The stage curtains open ...
(for her high school newspaper interview) Ellie: "Now, what's your sign, Harlan?" Harlan: "Pontiac."
"My Science Project" (1985) emerged on the coattails of such popular films as "Weird Science" and "Real Genius", and songs like, "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby. There was about 5 minutes in the 80's when science was the going trend, especially in teen comedies. This movie was considered to be a bomb, and did not fare well at the box office. I actually remember when this one came out. It was pretty "out there", but I had fun with it. It is a bit of a forgotten gem, and today's youth have probably never even heard of it, and maybe never will.
In 1957, the military discover an UFO that has crash landed on Earth. The President himself is called in, and upon seeing it, he orders them to get rid of it. Flash forward to the year 1985. Michael Harlan (John Stockwell), a teenager in High School who loves working on cars, is feeling the pressure from his Science teacher, Bob Roberts (Dennis Hopper), to impress him with his science project, or he might not pass. Harlan takes the newspaper geek out on a date, and they decide to enter the old airfield where the UFO was brought to, back in 1957. They accidentally discover an alien artifact, that can generate power without any heat ... and is capable of creating a time/space warp where different time periods intersect together. Harlan figures this would be an excellent science project. But, when the device taps into the town's power source, all hell breaks loose and it is up to Harlan and his friends to stop it before it's too late.
This was a crazy movie. It is literally all over the place. It starts out as your generic, 80's teen comedy with Fisher Stevens providing the comic relief (even though he is pretty much a jerk and a bully), but is a loyal friend to Harlan. It moves into your teen comedy/action with decent special effects for its day. Then it turns into an all out, violent action film when they are confronted by soldiers and even dinosaurs from all across time inside of their high school. You even get some futuristic goons with laser guns taking pot shots at them. I really don't know WHAT to make of this one, but it was still a fun movie.
Dennis Hopper doesn't really have much screen time, but he uses his time to the full, completely immersing himself into his role of the 60's loving experimenter. I only ever really remember seeing John Stockwell in this movie and in "Christine", but he does a decent job as the "cool car guy". With Danielle von Zerneck, I remember her in only two films as well ... this one and "La Bamba". Despite how crazy this movie is, I would still recommend it at 7 stars out of 10. It truly is a guilty pleasure, and a fun part of my 80's past.
(for her high school newspaper interview) Ellie: "Now, what's your sign, Harlan?" Harlan: "Pontiac."
"My Science Project" (1985) emerged on the coattails of such popular films as "Weird Science" and "Real Genius", and songs like, "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby. There was about 5 minutes in the 80's when science was the going trend, especially in teen comedies. This movie was considered to be a bomb, and did not fare well at the box office. I actually remember when this one came out. It was pretty "out there", but I had fun with it. It is a bit of a forgotten gem, and today's youth have probably never even heard of it, and maybe never will.
In 1957, the military discover an UFO that has crash landed on Earth. The President himself is called in, and upon seeing it, he orders them to get rid of it. Flash forward to the year 1985. Michael Harlan (John Stockwell), a teenager in High School who loves working on cars, is feeling the pressure from his Science teacher, Bob Roberts (Dennis Hopper), to impress him with his science project, or he might not pass. Harlan takes the newspaper geek out on a date, and they decide to enter the old airfield where the UFO was brought to, back in 1957. They accidentally discover an alien artifact, that can generate power without any heat ... and is capable of creating a time/space warp where different time periods intersect together. Harlan figures this would be an excellent science project. But, when the device taps into the town's power source, all hell breaks loose and it is up to Harlan and his friends to stop it before it's too late.
This was a crazy movie. It is literally all over the place. It starts out as your generic, 80's teen comedy with Fisher Stevens providing the comic relief (even though he is pretty much a jerk and a bully), but is a loyal friend to Harlan. It moves into your teen comedy/action with decent special effects for its day. Then it turns into an all out, violent action film when they are confronted by soldiers and even dinosaurs from all across time inside of their high school. You even get some futuristic goons with laser guns taking pot shots at them. I really don't know WHAT to make of this one, but it was still a fun movie.
Dennis Hopper doesn't really have much screen time, but he uses his time to the full, completely immersing himself into his role of the 60's loving experimenter. I only ever really remember seeing John Stockwell in this movie and in "Christine", but he does a decent job as the "cool car guy". With Danielle von Zerneck, I remember her in only two films as well ... this one and "La Bamba". Despite how crazy this movie is, I would still recommend it at 7 stars out of 10. It truly is a guilty pleasure, and a fun part of my 80's past.