WEIRD SCIENCE (1985) Revisited - John Hughes Movie Review

[@Rex-ii2yz]

This and another movie "Real Genius" were two of my favs from back in the day.

[@salvation7362]

The bar scene is the funniest part of the movie. This film has stayed with me since I watched it back in the 80's during a free PayTV weekend. My parents had gone out together for the night and I was home alone drinking Root Beer and eating Cheese Balls. I recorded it on our VCR and re-watched it the next day with my best friend after telling him all about it while out riding our bikes. A true 80's classic!

[@LisaBowers]

You had me at root beer, cheese balls and a VCR. I loved the 80s.😄

[@bigneon_glitter]

_"Don't threaten me, Al! You're out of shape, I'll kick your arse."_ Kelly LeBrock was an underrated comedic actress.

[@josebrown5961]

Yes and so sad that she married Steven Seagal.

[@bluelivesmatter719]

My wife uses that line on me to this day

[@baronvg]

Lmao just reading the quote I can hear her saying it in my mind.

[@billsimms2511]

@@josebrown5961 surely they divorced long ago?

[@kyraspikes7542]

@@billsimms2511 Yes, But he abused her so badly to the point where she left Hollywood and modeling to run a ranch in isolation in the Mid-West. Truly heartbreaking, as she seems to be a very gentle and intelligent lady from what I have seen of her in interviews.

[@theshadowman1398]

Endlessly re-watchable classic.

[@billsimms2511]

You are correct. Hughes was a master at writing high school characters and stories. They were funny but also deep at times. I really miss the tone of his movies

[@georgeprendergast8305]

OMG yes !!🎉 Such a good movie

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Here in Germany the film was titled to something like "L.I.S.A. - the sheer madness". It's been a favorite of mine since my childhood because i just LOVED how crazy the film was. A mix of coming of age, fantasy, science fiction and comedy. You just can't remake that. They did it right the first time.

[@JoBloOriginals]

Haha - doesn’t have the same ring as Weird Science

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

@@JoBloOriginals yeah, it also completely omits any reference to the Weird Science comic series which of course is totally unknown over here anyway. However it seems the film has 2 official titles over here and in recent years the title "Cool Magic with Lisa" seem to be used for the TV screenings more often and always censored to hell. The last time i remember this movie being shown uncensored was somewhere in the early 90s.

[@billsimms2511]

Hughes was brilliant at creating ‘coming of age’ movies. He really knew how to write high school characters

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

@@billsimms2511 Exactly. He had the right amount of sensibility to be able creating relatable characters in relatable situations.

[@MyHazey]

"You said you were doing your hair!!!" That scene with Gary's parents gets me to this day🤣

[@perineum6]

"I"VE NEVER TOSSED OFF TO ANYTHING"

[@CharleyDeppner]

For the "Mutant Biker Scene," as mentioned it had Vernon Wells near-reprising his role from _The Road Warrior_ , but the scene also featured Michael Berryman ( _The Hills Have Eyes_ ) and Jennifer Balgobin with a punk-aesthetic close to her role from _Repo Man_ .

[@trinaq]

Definitely the goofiest Hughes movie of his era, but it still has a lot of heart. I'd forgotten that a young Bill Paxton and Robert Downey Junior were also part of the cast.

[@Allangulon]

Game over Iron Man.

[@capttrips1523]

Lol, how could you forget Chet? Hilarious depiction of bully older brother

[@derekmason1881]

Loved being a kid in the 80s and a teen in the 90s. I was 7 when Weird Science came out , and didn't get a chance to see it or other Hughes movies in the theaters, but I watched them all on HBO during the summer break in the 80s. Pop culture's best decades. Great times. One of my favorite Hughes films.

[@jsolloso]

"one of John Hughes' lesser titles" - what? It's a classic. Weird Science has far more traction than Sixteen Candles.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

I was 16 when it came out. I'd actually say it is one of the most 80s of all 80s movies. The thing about it is that in those days movies could have a way out premise like this and no one questioned the actual possibilities. Just off the tip of my head you had Labyrinth, Gremlins, Twilight Zone the Movie, Return to Oz, Teen Wolf, Mannequin, Splash, Big, Little Shop of Horrors, The Fly, The Thing. So both adults and kids knew to suspend disbelief and accept the premise and just enjoy the movie. So this really wasn't as weird at the time as it seems in retrospect. In movies like big and Mannequin, it is purely just magic without any explanation. So Weird Science was magic and a computer, not just a computer. Even at the time people worried about it being sexist but if I remember correctly she makes them into men and isn't the sex object they wanted. So they didn't make a sex toy.

