The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (1984)

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai was a flash in the pan during its theater run but has since developed a devoted cult following on videotape and DVD. This movie (BB to fans) is hard to summarize -- esp. since nearly every scene and line of dialog implies a deeper backstory -- and feels like a modern-day Flash Gordon serial. Peter Weller is the fabled Buckaroo Banzai, a Japanese-American Renaissance man: He's a world-renowned physicist, neurosurgeon, rock star, and presidential advisor. As our story begins, he has just driven his experimental jetcar through the time/space continuum -- and a mountain -- discovering something alien in the process. Then it's off to perform brain surgery with Jeff Goldblum ("No, no, don't tug on that -- you don't know what it's attached to"), who as New Jersey (in red-and-white Roy Rogers togs) is also auditioning for a spot in his band, BB and the Hong Kong Cavaliers. Then it's off in the band bus to perform a rock gig at Artie's -- enforcing the peace and discovering someone who seems familiar (Ellen Barkin as Penny Priddy). Finally, the alien invasion plot comes to light -- you'll love it! John Lithgow is over-the-top as Prof. Emilio Lizardo, aka Lord Whorfin ("Laugh-a while you can, monkey-boy!"), as is his pompous chief minion, Christopher Lloyd as John Bigbooty ("Big-boo-TAY!"). The musicians in the band (Reno, Rawhide, and Perfect Tommy) are also scientists in Buckaroo's compound, where he gathers terrestrial and alien intelligence and conferences with the President in the war room before going out to personally do battle in an airship. That's the broad outline without giving away anything substantive but let's not forget Billy Vera as Pinky Carruthers and Damon Hines as Scooter Lindley, Blue Blazer Irregulars who capture the Secretary of Defense in the hornet's nest at Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems (a name lifted from Thomas Pynchon's novel The Crying of Lot 49). Be sure not to miss the closing credits and extremely catchy theme tune! BB appeared 20 years after the Get Smart TV series and 12 years before Mars Attacks! but you will likely become a huge fan of BB if you enjoyed those puppies since they share many affinities. So don't forget: "Character is what you are in the dark" (intentionally retro) and "Wherever you go, there you are!" (just nonsense). 4 stars. (4-9-09 posted 4-29-09)