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jeriendhalSummary: The brilliant Anglo-Japanese neurosurgeon, particle physicist and rock star Buckaroo Banzai faces his greatest challenge yet when he comes up against the evil Red Lectroids, led by John Worfin, who are hell bent on breaking through the 8th Dimension and conquering Planet Ten. Even if it means THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH!
Review: Not exactly a success when it was originally released, BB found a cult status on home video after its movie run, mostly on the strength of the determinedly quirky premise and characters. It presents the adventure as not Buckaroo's origin story, but as Part Whatever in an ongoing series of movie, and is boosted by a deliciously hammy performance by John Lithgow as Lord Worfin/Dr. Lizardo.
That said, while I used to love this movie when I was a kid, my patience with it wears a bit thin as an adult. Peter Weller was never the most expressive actor in the world (making him perfect for Robocop, ironically enough, where he honed working in a not terribly comfortable or mobile suit into a fine performance) and is at his most wooden here, barely reacting to events beyond mild annoyance. It doesn't help that's he's bit of jerk as well. His annoyed "Peggy, get off the phone!" is/was hilarious, given it's being addressed to the twin sister of his late wife as she's being tortured by the baddies, but these days it doesn't say much for his character. *
Still, you do have a pre-Back to the Future Christopher Lloyd as John ("It's BigbooTAY!" ) Bigboote, who seems more annoyed than enthusiastic to be helping his Il Duce with his plans for inter-dimensional conquest, so that's something.
But god, I can't stand synthesizer soundtracks anymore...
* Also, little black kid running around an alien base shooting Red Lectroids with an Ar-15? Not funny, Dude.
Review: Not exactly a success when it was originally released, BB found a cult status on home video after its movie run, mostly on the strength of the determinedly quirky premise and characters. It presents the adventure as not Buckaroo's origin story, but as Part Whatever in an ongoing series of movie, and is boosted by a deliciously hammy performance by John Lithgow as Lord Worfin/Dr. Lizardo.
That said, while I used to love this movie when I was a kid, my patience with it wears a bit thin as an adult. Peter Weller was never the most expressive actor in the world (making him perfect for Robocop, ironically enough, where he honed working in a not terribly comfortable or mobile suit into a fine performance) and is at his most wooden here, barely reacting to events beyond mild annoyance. It doesn't help that's he's bit of jerk as well. His annoyed "Peggy, get off the phone!" is/was hilarious, given it's being addressed to the twin sister of his late wife as she's being tortured by the baddies, but these days it doesn't say much for his character. *
Still, you do have a pre-Back to the Future Christopher Lloyd as John ("It's BigbooTAY!" ) Bigboote, who seems more annoyed than enthusiastic to be helping his Il Duce with his plans for inter-dimensional conquest, so that's something.
But god, I can't stand synthesizer soundtracks anymore...
* Also, little black kid running around an alien base shooting Red Lectroids with an Ar-15? Not funny, Dude.