[@billsimms2511]

Yeah back then people weren’t nearly as critical. I’m thinking the internet and just the sheer abundance of movies have made us a more critical audience….?

[@billsimms2511]

Btw so many classics were made in the 80s. I know there were plenty of duds but they made so many movies that were pretty magical

[@Xenomurphy]

I was also 16 at the time and I agree with everything you wrote here.

[@SamskaraOrigin]

*I dare say, that without Weird Science, we would never have had Silicone Valley, and the tech industry would not be what it is today. Stated simply, it spawned GENERATIONS of young people interested in computers, and drove 80's coked-up venture capitalists to invest. Even if they don't realize "what" motivated them to do it, because Weird Science is THAT ICONIC.*

[@patfer1189]

Probably the biggest issue with 80's movies is how they reveal people right now can't handle ideas like they used to. Yes- WS is a product of a bygone era, but one where everything was possible and where those easily offended knew they could simply opt to not watch the film.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

You're the only comment here I see stating what you assert all comments here will be saying or actually do say. & nothing except the bit near bad reboot ideas in the video dwells on this either. & they are tepid about it, not even that critical. I'm thinking this is a You Thing.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

I know, right? Seeing people TODAY reacting to 80s movies really makes me wish i would live in the 80s instead, when people where a lot more chill and not so freaking oversensitive,

[@denislemieux4915]

What a hot take. A lot of nostalgic blinders in this comment. As if people in the 80's didn't panic over Dungeons and Dragons, or the possibility that a song said Satan, when played backwards.

[@baronvg]

JoBlo is guilty of this snowflake shit. They can’t handle jive talking (which the whole point of the scene is to laugh AT Gary being drunk out of his teenage mind) and they also lost their shit over the “Asian face” in their review of Remo Williams, going out of their way to chastise it rather than point out that it was actually a really good performance by Joel Grey, so much so that he was nominated for best supporting actor that year (Golden Globes)! And makeup (yes, THAT!) was nominated at the Academy Awards (for what that’s worth). Everyone with a sensible brain crushed them over it in the comment section, too.

[@billsimms2511]

Yeah it pains me to realize that you couldn’t make these movies in modern day. Everything is way too PC. That said I have no desire to see a remake but with genders swapped

[@bluelivesmatter719]

Paxton was GREAT in this. Got to meet him years later and I look at him and say “Did you spit in these?” He had moved on to much bigger things at that point but was gracious and laughed anyway.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Aww man.... wholesome :')

[@apicklefortheknowingones4882]

I loved this movie when it came out and I still love it today. Classic 80's movie.

[@mikeyfn-a6684]

"she broke my heart in two!" "sounds like she broke more than your heart" 😂😂😂

[@PalBatey]

Kelly LeBrock in the 80s and Elizabeth Hurley in the 90s...

[@noahfleck7960]

Classic movie one of the best comedys of the 80s

[@terriquinlan7683]

Weird Science is light-hearted fun. Strange that Siskel didn't get that! Kelly Le Brock and Bill Paxton made it great.

[@billsimms2511]

Siskel was a very uptight reviewer .

[@dycebastion]

I watched this a million times as a teenager in the 90s

[@iLikeMyOwnPosts]

Look - the breakfast club is one of the great masterpieces of all time. But I was a kid in the 80s. Let me tell you - this movie doesn't need to hold up against Hughes other movies, because it stands on its own. An awesome, awesome, awesome move.

[@newwavepop]

i literally grew up in the 80s, in 1980 i was 8 in 1989 i was a senior in high school. i honestly get so tired of hearing people whine about 80s stuff and hearing terms like problematic, the offended virtue signaling younger generations need to just get over themselves. life is hard and you can choose to try to live it and enjoy it and have what fun you can, or you can choose to spend it constantly upset and offended,. fighting for things and protesting other things. but you are not going to live a happy life in constant turmoil and antagonism. it is great to not be a selfish person and have concern for others but you still have to worry about and live your own life, and i would argue a lot of the people that do complain about these things actually are selfish and dont actually care about this stuff but only care about how standing up to it makes them look virtuous and heroic. .

