Starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy "Wargames" is one of those movies which if you watched back in the 80's when it was originally released will not only make sense but also still hold some sort of charm. But it is one of those movies which if you weren't around in the 80's will probably feel weak and a bit laughable with it's old computers and 80's fashions. It is though classic 80's fair and pitches teenagers against adults whilst playing on fears over the cold war and whilst not introducing computers/ hacking to the movie world uses them to great potential.

Whilst trying to hack in to a games manufacturers systems, computer geek David Lightman (Matthew Broderick - Then She Found Me) inadvertently hacks into the new computer network controlling the US Nuclear defence system. Thinking he is playing the latest game 'Global Thermonuclear War" David inadvertently sends the computer system into a sequence which could start World War III. Arrested because the US Army believe David is a hacker working for the Russians he has to try and prove his innocence as well as avert world wide destruction as time is running out to stop the computer system from starting an all out nuclear war.

The storyline behind "Wargames" is actually quite clever as it taps into the fear over the cold war and nuclear weapons which was prevalent during the early 80s when it was made and then brings in computing as well as hacking, something which was not as widely known then as it is know. Together these two elements make for quite a surprisingly good thriller but to add to the mix you have the teenagers versus adults theme, a bit of subtle humour as well as a tiny touch of romance. Together all these elements work well making for a pacey, interesting movie with just enough light hearted moments to make it widely accessible, especially as it doesn't bog you down with all the how's of the hacking world rather than the consequences of it.

But it has to be said that while all these elements work "Wargames" is by no means an edge of your seat thriller, despite the urgency of stopping the computer before it becomes too late, there is a lack of dread making it at times feel more like a drama than an all out thriller. What it does do to make up for the lack of tension is to deliver a clever storyline which introduces us to computing and hacking. It's funny now watching "Wargames" as the technology on show like the huge floppy disks, the modem coupler and the computer voice is so old hat and archaic that you can't but help laugh. But at the same time it's still fascinating if a little far fetched, such as the scene where David makes a free phone call with the aid of a can pull. It's the retrospective cleverness of the movie which in many ways makes it get better with age.

As for the performances well in only his second movie Matthew Broderick does well as teenage hacker David. Broderick is instantly likeable and manages to play that mischievous geek character down to a tee. Playing alongside Broderick is Ally Sheedy who other than stopping "Wargames" being a completely male dominated movie has little to do. Her role as Jennifer is basically to be David's side kick and provide a little romance to the storyline. Together Broderick and Sheedy do well to play the movie straight but at the same time give it a youthful lightness so that it doesn't come over as dark or in the least bit clandestine.

What this all boils down to is that despite being made over a quarter of a century ago "Wargames" is still an entertaining thriller with enough drama and touches of humour to make it as enjoyable today as it was when originally released. Even though it is seriously dated and the technology on show is archaic there is something about the movie which makes it get better with age. Although I doubt anyone watching this for the first time now will be as enthralled as those who watched it when it was originally released.