Wargames

Wargames (1983)

Runtime: 114 minutes

Directed by: John Badham... mostly. Martin Brest was the original director and a tiny bit of his work was still there

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, John Wood, Dabney Coleman, Barry Corbin

From: United Artists

As someone about to turn 41 soon, I object to the lead characters stating that 41 year olds are “old”.

For reasons I'll explain at the end, this was selected for viewing last night as it was available for viewing on Prime. Despite being 40 right now, it was a movie I had only seen once before, back around '09 or so. It was a movie I enjoyed so why not see it a second time and this time be able to discuss it here? Admittedly, watching a movie about World War III almost happening is at least a tiny bit uncomfortable with the drama going on now concerning Russia possibly invading the Ukraine... but WWIII won't start because of that... right?

Anyway, this screams early 1980's... the clothing, the hair, the old technology, the paranoia over “new” tech”, a Galaga arcade machine, the fact that the modems of the time required coupling the receiver on the modem itself so the distinctive tone can be heard that way & that's how the connection is made-ahhh, the memories. Matthew Broderick is a computer nerd, more concerned w/ that than actually doing well in high school, and he has a budding romance w/ Ally Sheedy. He accidentally hacks NORAD & interacts w/ the hilariously named WOPR computer that handles the launch codes. Not hilariously, the title event happens & WOPR thinks it's legit. It's now a race against time...

Admittedly the movie is a little silly; how the movie resolves its big issue does have one aspect that is lol-worthy. Yet overall it was a pretty good time. For almost two hours it feels quick as the plot progresses. The protagonist is a typical teenager who has hacking skills (this was apparently the first Hollywood picture to show a computer hacker) yet does not want to use it for monetary gain... instead it's to play a computer game early or to change his grade in Science class. It's a movie that looks nice, has a pleasant score, a capable cast, and some actors that I associate w/ the 1980's: Dabney Coleman in a role that you suspect is a typical “A-hole boss” part that he typically played, James Tolkan, and Eddie Deezen... the latter playing what an early 80's computer nerd actually probably looked/sounded like; that includes an implied notion that he was “on the spectrum.”

Thankfully the movie still works today and does not feel embarrassingly outdated or naive.. not to mention, it is not childish despite having teens as protagonists. I won't criticize how blunt the message is concerning the futility & danger of nuclear war, as a worldwide apocalypse could very well have happened “in the real world” had tensions escalated high enough. At least I can laugh about what will close out this review. The main reason this was watched last night: noticing the genres that this was listed under on its Prime Video page-that goes for either online or the smart TV app. One of the genres this is listed under: EROTIC. What an amazing F-up... unless you are incredibly turned on by retro modems or enjoy the raw animal magnetism of Dabney Coleman...