Whether you think it’s a horrible idea or not, doing a remake of 1985’s “Weird Science” might be an interesting social experiment on how we view women in movies. Anybody who was a teenager in the 1980s and saw “Weird Science” knows how much of a teen fantasy it was seeing two teens inadvertently creating a woman that looked like a supermodel. Kelly LeBrock was the 1980s version of the perfect female fantasy that’s since been revised at least half a dozen times by those who reached adulthood by the 1990s.
But even back in the 1980s, there had to be a compromise in the obedient fantasy woman so it didn’t appear sexist. John Hughes managed to make LeBrock’s Lisa character think on her own and be able to manipulate the minds of her teen creators to benefit herself and the teens’ futures. Even then, the ’80s sensibility of teens creating a sexy woman as the example of a male fantasy is something that likely wouldn’t be given mainstream appeal today.
So how would a proposed remake of “Weird Science” be done without utilizing the same idea? The apparent intention is to bring a raunchy comedy vibe to the project as a way to be done with large tongue in cheek. Or can the perfect woman be brought down a few notches to give a better sense of how women are viewed in film today?
If you had to poll teens today on what constitutes the perfect woman in real life or on film, they’d likely pick someone who’s much more down to earth with normal cleavage. The days of a perfect woman having the breasts the size of beer kegs, perfectly tanned skin, big hair, and an overly sculpted face are now relegated to more prurient industries nowadays. A woman with perfect body weight, non-tanned, and fresh, natural features would likely win out without any hums or haws.
The question is whether a new “Weird Science” would go that route as a clever bash of the 1980s, or if they’ll go with an over-sized supermodel idea as a nod to the 1980s. No matter if they go the supermodel way, a harsher comedy style may constitute the film as an automatic ’80s parody. In said sense, the more outrageous it is, the better for a chance to become a new cult classic.
What would happen, though, if they went with the more down to earth woman? It could easily be a showcase for a naturally beautiful actress to take the part more seriously. While LeBrock was certainly beautiful on her own, the role likely created a stereotype that prevented her from expanding into a fruitful film career.
Yes, the populace has finally learned that there’s such a thing as being too perfect. Right on down to the romantic comedy, having a grounded and more natural female creates an appeal that lasts for time immemorial.
Just go back and ask the 1950s about Audrey Hepburn, who ironically thought she was far from the perfect woman. You couldn’t ask for weirder science than that.