[@Vandervecken]

Totally agree. We weren't all racist in the 80s just because we didn't have a problem with the talking jive scene, and we're not racist now either when we STILL don't have any problem with it. Jesus cripes people need to stop taking themselves so seriously. I think far fewer people than this youtuber thinks would say the scene "didn't age well." In fact I bet they are the minority. They live in this Twitter/Hollywood/Leftist news bubble and imagine that they are the majority portion of culture, but they're not.

[@billsimms2511]

Agree I grew up in the 80s and 90s and really miss the era. The music, movies and culture were great. Kids today spend way too much time online and are way too sensitive about everything

[@steveericson9137]

"How'd you like a nice greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray?"

[@gmac5112]

So you are telling me I could go to the cinema and choose to see this ... fright night and back to future

[@thejoojooman6538]

Is that Kevin Costner in that Apple Lisa advert?

[@jamiewhite1515]

Awesome movie....I grew up in the 80's. Now my boys see this as one of the best of all time.... John Hughes made the best movies ever.....

[@tkskagen]

Danny Elfman's Song and Music Video make me feel 13yo (how old I was when the movie was released) EVERY TIME I am blessed to hear it!

[@Die-CastMetal]

I loved this movie when it came out.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

My favorite bit in the movie is when the grandparents are put into suspended animation. That just cracks me up for some reason. Plus, Bill is so fantastic as the rotten idiot Chet. Everyone knew a Chet in childhood, whether he was in your own family or in a neighbor's or he was a kid at school.

[@billsimms2511]

I bet some in the comments were Chet 😂😂

[@billsimms2511]

Btw I love when the dark haired geek is at the bar in the bathroom and he goes into a stall to take a shit and he sits on another guys lap and is like “well god damn!” Lol

[@eduardo_corrochio]

@@billsimms2511 😆

[@EricandDish]

"Weird Science" is the funniest movie I ever saw. I was blown away and addicted by this film from the moment I saw it on VHS as a child (my father taped it when it came on Showtime a year later; thanks Dad). Not only that, but I think with "Weird Science" John Hughes directed the definitive 1980's movie; because it really got into the heart of what was going on.

[@billsimms2511]

Hughes understood high school like no one else. Sixteen candles, breakfast club, Ferris bueller and Weird Science are all fantastic

[@itsmoenishanotmoesha8469]

I love Weird Science, it's one of those 80's classic my mom made me her 90's baby sit down and watch. Along with Goonies, The Lost Boys, 16 candles, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Heck yeah!! Being a kid in the 90s and getting exposed to 80s cinema was bloody AWESOME.

[@itsmoenishanotmoesha8469]

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 Yes Mom would do like old school Friday night movies with me I loved it.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

@@itsmoenishanotmoesha8469 Absolutely amazing!! Your mom is awesome and so are You!!! She really did parenting right! ☺

[@derekmason1881]

That's a great mom

[@avace917]

The Bar scene hasn't aged well?? My friends and I STILL laugh at that 37 years later..........and we're BLACK!! Still a classic

[@Kidderbean]

SHE DID WHAT?!

[@avace917]

@@Kidderbean "B#*CH kneed my nuts, man!!"

[@richardmoores]

Every damn night?

[@avace917]

@@richardmoores on the TELEPHONE??

[@josebrown5961]

The family jewels!

[@georgemetcalf8763]

Thanks for mentioning that SNL season. It deserves a "WTF happened to this season."

[@adamtoronibyrne1086]

The scene where Anthony Michael Hall talks about when he was in love with a “lil’ 8th grade bitch…” is one of the funniest I’ve ever seen. As a black man, seeing a little white teenager so believably speaking the way he is, I was in stitches. Absolutely hilarious no matter how many times I’ve seen it.

