My Science Project is one of my all time Top Twenty films for a variety of reasons. There are plenty of one liners, jokes and events to keep the pace of the film going but not so fast that you can’t keep up. Often overlooked, this film is a cornerstone of the mid-80’s science fiction / comedy genre and should be required viewing for anyone that claims to love the 80’s.

I honestly can’t remember the very first time I saw this film, somewhere in my post teen years well before responsibility was a word I became acquainted with. This is the type of film that you can watch over and over again – without having to pick up the remote control to fast forward – a rare find in this day and age. One of the nicest things about the film is that it’s pretty clean cut. Its rated PG for some mild language and a little violence – so for the teen crowd this is a great pick. Then again, we are talking about a film from 19985 so chances are most of today’s teens would turn it off in the first 5 minutes.

The Plot

Michael is pressed for time, if he doesn’t turn in one hell of an impressive science project he is in deep trouble. Convinced that he can scrounge up something at the abandoned military base, he throws caution to the wind and with the help of Ellie he finds something interesting. What exactly is it that he finds? Well, that’s part of the allure of the film. Is it an engine? A time machine? A futuristic microwave? Who knows? Whatever it is – it’s causing all sorts of mischief on the school grounds and elsewhere.

Turning to a rather bizarre teacher, Michael and Vinnie want some answers about the mystery machine. Michael is just happy to have “the thing” turned in so he can get credit for it but things go awry. Over the course of the film you’ll see things warp in and out of the school – it starts slowly with small little things then progresses to people, large objects and chunks of the school itself.

Michael, Vinnie and Ellie all know what has to be done – just like when they cut the power in the science lab – they had to cut off the power supply that is feeding the mystery machine before it “gets loose” and destroys everything in its path. As usual, the two lead characters beat the bad machine, Michael has a new found respect for Ellie and sees her in a completely different light and everyone lives happily ever after. The door was left open for a sequel but it never went into production.

The Stars

Michael Harlan
Dean Stockwell
[Top Gun, Billionaire Boys Club]

Mike is your average boy next door. He loves his car, tolerates school and lives for shop class. To say that he isn’t the “all American guy” would be an outright lie – this guy is so American he reeks of apple pie. Stockwell did a great job with the character which caries a lot of the same characteristics of Dennis Guilder, his character in the 1983 thrilled Christine. This time he has to deal with more than a possessed car. Through the whole film I figured that Ellie and Michael would hook up – you sort of saw it coming after the first fifteen minutes.


Vincent Latello
Fisher Stevens
[Hackers, Short Circuit, Flamingo Kid]

I’m sorry; Stevens’ character is what made this film. His off the wall one liners, facial expressions and mannerisms helped to set this apart from the teen flicks that seemed to flood the market in the mid to late 80’s. Until this film he had only been seen in summer sleepers or had minor parts in films. This time – he was the full-fledged sidekick and played the part perfectly. In my opinion his best scene is when the school is taken over by the time warp and he’s seen being carried through the fog by scantily clad women. Second best – his sound effects when they are chasing the warp as it races along the power lines. Vincent Latello – hats of to you!

Ellie Sawyer
Danielle von Zerneck
[La Bamba, Dangerous Curves]

Suffering from a case of the nerds, Ellie is the token “geek gone wild”. She is enlisted to help Michael and Vincent figure out how to close the expanding warp, not an easy thing when you don’t know what it is, how it works, where it came from or how to shut it off. Aside from her appearance in La Bamba, Danielle has stuck with smaller parts in films. She was cast in a few soap operas but found her niche in film. She plays the character effortlessly – so much so that you almost expect her to be this dull in real life. She and Michael compliment each other – her with the quiet reserved lifestyle and he with a wild streak. By the end of the film, they have rubbed off on each other and it seems to balance their characters out a little.


Robert Roberts
Dennis Hopper
[Flashback, Ed TV, Speed]

Dennis Hopper. If he were my science teacher, chances are I’d either be dead or accepting a Nobel Peace Prize. If you want extreme – look no further. He starts out somewhat normal then progresses into the wild side – something he has no problem with. When he’s presented with the mystery machine you can almost see the gears turning in his head. He starts pushing the envelope with it and likes what he sees, feels and experiences. For him it’s like free blotter acid without the pesky side effects. Hopper was a pure delight to watch in this film – for me it showed that to pull off a good performance you don’t always have to have a serious character.

The Effects

OK, don’t be too hard on this film. You have to remember that this was semi low budget and the year was 1985. Sure there is room for improvement but for the time that this was released they were a little above average. The “light show” given off by the alien engine / time warp device is pretty cool but if you are looking for something that is going to knock your socks off – look elsewhere.

Who Would Love This

People who love a blend of comedy and science fiction will most likely love this film. My Stepmother Is An Alien, Encino Man, Buckaroo Banzai and Real Genius are in the same league as this film so if you got a chuckle out of them, this would be a great rental.

The Bottom Line

Maybe I am crazy but I loved this movie. It runs on cable from time to time but that just doesn’t cut it. I picked up a copy of this for .99 cents when a local video store was going out of business and I must say, it is one of the best purchases I’ve made in a long time. If you like “no brainer” films that you can pop in the VCR and simply laugh to – then I highly recommend this film.


The Stats

Release Date: September 18, 1985
Rating: PG
Run Time: 97 minutes
Director: Jonathan Betuel
Distributed By: Buena Vista
UPC: VHS 012257-36003-5


As always, thanks for the read…

^V^ Freak ^V^

End Note: This film was re-released in 1996 and 1999 on VHS with different packaging photos on the front cover. The DVD version comes with a 12-page booklet complete with cast photos, biographies and some awesome pictures of the alien engine. I rented the DVD to see if there were any perks over the VHS version – there were a few but not enough to warrant purchasing it.


Spooky Trivia Fact: Dean Stockwell and Raphael Sbarge teamed up again in the 1987 thriller Billionaire Boys Club.





Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older