Crank up the Pat Benatar, folks, because "The Legend of Billie Jean" (1985) is a rollercoaster ride of '80s rebellion and hairstyles that scream freedom!
Directed by Matthew Robbins, this action-packed drama introduces us to Billie Jean Davy (Helen Slater), a Texas teen who, alongside her brother (Christian Slater in his breakout role) and friends, gets tangled in a mess bigger than her hair after a minor altercation spirals out of control.
Charged with a crime they didn't commit, Billie Jean chops her locks in an act of defiance, sparking a youth revolution and becoming an outlaw martyr overnight.
As they run from the law and societal norms, our outcast gang becomes folk heroes for the disenchanted youth, all while the media narrative turns their story into an epic saga of justice.
Dubbed by some as "the worst movie ever made" – a badge of honor in the world of cult classics – "The Legend of Billie Jean" is soaked in '80s charm, style, and music. Even at the time, this description was questioned. White American male hijinx movies were commonplace (and dumb), can we just have something different every once in a while?
This is a tale of misunderstood youth standing up against "the man", proving that with enough spunk (and an awesome soundtrack), you can become invincible.
It was brilliantly vulnerable and edgy Pat Benatar. The soundtrack sold it. Who needed a movie? We got one though, and it was okay. Good for a nostalgic evening.
