John Hughes is by far one of the most recognized names in ‘80s cinema. Writing, producing, and directing, Hughes made comedy related films that obviously made you laugh, but always seemed to touch on something very real that also made you think. Whether it be movies like 1984’s The Breakfast Club or 1987’s Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Hughes seemed to understand the human condition in a very extraordinary way. With so many memorable films from the decade to his name, it is sometimes easy to forget just how many he was actually behind. One that might slip some people’s mind is the 1985 flick Weird Science. A mix of Fantasy, Comedy, and Sci-Fi, Weird Science remains to be one of Hughes most off-the-wall films of the era… yet still is a blast.
Released a few weeks after National Lampoon’s European Vacation, and a little over a year before his ’86 hit Pretty in Pink (both films which he wrote), Weird Science was less grounded in reality in many ways than any film he did before or thereafter. For one, it was based in a fantasy world of two teenage boys (Anthony Michael Hall as Gary Wallace and Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Wyatt Donnelly) who are having a difficult time attracting other girls their age; so, they turn to a computer to try and create a woman of their own (Kelly LeBrock as Lisa). To many, this concept is silly, but in reality, it is probably something more than a handful of teenage guys have dreamt of. Hughes brings this to life in this whacky film that is just the right balance of raunchy and innocent all at the same time. Furthermore, even amidst the wild concept, it still drives home the most important message of all – that we all just need a little confidence in life to reach our full potential.
These thoughts in mind, Weird Science has very much been a title that has bounced around for decades now. Whether it be on cable television, VHS rental, or DVD and Blu-ray releases, now in 2023 it gets the 4K treatment. Set for release in limited edition 4K format through Arrow Video on August 22nd, the newest physical format offers plenty that previous releases have not.
For one, it features a 4K scan of the original 94-minute theatrical negative in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), plus a seamlessly-branched extended version (97 minutes). Now, three minutes may not seem like much, but if you are paying attention, you see little things you never saw before. You also get a ton of viewing material which includes a bunch of interviews, plus you have a double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tracie Ching; and a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork also by Ching.
All put together in a nice, solid package, the 4K transfer is extremely well done, and it forces you to pay closer attention to various other aspects of the film. In all, this release of Weird Science does the film justice and reminds us that sometimes it is fun to have our heads in the clouds amidst a fantasy. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Arrow Video’s 4K Limited Edition release of Weird Science 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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