[@billsimms2511]

Exactly, it’s a funny scene. I don’t know a single black person that would actually get offended by that scene lol

[@baronvg]

It’s always funny hearing about those “deleted” scenes like Gary & Wyatt in the kitchen and the Devo cosplayers because those scenes were included in the tv version and that’s the version I saw the most.

[@bofawhatsbofa4593]

👌🏽Watched this again 2 weeks ago. When they weren’t afraid to use Words that won’t ever be used in todays films, like “fa*g*t”🤣

[@keithwoodcrest]

......riiiiiiiight

[@biscoito1r]

Lisa in the TV wasn't a magical Genie, she was like a Genie. I remember one episode where she disappears because they unplug the computer. Btw the title of the movie in Brazil is "Woman score 1000".

[@fredbloggs8072]

Yep. She was created on a computer, like movie Lisa, but her powers were like those of a genie. I really love the TV show, especially the first 3 seasons. They had an excellent cast & the writing was genuinely funny. The episode "Sci-fi Zoned", where they parody famous episodes of The Twilight Zone, is a classic.

[@phillipmontano7664]

It was well received by the boys of my generation I love of Hughes films

[@tauriusmagnamus3281]

Saw this when it came out. I also saw Hughes' other films prior. Thought this was the best thing ever. Every kid's wild dream on film. I guess you had to be a certain age to like this better than his other more "late teen" films.

[@vickielawson3114]

How in the world can the narrator not mention that Anthony Michael Hall was in the cult classic comedy “Freddie Got Fingered”? I love that movie.

[@JS-bd5kf]

I was stationed in Okinawa back in the '80s, and this gem was in heavy rotation on our barracks VCR with Revenge of the Nerds, Ferris Bueller, Adventures in Babysitting and Breakfast Club. Good times!

[@Pedr4m]

Loved this movie as a kid and got the Blu-ray a few years back to watch it again and it was still great! Definitely deserves more than 2.5/5. Immature teenage fun but with some heart and featuring great characters. Kelly LeBrock was perfect in her role.

[@candit8870]

This is hands down my favorite John Hughes movie. I love it so much!

[@KenAdams426]

You guys do a Blazing Saddles Revisited? Talk about a film that could NEVER get maid today. Best movie ever made!!!!

[@billsimms2511]

I love Weird Science and watch it every time it’s on. Hughes crafted some fantastic movies centered around high school. No one was better at writing high school characters . I really miss the charm he put into his movies

[@OffRampTourist]

Anthony Michael Hall had a recurring guest role on Community, as the school bully. Worth seeing.

[@BUDDYCB4]

I have the Blu ray to this. I’m not ashamed.

[@GreatWolfSpirit]

I think the movie is better than you give it credit for. And the scene where Hall talks jive in the bar is still funny.

[@ClericChris]

This is one of my favorite 80s movies. I saw it as a young teenage boy about 7 years after it was released but I loved it. It did tap in to something to boys who hit their teens in the 80s and early 90s.

[@kungfew1396]

There weren't so many great and original movies released in the 80s like this one I almost took them for granted as a kid.

[@bluelivesmatter719]

Definitely different from all of Hughes films. But probably my favorite

[@preachercaine]

Average grade? Easily the best Hughes movie. I guess you had to be there.

[@Dormition]

"You know, there's going to be sex, drugs, rock-n-roll... chips, dips, chains, whips... You know, your basic high school orgy type of thing. I mean, uh, I'm not talking candlewax on the nipples, or witchcraft or anything like that, no, no, no. Just a couple of hundred kids running around in their underwear, acting like complete animals." - Lisa

[@edwardtoyebo9690]

"He won't you know. He does not stand for baloney". I know we are supposed to honor our grandparents, but Hughes poked fun at everyone. I still laugh at Wyatts grandparents getting zombified with maniacal grins and the girl getting blasted out the chimney.

[@markoutwithmark]

I hope Kelly LeBrock had stock in lube companies because she was responsible for a lot of it being sold once this movie came out.

[@michaelmendez9381]

When Wyatt sits on another man on the toilet. "Well Goddamn!" 😄

[@BoodMu]

Classic film from my youth. Still love it to this day. Easily Hughes best IMO

[@jonplaud]

11:49 I remember watching this show and was immediately hooked and then found out it was based on a movie and was excited. I love both of them!

