Two outcast geeks decide to create the ‘perfect babe’ through their computer.  Little did they know what they were getting themselves into…

CRITIQUE

John Hughes was the king of teen flicks in the 1980s.  After the success of Sixteen Candles and Breakfast Club, he probably wanted to do something different.  He stayed in the same genre, of course.  But where things are angst and depression (with a little bit of light heart) in his previous two films, he went the complete opposite with Weird Science.

The title says it all.  It’s one of the films that no matter how you view it, it’s absurd.  You can find hidden meanings to why/how/and what.  You can analyze all you want.  But the essence of the film is absurdity.  It’s almost like the Bill and Ted films.  It’s so silly and unreal, which makes it completely cool and rad!

In case you have been living under a rock since 1985, the plot, as follows:

Two geeks gets inspired to make a ‘perfect girl’ for them through their computer.  That right there is absurd – but in fairness of this story, it works.  The ‘perfect girl’, whom was suppose to be a ‘sex-slave’ for these two guys, ended up being that muse/mother/sister/therapist for them.  As they figured out for themselves, they are cool guys after all who is worthy enough to court the opposite sex.

That’s pretty much the skinny of it.  Simplistic, as all Hughe films are.  But where the plot lacks depth, the dialogue between the characters is what makes his films classics (or, at that time, instant classics).

Take Breakfast Club, for instance.  The films plot is about five kids sitting in detention all day.  ‘Wow!’  But what’s so great about that film, is the interaction of those kids.  Sure, they are whining through out the film (ever notice it’s 90-mintues of unrelentless screaming!)   Yet, the conversation that takes place is engaging to watch.  Plus, these are convos you, me, your friends, your parents – EVERYONE has had one time or another during the dreadful teen years.

In Weird Science’s case, we all imagined creating that perfect opposite sex.  What would you have them do?  Would they create all your sexual fantasies?  Or would you rather have them look out for you?   And what’s the idea of a perfect person?  Does this perfect person have to look great, like say, Kelly LeBrock?   Does this perfect person have to have an IQ that’s beyond anyone’s comprehension?  Why must a perfect person have to be fantasized in the first place when everyone’s imperfection is what makes us perfect?  

Oops.  There wasn’t supposed to be deep thought here.  

THE VIDEO

The 1:85 transfer looks great for an 80s film, but one thing I didn’t mention in this review yet – this is the third re-release of this film.  Yes, that’s right.  This is a triple+ dip.  And the transfer looks about the same as the High School Reunion transfer a few years ago.

THE AUDIO

English Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 is included with this particular release.   The rad 80s music blasts the speakers with perfection.  The dialogue is clear.  Nothing new to the previous release.

THE EXTRAS

What wasn’t attached to the High School Reunion release and new to this edition:

It's Alive!: Resurrecting Weird Science – a pretty cool featurette, which provides the impact the film made on the people behind the film, as well as the fans of the film.  No sign of Hughe, though.  

Weird Science pilot – I remember the horrible TV show when it aired on USA Network.  It’s nice to see this is attached to this DVD set, but it’s still a horrible TV show that shouldn’t have been conceived in the first place.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you don’t have this film yet, this is worth getting.  If this film is already in your collection, the extras are not really worthy enough to double dip.