Weird Science (film)
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| Weird Science(science fiction) | |
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.jpg) Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | John Hughes |
| Produced by | Joel Silver |
| Written by | John Hughes |
| Starring | Anthony Michael Hall Kelly LeBrock Ilan Mitchell-Smith Bill Paxton |
| Music by | Ira Newborn Jimmy Iovine |
| Cinematography | Matthew F. Leonetti |
| Editing by | Chris Lebenzon Mark Warner |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | August 2, 1985 |
| Running time | 94 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
Weird Science (1985) is a teen film written and directed by John Hughes and starring Anthony Michael Hall, Kelly LeBrock and Ilan Mitchell-Smith. The film's producer Joel Silver acquired film rights to the pre-Comics Code Authority 1950s EC Comics magazine Weird Science, from which the plot is developed as an expansion and modernization of the basic premise in Al Feldstein's story "Made of the Future" in the fifth issue. The title song was written and performed by the American New Wave band Oingo Boingo.
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[edit] Plot
Two teenage nerds, Gary Wallace (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt Donnelly (Ilan Mitchell-Smith), unpopular and unable to meet girls on their own, use Wyatt's computer to design the perfect woman. They feed various data (images mostly) into the computer. Lacking sufficient processing power, they hack into a US Government mainframe and use its power to create a computer simulation of "the perfect woman" in order to place her in "real life sexual situations" and see how she reacts. A bizarre electrical storm (à la Frankenstein, their inspiration) follows, and they find themselves unable to shut the computer off.
Mysteriously, the result is "Lisa" (Kelly LeBrock), a real-life woman (who emerges from a red fog in the bathroom). She is a sexed-up but kind-hearted "80's babe" with Einstein's IQ, David Lee Roth's attitude and inexplicable supernatural powers. Self-aware from the moment of her creation, Lisa sets about revealing their inner coolness, transforming Gary and Wyatt from nerds into men through a series of wacky and bizarre adventures. Using her magic powers, she takes them to a Blues Club, confronts Wyatt's domineering older brother Chet (Bill Paxton), and throws a giant party at Wyatt's upscale home. In the end, the boys get no sex from their mentor, but are seemingly on the path to a relationship with two cute girls their own age.
[edit] Cast
- Anthony Michael Hall as Gary Wallace
- Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Wyatt Donnelly
- Kelly LeBrock as Lisa
- Bill Paxton as Chet Donnelly
- Suzanne Snyder as Deb
- Judie Aronson as Hilly
- Robert Downey, Jr. as Ian
- Robert Rusler as Max
- Vernon Wells as Lord General
- Britt Leach as Al Wallace, Gary's dad
- Barbara Lang as Lucy Wallace, Gary's mom
- Ivor Barry as Henry Donnelly, Wyatt and Chet's grandfather
- Ann Coyle as Carmen Donnelly, Wyatt and Chet's grandmother
- Michael Berryman as Mutant Biker
- Suzy J. Kellems as Gymnast
- James Bredberg as Gymnast/Texas Syndicate Leader
[edit] Reception
The movie is rated at 53% on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes. Despite mixed reviews, the film has become a cult classic and is one of the most well-known films of the John Hughes high school in the 80s genre.
[edit] TV series
A television show based on the film debuted in 1994 and ran for 88 episodes. Following the same basic plot as the movie it starred Vanessa Angel as Lisa, Michael Manasseri as Wyatt, John Mallory Asher as Gary, and Lee Tergesen as Chet.
[edit] Soundtrack
1 "WEIRD SCIENCE" Performed by Oingo Boingo Produced by Danny Elfman and Steve Bartek
2 "TURN IT ON" Performed by Kim Wilde Produced by Jimmy Iovine
3 "DEEP IN THE JUNGLE" Performed by Wall of Voodoo Produced by Richard Mazda Courtesy of I.R.S. Records
4 "TUBULAR BELLS" Performed by Mike Oldfield Courtesy of Virgin Records, Ltd.
5 "TESLA GIRLS" Performed by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (as OMD) Courtesy of Virgin Records, Ltd. / A&M Records
6 "PRIVATE JOY" Performed by Cheyne Produced by Greg Phillinganes and Jimmy Iovine Vocals produced by Louil Silas Jr.
7 "WANTED MAN" Performed by Ratt Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
8 "DON'T WORRY BABY" Performed by Los Lobos Courtesy of Slash Records / Warner Bros. Records Inc. By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
9 "FOREVER" Performed by Taxi Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
10 "METHOD TO MY MADNESS" Performed by The Lords of the New Church (as Lords of the New Church) Courtesy of I.R.S. Records
11 "EIGHTIES" Performed by Killing Joke Courtesy of E.G. Records Ltd.
12 "WHY DON'T PRETTY GIRLS LOOK AT ME" Performed by Wild Man From Wonga Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
13 "NERVOUS AND SHAKEY" Performed by The Del Fuegos Courtesy of Slash Records
14 "THE CIRCLE" Performed by Max Carl Produced by Peter Hauke Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
15 "TENDERNESS" By Roger Charlery, David Wakeling & Michael Billingham Performed by General Public Courtesy of I.R.S. Records / Virgin Records, Ltd.
16 "DO NOT DISTURB (KNOCK KNOCK)" Performed by The Broken Homes Produced by Michael Frondelli with The Broken Homes
17 "OH, PRETTY WOMAN" Written by Roy Orbison, Bill Dees Performed by Van Halen (Original Theatrical & Restored DVD Versions)
[edit] Gallery
 West view of the Long Beach, California home used in Weird Science as the fictional, upscale Donnelly family home and the location of the Gary-Wyatt party. The Weird Science house also appeared in the 2001 comedy film Not Another Teen Movie, and in the 2001 drama/psychological thriller/science fiction film Donnie Darko. |
 Northwest view of the Weird Science house |
 West view 1 of the Weird Science house |
 West view 2 of the Weird Science house |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Weird Science DVD Official Universal Studios Site
- Weird Science at the 80s Movie Gateway
- Weird Science at the Internet Movie Database
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