[@mikedlc9766]

Career Opportunities and Weird Science are my favorites of Hugh's films

[@michaelbasile1979]

I don't know if this was already mentioned here. Fun fact about the TV show. In the very first episode, Wyatt didn't think the idea of creating a woman would work. Gary replied with it would work because he saw it in a John Hughes movie.

[@KenAdams426]

Suzanne Snyder is also from Seinfeld fame. She is Poppies daughter who does not want to try the pie and then Jerry wont eat the pizza...why you ask...be Poppie got a little Sloppy.

[@KenAdams426]

Larry was also more known for Friends as Mr. Heckles.

[@NeioGeo]

I loved this movie as a kid. The idea of being able to create the perfect woman out of practically thin air was magical, and the fact that I could relate to these dudes was even more enticing. Kelly LeBrock was dreamy, so much so, that I could imagine the entire movie was a fever dream one of the boys had after a rough night. I got to watch the show on the USA Network, ands maaaan, was it something else. It had a good premise, though you could tell that the staff would always phone it in. Most episodes were random and made purely to see how crazy and embarrasing they could be. It was basically chaotic 90s MTV culture as a sitcom, though it did have a few dramatic spots every couple of episodes. Chet in particular would have an amazing characer arc, where he eventually becomes the father figure and mentor to the boys. Lisa was fun, though definitely no LeBrock. She was exactly what the show needed, however, and her character arc went from having an existential crisis, to being this surrogate mom, to realizing she was much more. It did overstay its welcome by a few seasons, but they tried, at least. If they ever do reboot this, I really hope they understand that there's so much more to it than just "pervy dudes magically make sexy lady who makes them respectable men", but at the same time, go all out with the concept. Once you get the genie out of the bottle, all bets are off. I just hope that it doesn't border on "Scary Movie"-level absurdity or flat out parody. John Hughes wanted you to learn something from his movies while being entertained, rather than just laughs for laughter's sake. It'd be awesome if not just audiences, but the producers and studio were open to that. I think Luc Besson's "Angela" and Johnathan Dayton's "Ruby Sparks" have been close to recreating this vibe, in case anyone wants to check those out.

[@josebrown5961]

If they did remake this movie ( they never will). They would make Gary or Wyatt a girl, then Lisa would be Bi. And by the end Gary or Wyatt would end up with their same sex friend.

[@adamwest8711]

Bruce FUCKING Campbell is the only way to say that great man’s name.

[@smelkus]

In the Red Dwarf episode Confidence and Paranoia Holly mentions wanting to make a woman I always wondered if it was a reference to Weird science

[@brandxreviews]

He wouldn't know how. Couldn't even create the nose.

[@jamesmorgan3212]

I loved this movie as a kid and still do! I use to watch the tv show too . It was ok I actually watched it quite a bit.

[@Merylstreep1949]

I saw this on a double bill with Return of the Living Dead....perfect match in hindsight

[@TheEqualizer-iw1bz]

I wasn’t interested in The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles, but I absolutely loved Weird Science (especially that scene with Lisa confronting the parents).

[@HonkyTonkBuffalo]

This movie contains one line of dialog that I quote ALL THE TIME!!! "He's an asshole. Look at that haircut; anyone with a haircut like that, you know he's an asshole." 😃🤣

[@srico7313]

DEMI MOORE as Lisa would have been too epic for young dudes in the 80s , they would have exploded all over the theaters ! This is actually one of Johns better movies because it actually a multi genre film because of all the mixed elements and the ever so hot Judy Aronson it is my favorite.

[@sisterdebmac]

When you accept it for what it is, it's a really fun ride.

[@joeydeaconblues]

Lisa had the first GUI for a home computer. But they stole the software from Xerox in a well documented a tale of corporate espionage and betrayal. As the first GUI was created for their corporate photocopiers.

