The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Review

MPAA Rating: PG
Released: 1984

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai is an offbeat comedic action flick starring Peter Weller as a multi-talented hero that must save the Earth after one of his interdimensional experiments goes awry and plummets his planet into the midst of a war with a race of aliens. Styled in a comic book manner, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai has become a cult classic of sorts, and as is true of many cult classics many viewers will either love it or hate it…

Remember, no matter where you go, there you are. – Buckaroo Banzai

Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) is an extremely talented individual; he's a neurosurgeon, a physicist, a secret agent, a rock star, a samurai and a superhero. Oh yeah, and his father was a cowboy (thus, his odd name). Whew! Ole Buckaroo is so multi-talented he could make James Bond look like an amateur.

One day Buckaroo Banzai tests out an invention that he has finished perfecting: the Oscillation Overthruster. This ingenious little gadget can permit the user to travel through solid matter through use of the eighth dimension, which he proves when he drives a car through a slab of rock.

There's just one little problem: a race of aliens from the eighth dimension, the Red Lectroids from Planet 10, takes notice of the invention and invades the earth in an attempt to steal the Oscillation Overthruster. The Red Lectroids, led by Lord John Whorfin (John Lithgow), are ugly little buggers, but only Buckaroo Banzai can see their true form – everyone else sees them as simple humans.

Now it's up to Buckaroo Banzai to defeat the alien invaders, but luckily he doesn't have to do it alone. Fighting by his side are the Hong Kong Cavaliers, the eccentric members of his rock band, as well as John Parker (Carl Lumbly), a turncoat Jamaican alien that wishes to help the humans defend their land.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai is a film that is almost impossible to grasp or imagine through a written review – it really must be seen. Love it or hate it, most viewers will be forced to admit this was one ambitiously off-kilter sci-fi/comedy/action flick.

Many humorous ideas are presented throughout The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, but while all are zany most rely on subdued humor rather than the laugh-out-loud variety. For example, all of the aliens are named John, and while this in itself won't make anyone laugh hysterically it does sound a bit wonky as conversations ensue throughout the film. I did have to crack a grin despite myself when the last name of one of the aliens was constantly mispronounced: John Bigboote (Christopher Lloyd).

The casting for the movie was amazingly solid, featuring 80's heavyweights such as Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd, Ellen Barkin and many others. I suspect most of the actors were drawn to the film due to its seemingly novel storyline and approach.

Unfortunately with as many quirky ideas, solid actors and flashes of humor that The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai brings to the table, it still fell somewhat flat for me. I would be hard-pressed to define exactly what I disliked about the film, since the acting was very pleasing and the irreverent attitude was on high display throughout the movie. It just failed to "click" – almost as if the movie was just trying a little too hard to distinguish itself as a memorable oddity.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai was an average experience for me, but it's a relatively harmless comedic action flick that is worth a viewing from families and/or 80's fans. I can't guarantee everyone will love this sci-fi flick, but I can guarantee that you won't have seen anything quite like The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai.

Movie rating: 5 stars

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The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
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