What is the only movie poster in the world that will contain the phrase, "Starring John Stockwell?" A better question might be, "Who is John Stockwell?" Exactly! It was actually the damaging effects of Fisher Stevens' acting that prompted me to dig up this 1985 teenage-action sci-fi comedy called, My Science Project.

Mark Harlan (Stockwell) is really into his car, fixing it up, and not much else. This motorhead is so devoted to his hot-rod that he might not graduate from high school. Bob, the science teacher, played by Dennis Hopper, demands that Harlan's science project be impressive, or a cap and gown will not be in his future. Needing to make the grade, Harlan scavenges a military base's industrial graveyard for inspiration. Here he stumbles across one of those cool lightning balls from Spencer's Gifts . . . you know, when you touch the glass the lightning is attracted to your fingers. Well, apparently aliens picked up this little lightning ball, and with their technology, they created a time warping engine.

When the aliens crashed on earth in the 1950's, the U.S. military dismantled their ship and kept it top-secret in a military junk yard until Harlan was able to skillfully scale a chain link fence to crack their super top security. With me so far? You probably don't need to know all that, but what you should know is that Fisher Stevens plays Harlan's smooth talking tough guy sidekick from Brooklyn. Stevens standing at an intimidating five foot nothing and weighing in at about a buck forty, strikes fear into the hearts of teenage geeks and makes girls swoon. Harlan and his sidekick bring this time warping device to Bob the science teacher and when he hooks it up to a power source, the zany adventure begins.

Harlan and friends are forced to face off against cavemen, gladiators, futuristic warriors and even dinosaurs in order to save the school! I know what you're saying to yourself "Even dinosaurs?! How could I have missed this gem?!!" Don't beat yourself up, just make your way over to the nostalgic corny eighties section of your video store.

Hamlin Grade: 5.5

Fletch is a killing word!