[@KissesLoveKawaii]

Used to watch the TV show back when i was a kid. good times, good times

[@PeaceDweller]

In the current era of rapid advancement of A.I. this movie once seen as Science fiction could be a reality in decades to come, people could indeed have their very own "Lisa"

[@divinedelaware7541]

John Hughes had 3 of the top four movies in the country at once Legendary 9

[@Thathorrorguy12FU]

This is without a doubt his funniest movie he made. Not the best, but the funniest. It's definitely underrated obviously. But, this, and Trains, Planes,, and Automobiles are the two funniest Hughes movies. The Breakfast Club imo is his best. And I think that up to Weird Science, and starting with Vacation. Them movies have great rewatchability value. Also Trains, Plains and Automobiles. Them fre movies there, I could watch anytime, and the just fly buy. He was such a great writer and director, and to think that he wrote most of these movies in such quick time, blows my mind. Like in a weekend he'd write a total classic and beloved film. God bless you Mr. Hughes, gone too soon. #LEGEND

[@guyjperson]

I got into the movie business after loving the 80s movies. Got to work with both Hall and LeBrock (though I never put that together until this video) Kelly LeBrock was an incredibly raunchy and hilarious presence. That was fun to learn. She's funnier than even her turn in this movie.

[@JoBloOriginals]

So cool!

[@gochuckyourself-yf2rz]

I personally love this movie ! But I love everything John Hughes did . Although I like Michael Anthony Hall I always found his performances to be either endearing or annoying and this movie I thought he was extremely annoying . But Ilan Mitchell Smith I found adorable . And he was also great in the chocolate wars . I think he could have been a great talent but he chose a different path but I appreciate his performances in both of these movies .

[@luckystriker7489]

I was 15 when I saw this on VHS. The perfect age.

[@patrickcharles6983]

Weird Science counts as 1 of the EC comics based films(Creepshow,Tales from the Crypt,Death Becomes Her,the Frighteners and From Dusk till Dawn). I used to rent this flick a lot back in the day.

[@giobikefans]

Rewatched this with my older kids and a lot of scenes didn't age well; like you said the computer and bar scenes in particular. Hughe's other movies definitely feel less dated.

[@samanthab1923]

Always liked the other kid. Was in a movie the Chocolate Wars

[@tylertilwick6852]

Paxton didn’t steal this film. He hijacked it and devoured it for breakfast with a side of boss-sauce!

[@hashtagfilm]

Ilan Mitchell Smith in the crop top and underwear was a defining moment of my sexuality lol. Such a trip of a film.

[@chazthurgood121]

John Hughes is great. Dutch is might be my favorite next to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

[@TheTillmanSneakerReview]

I actually had never heard of the movie, until the USA Network aired it commemorating television show.

[@ImpulseKidEntertainment]

For anyone who may be interested: The Weird Science TV series has been released to DVD in its entirety in my homeland of Australia. It may be difficult to find now, but it's absolutely worth buying if you can get it.

[@Bringos76]

I wish you could post episodes on You Tube for us. I don't think its available in the U.S.

[@Chan.711]

One of my favorite movies, and the bar scene is hilarious and accurate lol. Well ahead of its time. Now ppl have computers in their hands and look for women of their dreams

[@TheRealMonkeyrogue]

The TV show was actually a lot of fun. I watched almost the whole thing.

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

You forgot cameos from the "Hills Have Eyes" actors too. =)

[@Zeithri]

100, 000$ That's one expensive fart.

[@frankie3041]

I think only two actresses in the entire history of cinema could’ve really done the role of Lisa perfectly with the required looks, figure, charisma and comedy for the role: Kelly LeBrock and Marilyn Monroe.

[@WhatPlantsCrave-ur1ht]

Most people watch Weird Science for Kelly LeBrock, I watch it for the biker chick that Vernon Wells is pulling on a chain. The mutant biker scenes are extremely random, but I love them, and I wish the four gang members had more character development.

[@enriquemedina3631]

Ringwald? Hall? We all know John Hughes’ true muse was the late great John Candy! 8 movies (2 directed by Hughes)

[@neutral6941]

RIP Bill P. 🙏

[@WaterborneCamper]

I actually used to love the TV show back in the day.

[@PaulRizzo]

Wow…1985 was SUCH A GREAT year for movies!

[@divinedelaware7541]

Danny elfmans first movie music. He hates it😕. I love that high pitched ooowhh he does in the song

[@johnw8578]

I think modern Hollywood needs to try to do movies as only 80s movies could do.

[@cjplay2]

Xerox made the GUI. Not Apple.