Happy 30th Anniversary to The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension! by Indie-Ana Jones

Take a savvy uber-intelligent science genius, aliens from another dimension, an 80’s rock band made up of more colorful characters than the Village People, a lot of shameful fashion choices, and a cool transport vehicle and you got yourself The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8^th Dimension!  What?? WHAT???? You never heard of it, you never.…wait, hold on let me calm down and tell you why you have to watch the most awesomely awful and yet memorable 80’s sci-fi mash-up movie.

so you get the Adam Ant reference

Where do I even begin?  The cast? The story? The filmmakers, the clothes, the music the special effects?  Ok let’s start with the wild cast of characters directed by W.D. Richter.  Buckaroo Banzai is Peter Weller himself, you know him RoboCop, ok how about Stan Liddy from Dexter or Barosky on Sons of Anarchy?  Yeah, that guy … well this Buckaroo dude a scientist/comic book hero who finds a way into the 8^th dimension with the Oscillation Overthruster (like the flux capacitor), while on the side heading up the Hong Kong Caveliers – kind of like an Adam Ant band and trying to save....drum roll...yep you guessed it the world!  His bandmates are just as interesting, who are surgeons, inventors, car designers you name it.  Wait, hold on I am rushing through this in my apparent excitement.  Let’s start with some names you may recognize.

Say what?

Jeff Goldblum, yes the geeky heartthrob we all love and don’t deny it, he appears as the character New Jersey, a surgeon who just happens to like to dress as a cowboy, like a really badly dressed cowboy with a ten gallon hat. As I would say to him in person, thank God you're cute - we'll overlook this one. Or how about Ellen Barkin as Penny Priddy who is caught in the midst of all this consipiracy of the 8^th dimension aliens wanting to go home and figuring out what happened to her sister.  Oh and you Back to the Future fans will recognize alien John Bigboote, yes say it just as it is spelled,  portrayed by Christoper Lloyed (Doc).  And perhaps you remember the name John Lithgow, (3rd Rock from the Sun) as he gives a superb rendition of Dr. Emilio Lizardo whose body is possessed by 8th dimension alien Lord John Whorfin who with the Lectroids just want to go home.  He also delives my favorite line in the film, “Laugh while you can monkey boy!”  Or Rawhide, best friend to Buckaroo portrayed by Clancy Brown, oh yeah sure you don’t recognize the name, but the voice has given life to thousands of cartoon characters in shows such as Superman and Justice League series, The Voltron series, Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans, Jackie Chan adventures, Avatar the last Airbender (and Legend of Korra), Kim Possible, Phineas and Ferb…oh and what’s that – oh yeah a cheapskate but good hearted fast food owner under the sea, Mr. Krabs.  Cool huh?  And for those for you who don’t watch cartoons but loved Breaking Bad, (Mike Ehrmantraut) Jonathan Banks appears for just a moment but you'll stop and say "hey isn't that Mike? (you might also see him in Gremlins too if you pay attention.)  Oh yeah and Jamie Lee Curtis also appears for a moment as buckaroo's Mom.

Gosh I can’t even begin to explain the story in just a few short words, I mean truly I can’t, but it is so fun to watch who cares what the storyline is?  But seriously it would take me longer to explain the plot and subplots and relationship between the characters that would just take all that wonder away from watching the film yourself. Knowing that there are martians in New Jersey also explains a lot doesn't it? Yeah I admit, it's hokey and campy and down right all what the 80's is so well known for being, but that in itself is why this is on my must be viewed list (which I literally just made up, right now) you just gotta see it!

So where can you see this film you never heard of but now seems too awesome (from this little blog) to miss seeing?  Well your own Blue Starlite Drive Inn is going to add this fun film to its upcoming lineup later this year!  Look for it and other fun 80’s film Big Trouble in Little China!   And as Buckaroo says, "No matter where you go...there you are!"