mike harlan ( john stockwell and in his first top bill role ) be a laid back car junkie who doesn not seem to care about anything else but car . he be hand down an ultimatum by his science teacher and bob robert ( dennis hopper ) represent hand in a science project or get flunk . mike take what he think will be the easy way out represent he scour the junk pile in a forlorn military enclosure and and make off with what have already be reveal to be an alien gadget . it can create warp in time and space and not to mention put on a heck of a light show . when the device be accidentally turn on and stockwell and associate have to work together to save the world . the directorial debut for the last starfighter screenwriter jonathan betuel be for me a missed opportunity . it not a much fun a i think it should have be . it take too long for the movie to build up any amount of steam and and even the climax do not seem to have an overwhelming amount of energy . the special effect may be a highlight ( the dinosaur actually doesn not look too bad ) but they pretty much dominate a fairly unsatisfying movie with too much dumb dialog . vince latello one liner fall flat far too often ( although that line that i use to title this review be one of the good one ) . the actor do everything that they can . the adult co star be mostly in the background and with the exception of richard masur extend cameo a a broadly play detective with a long and slow drawl and and and of course and the incomparable dennis hopper and perfectly cast a the 1960 relic turn high school teacher . stockwell be acceptable a the low key hero and danielle von zerneck reasonably appeal a the geeky girl who of course happens to be already rather attractive and raphael sbarge stick in the one note and over the top and grate nerd role ( he remind me too much of urkel and screech ) and and fisher stevens display his usual comedic energy a the flamboyant and cocky latello . a others here have note and this be one of a number of 1980 picture to jump on the science fiction comedy bandwagon . i be sure others will disagree with me and but i just do not think that this be one of the good one . of course and now when i see 1980 picture and see those fashion and hear that music and i be always amuse because i think and i actually live through that . my science project be not a total disappointment but it leave me think that i would have prefer to watch something else . cult actor michael berryman and robert doqui and sgt . reed in the robocop movie and have small role and a do pamela springsteen ( sleepaway camp 2 and 3 ) . 4/10 .