WarGames (1983)

A high school computer geek (Matthew Broderick) unintentionally accesses a NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) computer and sets off a nuclear war simulation that is believed to be the real thing. Generally, this is a superior cold war thriller with science fiction elements. The director John Badham (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER) keeps things fast and fun with just enough seriousness to make us care. The Oscar nominated (original) screenplay by Lawrence Lasker and Walter Parkes is clever though it sacrifices a semblance of reality by making all the adults in the film save one (John Wood's scientist) stupid and its teenaged protagonists (Ally Sheedy is Broderick's girlfriend) smarter and more sensitive than the movie's grownups. Annoying yes but it doesn't dampen the film's high spirits and adventure. The film benefits from the highly likable Matthew Broderick in the central role who comes across as a real teen and not a smarmy movie teen. The production design (via Angelo P. Graham) of the NORAD compound is impressive and Arthur B. Rubenstein contributes an effective underscore. With Dabney Coleman, Barry Corbin, Michael Madsen, Maury Chaykin and Eddie Deezen.