The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

Nowadays, it's easy to talk about cultfilms as if they were never anything but exactly that. The trouble is, there is not a filmmaker out there who starts off his or her vision with the idea of solely making a cult classic. More often than not, these are films that flop or grossly underperform and take years of traction on home video before gaining aformentioned title.

This one, with that title? Well, you could say it was a given that this would do poorly in the cinemas and afterwards gain notoriety. A shame, really, because despite its complete and utter lack of sense and direction this is a fun film that stays fun after repeated viewings. Not only that, but every time you see it, you'll find something new.

No wonder the masses did anything but flock to this one in 1984 then.

Peter Weller is our cool and collected hero, who is not only one of the best neurosurgeons on the planet, but also a highly skilled inventor/physicist and a suave musician. Damn, the man has it all. It's just not fair, is it? He is the leader of a band/gang/cult called the Hong Kong Cavaliers and they are all expert at something, be it science or what have you. Buckaroo discovers the 8th dimension, which is the starting point for an evil 'alien' called John Whorfin to steal this invention in order to get back home. But the black Lectroids (as opposed to Whorfin's band of red Lectroids - learn the difference!) can not allow this and threaten the destruction of the planet should Whorfin escape. And then  shenanigans ensue.

Oh, how they ensue! It's truly insane how much is thrown at you in a single go and it will leave your mind spinning. Really: it's genuinely hard to keep up with all the plotpoints and adventures and things.

Yes, things. Do you have any idea how hard it sometimes is to find the right words for everything?

Nevertheless, despite this film seeming like a complete and utter clusterfuck of ideas, still stays afloat. That is probably because the insane ideas all fit in this bizarre universe and because the actors are so enthralling. Peter Weller is always cool as fudge, but go and check the completely nutball character portrayed by John Lithgow, or the hilariously understated Christopher Lloyd as 'John Bigbooté', who is always addressed as 'Bigbooty' by Lithgow.

Oh, and did I mention all the Lectroids are called 'John'?

Yes, even the female ones. Why do you ask?

Also, all the black Lectroids are Jamaican, for some reason. No, I don't know why.

So in the end, you get a film that is fascinatingly bizarre, yet constantly entertaining. Does that make this a cult classic worthy of that title?

Absolutely.