If you're looking for a reasonably entertaining 80s movie with a fitting soundtrack, you might find what you're looking for in “The Legend of Billie Jean.” The story about a group of teens on the run from the police in Texas is a little flat in places and loses more and more credibility as the movie progresses. But lead actress Helen Slater is convincing and, as a sudden and unexpected style icon in this role, also quite believable. However, the performances of the rest of the cast are rather mixed, which tarnishes the overall result somewhat. All in all, the movie managed to entertain me for a good 90 minutes.

'The Legend of Billie Jean' remains pure, over-the-top fun. As a film it doesn't take itself too seriously, and this really works in the plot's favour. It's campy, exaggerated, and hell, empowering even. The soundtrack is solid 80s goodness, featuring the likes of Pat Benatar, Wendy O. Williams, the Divinyls, and Billy Idol. Plus, Helen Slater is a total badass in this, really wish she'd had taken more similar roles, because she absolutely kills it as the no-nonsense, no-bs, assertive protagonist. 40 years later it definitely still holds, enough that I'm sure that someone, somewhere would probably be commenting on how woke it is, had it come out today.

This movie is one of those that doesn't take itself seriously and it works to this movie's benefit here. Helen Slater does a great job as the title character and seems to be having the time of her life and it is a crying shame she didn't become a leading lady. Peter Coyote looks to be having fun as well. I also enjoy Yeardley Smith's character for her flippant use of profanity.

Wow, where has this been all my life? Helen Slater is a legit badass as Texas teenager Billie Jean, whose attempts to get her kid brother Christian Slater’s scooter fixed by the bully who trashed it go wildly out of control. A killer soundtrack including a great Pat Benetar theme song and a ton of style make this a forgotten cult classic. If I’d seen this in 1985 I’d have joined the Billie Jean fan club.

It gets pretty heavy-handed at times and mostly feels like a corny after-school special, but there's something very satisfying about Billie Jean and her resolve. The transformation and the music is the crowd-cheering, fist-pumping kind of stuff you expect from an 80s cult movie.