This John Hughes film takes his signature outsider coming-of-age story and adds a sci-fi twist. Most people probably view the film as a comedy first, but it is strongly rooted in fantasy. It's very much a wish-fulfillment fantasy for awkward young boys. While it allows two nerds to get one up on their tormentors, it's surprisingly not a revenge fantasy. This element is key to why the film is a cut above so many imitators.
Gary (Anthony Michael Hall, SIXTEEN CANDLES) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith, THE CHOCOLATE WAR) are humiliated on a constant basis by the cool kids, Ian (Robert Downey Jr., IRON MAN) and Max (Robert Rusler, TV's BABYLON 5). Wyatt goes home to be tormented some more by his rock-headed older brother Chet (Bill Paxton, ALIENS). They have eyes for Deb (Suzanne Snyder, KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE) and Hilly (Judie Aronson, HANNIBAL), but the girls are too socially conscience to want better than popular jerks. So Gary convinces Wyatt to use his computer to make them a woman (so they can ask it advice). The experiment is a major success. Their creation Lisa (Kelly LeBrock, THE WOMAN IN RED) is a knockout.
Of all the roles he had in John Hughes films, Hall's performance in WEIRD SCIENCE is my favorite. Not because it's his best role (that would be THE BREAKFAST CLUB), but because he's very funny. Wyatt is really his straight man, allowing him to get all the laughs. In the 1980s, Paxton was making a living playing piggish men. None were a bigger scuzz than his gun-totting tyrant Chet. His comeuppance at the end is fitting. Then we have Kelly LeBrock. This film will forever make her a fantasy of young males who watch this film. She was the ideal choice not only because of her stunning good looks, but also her keen wit. Only nerds would create someone with such beauty and brains.
At its core, the film is a simple coming-of-age tale where Gary and Wyatt must learn to stick up for themselves. How Hughes handles this is key. He doesn't focus on getting back at Ian and Max, but tackles Gary and Wyatt's timidity toward living in general, whether it's bullies or their parents or girls. The only weakness to this theme is that it takes Lisa to put Chet in his place and not Wyatt. What happens to Chet is a great payoff, but dampens the lessons learned for the guys. It might be more realistic that they wouldn't stand up to him, but mutant biker gangs aren't realistic and they must face them.
This is one of those reliable rewatchable '80s films. It's totally '80s, but it's also a good film. Hughes had a knack for touching on teen angst and with this one he gets a chance for the nerds to win one for a change. Ducky would be proud.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
