' 80s classic. The film was so popular it spawned it's own TV series - ten years later!

Unless you lived through that decade the film won't touch you in quite the same way. You needed to have been in awe of Tron, to have worn stone washed jeans and to have owned at least two pairs of illuminous [odd] socks, to really appreciate the naivety of the main characters as they place their faith in computers and 'modern' technology.

Today to a younger - more clued up audience, Weird Science could get lost amongst so many other 80s flicks with inferior technology and visual special FX to today's CGI standards. However there is something quintessentially 80s, something oh so Duran Duran about Weird Science that separates it from even the best of today's films. It's that central 'Hughes' element with its visual nuances and audible gags that makes this a timeless classic, watchable again and again.

If you know what 'ghetto blaster' is definitely watch this film, if you were born after 1984 take everything with a pinch of salt and pay attention - you might learn something.