Sometimes I ponder the origins of my quirky sense of humor, and then I remember this collection of films I adored during my formative years. I watched each of these gems so many times that they became etched into my psyche, shaping my outlook on life in the most peculiar ways. They all struck me as absolute masterpieces, and I still feel that way today. Here they are, listed chronologically, along with the ways they warped my youthful perspectives. Can you relate?
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The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)
After a bizarre chemical reaction to her husband’s toxic cologne, a suburban mother begins to shrink until she’s barely a foot tall. After a near-death experience with a garbage disposal, she’s abducted by a mad scientist and befriends a gorilla. Let’s just say I never looked at dollhouses the same way again. -
Tootsie (1982)
When a struggling actor can’t find work, he disguises himself as an older woman to snag roles in Hollywood. Because, you know, there’s a plethora of rich parts for older women, right? Thankfully, a determined man in a wig steps up to take on the award-winning role. Who needs red carpets when you have arm flab to worry about? -
The Man With Two Brains (1983)
A widowed neurosurgeon who pioneered “cranial screw-top” surgery marries a gold-digging femme fatale, only to fall for a brain he can communicate with telepathically. His wife tries to eliminate this brain-in-a-jar because she can’t stand the competition—even if her rival doesn’t have a body. Totally normal, right? -
Flashdance (1983)
By night, she’s a stripper, and by day, a welder with dreams of joining a prestigious ballet school. The steel mill owner pursues her after a visit to the strip club, and she impresses the academy with her leg warmers and wild dance moves. Talk about a role model! -
Electric Dreams (1984)
This quirky love triangle involves a man, a woman, and a personal computer, because nothing says romance like a jealous machine. The computer takes control of the man’s home and torments him through his appliances. Spoiler alert: the computer has a mental breakdown. Definitely not traumatizing. -
Ruthless People (1986)
A fashion designer and her bumbling boyfriend kidnap the wife of their former boss to blackmail him, but he’s so uninterested that he encourages them to kill her. They end up bonding over fashion, and once she loses weight, her husband wants her back. And just like that, my issues with body image began to sprout. -
Overboard (1987)
A carpenter gets his revenge on a spoiled heiress with amnesia, convincing her that she’s the mother of his rambunctious kids. They fall for each other while she designs a mini-golf course for him. Sure, he kidnaps her and lies for months, but hey, love conquers all, right? -
Raising Arizona (1987)
When an ex-con and former cop discover she can’t have children, they decide to kidnap a local baby from a quintuplet family. As other criminals join the fray, you find yourself rooting for the kidnappers. What a wild ride! -
Mannequin (1987)
An aimless slacker lands a job as a department store window dresser and falls in love with a mannequin that only comes to life for him. Somehow, this soft-core fantasy resonated with preteen girls, normalizing bizarre relationships—like riding motorcycles with a plastic doll. Who saw that coming? -
Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)
Two insurance employees plan a weekend getaway with their boss, only to discover he’s been murdered. They must maintain the illusion that he’s alive while dodging potential killers. Luckily, Bernie’s corpse provides some comedic moments, including a rather inappropriate encounter. What a way to party!
And then the ’90s happened…
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Summary:
This article highlights ten iconic ’80s movies with absurdly twisted plots that shaped the author’s perspective on life. From shrinking women to love triangles involving computers, these films provided a unique lens through which to view the world, each leaving a lasting impact on the viewer’s understanding of relationships and societal norms.