What I Think Of: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

Now, from the title, you might be thinking, "Is Greg reviewing another MST3K movie?" However, despite it's title, this movie is not an MST3K gem. Surprisingly, this movie is actually quite awesome, and one of my all time favorite movies from the 80's. To say that this movie is out there is an understatement. This movie is a tour de force of adventure, sci-fi, and comedy all rolled into 103 minutes of pure awesome. Essentially, evil Red Lectroids from Planet 10 need Team Banzai's now perfected Oscillation Overthruster to pass through solid matter and into the 8th Dimension, in order to free their captive comrades and wage war against the Black Lectroids from the planet of the same name. It's up to Scientist, Brain Surgeon, Rock Star, and all around grand adventurer Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers to stop the evil Lord John Whorfin from succeeding before the Black Lectroids trigger the Cold War in order to make sure he doesn't escape the planet.

No really, this isn't an MST3K movie. It's just pure fun, it really is. What makes me love this movie so much is that it doesn't take itself seriously at all. I mean, there are sequences in the movie that make little sense to anyone but the Hong Kong Cavaliers themselves, but it works so well. Another thing that makes this movie so great is the casting. Peter Weller puts in a great performance as Buckaroo himself and Jeff Goldblum is great as New Jersey. However, the two who really steal the show are John Lithgow as Dr. Emilio Lazardo/ Lord John Whorfin and Christopher Lloyd as John Bigboote. They truly bring the humor to the movie, especially towards the end of it when they interact more.

Now, this was W.D. Richter's directorial debut, and only one of two movies he's ever directed, with his other being Late For Dinner. I'd like to think that he knew he couldn't top this awesome of a movie, so he just wanted to do one more as a director, then call it quits. Really, I don't see how he can top this. What also made this movie so good, in my eyes, was that it's non-stop. The movie just flies by, and doesn't let up in it's silly premise at all. There is no dull point at all, from beginning to end. Speaking of the end, this movie has one of my favorite ending credits ever, if not my favorite of all time. I won't spoil it, but I think it's so hard not to whistle or hum the Buckaroo Banzai theme after you're done watching it. I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a fun time. It's one of the best and one of my favorites.

-Greg