The article argues that nostalgia can make some 1986 releases seem more impressive than they now appear, contrasting them with enduring films such as Aliens, Stand by Me and Blue Velvet.

– Short Circuit is criticised as a simplistic attempt to imitate the appeal of ET and Gremlins.
– Down and Out in Beverly Hills is judged to have dated class commentary and limited comic value.
– Heartbreak Ridge is described as a dull military film whose battle sequence arrives too late to justify its buildup.