Simply “building” your dream girlfriend on your computer – today, that sounds like a bizarre sci-fi fantasy or a belated April Fool’s joke. But in the wild 80s, the idea of creating your ideal partner from bits and bytes was not just pure fiction, but also an expression of a very specific youthful longing – especially among us computer nerds, who were little noticed at the time.

Today, that may seem a little “kinky,” but exactly 40 years ago, in the midst of an era of VHS tapes, synth pop, and home computers, many things were still very different. Anyone who played around with a Commodore 64 back then was far from cool. And if you were a 17-year-old computer geek who already had trouble talking to girls (and that’s putting it mildly!), then the idea of simply programming your own perfect girlfriend wasn’t just fascinating – it was revolutionary. Or at least a nice daydream.

When I heard back then that there was a movie with exactly this absurd but, for me, extremely interesting premise, I knew I had to see it! I still remember the old movie theater in my town where I saw “Weird Science.” I was hooked after just a few minutes. The film spoke to me, was entertaining, weird, and a real highlight for me as a teenager. So it’s no surprise that it still has a permanent place in my film collection and is watched regularly.

What appealed to me most at the time was the central idea: two losers use their technical know-how to build their perfect woman. Back then, it not only sounded like an enticing escape from reality, but also like a small confirmation that technical understanding and being a nerd might be rewarded someday. Today, I see the film with different eyes. The technical fantasy is still at the center, but it’s the character development that really touches me today. Gary and Wyatt, the two teenage heroes, transform themselves – with Lisa’s help – from an insecure duo into self-confident young men. What fascinates me most today is that this development doesn’t come about through external circumstances, but through self-reflection. Lisa functions less as a girlfriend in the traditional sense and more as a mentor who teaches them to believe in themselves and not to hide.

This metaphor strikes a very different chord with me now. I see parallels with my own life. I never had a magical Lisa either, but I learned that as a nerd or geek, if you stay true to yourself, you can find your way. My mind, my creativity, and my perseverance have opened more doors for me than trying to be someone else ever could have. It’s this message that makes the film even more relevant to me today than it was back then.

It was only years later that I began to take a closer look at the background of the film – and was surprised at how many familiar names were behind “Weird Science.” John Hughes, who both wrote and directed the screenplay, was no stranger to me. But I didn’t realize at the time that the same man was also responsible for classics such as “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and “Sixteen Candles.” These films also occupy a very special place in the film history of the 1980s. The fact that he also wrote the screenplay for “Christmas Vacation” – for me the epitome of a successful Christmas movie – makes him a true master of youth and family entertainment in my eyes.

Another small but fascinating detail: the scene with the post-apocalyptic biker gang is a clear homage to “Mad Max – The Road Warrior.” The fact that the gang leader looks like a caricature of “Wes” is immediately apparent. But it’s only when you look closer that you realize it’s actually the same actor, Vernon Wells. Such references and little Easter eggs make the film even more charming.

You often hear that there was also a TV series based on “Weird Science” in the 90s. I’ve only seen excerpts – and to be honest, if you love the original film, you shouldn’t expect too much from it. The series lacks the charm and depth of the film and comes across more like a half-hearted sitcom adaptation.

Nevertheless – or perhaps precisely because of this – the film remains a unique product of its time. It’s a mixture of science fiction, coming-of-age comedy, and social utopia with a healthy dose of 80s madness. And that’s exactly what makes it so special. Anyone who grew up during that time or is simply enthusiastic about that era will find much more in “Weird Science” than just a weird story about two nerds and their dream girl.

BTW: When I look at what’s possible with all these AI girlfriends today, I can’t help but smile. In the 80s, it took a lightning strike, a wired Barbie head, and a little computer magic to create the woman of your dreams. Today? A few clicks and prompts on some AI platform. Voice, appearance, tits and ass, personality(?) – everything is freely configurable. Okay, admittedly, she doesn’t (yet) step out of the screen in a white crop top and blue bikini bottoms, but I’m sure they’re already working on it.
Basically, it’s the same escapism – except that in the 80s we had more fantasy, grainy VHS copies, and a lot of adolescent optimism. Today, it’s an algorithm with API access and deepfake charm.

So, with that in mind:
Wire up Barbie, put a bra on her head – and enjoy this cult classic in all its retro glory!