The Legend of Billie Jean poster
The Legend of Billie Jean

What’s Aged the Best?

The villain, mall exchanges, young cast, music and assorted 1980s conventions are praised.

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:21Read transcript
  • Mr. Piat is praised as a disgusting, well-drawn villain whose souvenir business fits his rapid merchandising.
  • Mall exchanges gone wrong work well with hiding places, chases and escalators.
  • Young Christian Slater, the haircut phenomenon and the TV interviewer dismissing a woman’s perspective are highlighted.
  • Shoplifting with IOU notes and the unrelated Slaters looking like siblings are enjoyed.
  • Hiding in an empty suburban mansion is a favored device, compared with Beverly Hills Cop II.
  • Cruel teenage villains such as Hubie’s crew, Pretty in Pink bullies and Johnny Lawrence are recalled, with their late realizations.
  • Characters offended by a low ransom value are enjoyed, including Lloyd’s reaction to $10,000.
  • The money-lets-you-get-away-with-anything line and Lloyd’s hostage plan as a ploy to stay near Billie Jean are praised.
  • Mark [transcribed Saffin] is credited with score work and the golf-course song; Win in the End from Teen Wolf is recalled.
  • Stranger Things is suspected of drawing on this film, E.T., Goonies and The Karate Kid, including the haircut and music.