THE PLOT THUS FAR
A teenager science-nerd gains telekinetic powers.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
When a lab explosion gives nerdy whiz kid Barney (Scott Baio) telekinetic powers, high school suddenly becomes fun; Barney can conquer bullies, win at roulette and make girls’ skirts fly up. But his best friend Peyton has grander plans for Barney’s new abilities. The film never goes anywhere near as far as it should. It held back with a storyline rejected from a John Hughes story session. If youre going to vest a high school teenage boy with the power to rip off clothing with his mind, then you better deliver the goods. This gives you a souped up Three Stooges pie fight in underwear than anything else.
Barney is a nerdy student at Ralph Waldo Emerson High who spends most of his time on experiments with mice in the science lab. After an accident, he discovers that he has telekinetic powers. His friends Peyton and Bernadette are the only ones he tells, and Peyton sees financial potential in the use of Barney’s powers. Barney reluctantly goes along with one of Peyton’s schemes, but he does have a conscience. Barney and Peyton both have potential girlfriends, though Peyton’s has a boyfriend who is a college student and a member of a fraternity which couldn’t be real since the Lambda is upside down.
The DVD comes with no special features. But, it’s a great DVD Collection that shows off a great mix of cult and more mainstream 1980s films. The A/V Quality is pretty strong for standard definition, as the film is shown in its correct aspect ratio on home video. The Dolby track is strong enough, but it serves the 80s music better than the dialogue. There weren’t many special features on the original DVD, so you’re not missing much there. Oh well, I’d still recommend it for a purchase to serious fans of 1980s movies during the Holiday season.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!
