The term “cult classic” is one that we run into quite often on this show, as well as in our personal lives. It’s a term that means something - it’s used sparingly, and often elicits images of forever memorable moments and characters that will outlive time itself. A cult classic is a film that, despite some flaws and quirks, defines the very soul of a generation. It’s a moment in time that changes entire segments of the film industry, and seizes its place upon the throne of movie history with tenacity and justification.

And then there’s The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. If the obnoxious movie title isn’t your first hint, buckle up, cowboy.

These episode write-ups are usually a lot of fun to dive into, because regardless of how good or bad a film is, we know that the people involved in making them were honestly and truly trying to create something to entertain. We’ll rip the band-aid off right here and now - Buckaroo Banzai is not a good movie. Between Peter Weller being perpetually unable to stop being Robocop, the random vomit-bowl of an incoherent story, and special effects that scream “we literally don’t give a crap about you, let alone our own legacies in this industry”, the only thing that’s memorable about this cinematic bag of smashed arseholes is how truly awful it is.

Remember, kids...just because an 80’s movie is “different”, “unique” and “out there”, it doesn’t make it a cult classic or...you know...tolerable in any way, shape or form. We use the same terminology to describe my younger daughter, and all that means is that we’re saving up for her impending court costs and psychotherapy.

I mean, if you really want to, you can sit through us yammering about such crap as:

Buckaroo Banzai is a brilliant neurosurgeon, who got bored and became an expert in particle physics, drives rocket cars that break through dimensional barriers, is a practicing samurai, and is the lead in a band filled with heavily armed band mates. Sure, I guess

The 80’s had a very brief yet aggressive love affair with Japanese culture. This movie didn’t just have a love affair; it had to have a restraining order filed against it

Another film filled with all-star actors throwing a performance for the ages. I’m sure they go to Comic Cons and bask in the adulation of hipsters praising this garbage film, but they must secretly hate themselves for ever being involved in the movie to begin with

In breaking through the 8th dimension (skipping 4-7 I suppose?) Buckaroo inadvertently opened a gateway to space Jamaica, because the aliens are literal Rastafarians

The love story between Buckaroo and Penny is truly off-putting. Not only is there zero chemistry between the two characters, but they both act so weird and awkward that you end up rooting against them

There’s some side story about the president being in traction in the hospital, and some random plot about having to launch a nuclear strike against Russia because the “good” aliens will fake some attack so Russia attacks America. Or something. Honestly, if you think this movie is a “classic”, something is wrong with you

Just like Mac and Me, this movie commits the ultimate jinx with it’s “see us for the next adventure” bullcrap

Honestly, we just don’t care at this point. The movie is such an awful mess that we want to go into a truck stop bathroom and cry in a shower while eating soap flakes