Real Genius
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Movie Reviews of Real Genius
Movie Review: An Overlooked Comedy Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Cable television has given a second chance to many a movie neglected at the box office. "Real Genius" is a prime example of this. When released in 1985, it was buried by two other sci-fi comedies also released that summer: "My Science Project" and "Weird Science." I remember one movie critic calling that summer the summer of "My real genius weird science project." Also to the film's detriment was the fact that it boasted no established stars (Kilmer had not yet made his mark). The result was that it came and went away rather quickly.It wasn't until it debuted on cable that people caught on to what a funny and engrossing film it was. Wiliam Atherton, fresh from his great heel performance as the EPA official in "Ghostbusters," plays Jerome Hathaway, a media-renowned physicist who collects prodigies like others collect baseball cards. The reason: to build a laser weapon he is developing in conjunction with a the CIA. The kids build the laser and he collects the monies, most of which comes under the table. To his consternation, the CIA has bumped up the delivery date for the weapon and he must get his students to work harder and faster.
His problem is that his lead prodigy, Chirs Knight (Val Kilmer) is having a crisis of mission in life. Once believing in nothing else than his studies and work, he has come to a change of mind. Worse yet for Dr. Hathaway, the young genius he has recently recruited, 15-year old Mitch Taylor (Gabe Jarrett) is rooming with Knight and is picking up his philosophy of life. Taylor learns that the reason for Knight's change of mind has come from Holyfeld, an ex-student who lives in the steam rooms below campus, to which the only entrance is through Chris and Mitch's closet...Yes, it's a thin plot, and yes, they do build Hathaway's pet project, but we get so caught up in the characters that we lose track of the plot because we're too busy laughing. No DVD collection can be complete without this gem of a comedy, a comedy that can be viewed multiple times -- the rule for good comedies.
Movie Review: Underrated; a goofball comedy with "smarts"
Summary: 5 Stars
It's been years since I watched this endearingly goofy little 80's comedy about a group of misfit whiz-kids whose Professor dupes them into creating a deadly military weapon for his profit. Like "Top Secret", this is a sorely underrated film--and coincidentally, a young Val Kilmer stars in both. He plays one of the main characters, Chris Knight, a brilliant student who never takes his work too seriously & has a crazy fashion sense (including wearing fuzzy slippers & novelty antennae). Kilmer clearly has a field day here, playing a "loose cannon" who seems strongly connected with the brilliant but undisciplined/quip-filled Hawkeye Pierce of "Mash". Gabe Jarrett (who somehow dropped off the radar after this film) is equally good (and more of a straight man to Kilmer's character) as Mitch, the new whiz-kid assigned on the project. It is then Kilmer's job to introduce a little fun to the straight-laced 15-year old...before he "melts down" like former resident Lazlo (who pops mysteriously in/out of a closet).
There's a wide assortment of eccentric characters (naturally): Nerdy whiner Kent (who's sort of a comic rival here in the "Frank Burns" mold); the already mentioned former genius/recluse Lazlo; Mitch's object of affection, a girl who never sleeps & who jumps around & speed-talks like a waitress at Starbucks. Of course, lest we forget William Atherton, the "all-purpose villain of the 80's" at his snivelling best here.
Director Martha Coolidge showed real finesse with handling her story. She had enough common sense not to take things too seriously & keep it loose, while at the same time, didn't allow the story to bog down into a "big-bad-military-using-weapons-of-mass-destruction" morality play. There is a genuine sense of fun here.
This is an enjoyable comedy, and surprisingly, it hasn't really dated at all.
Movie Review: It took a real genius to make this movie
Summary: 5 Stars
There is not a wasted statement or a wasted scene in the whole movie. My favorite two scenes are:
Jordan: "Are you peeing?"
Mitch: "Yeah."
Jordan: "Oh. I never sleep, I don't know why. I had a roommate, and I drove her nuts, I mean really nuts, they had to take her away in an ambulance and everything. But she's OK now but she had to transfer to an easier school, but I don't know if that had anything to do with being my fault. But listen, if you ever need to talk or you need help studying just let me know 'cause I'm just a couple doors down from you guys, and I never sleep, OK?"
Mitch: "Thanks. I will."
Jordan: "Are you done?"
Mitch: "I can't start."
Jordan: "Because I'm here?"
Mitch: "I think so."
Jordan: "Wierd. Well, I have to go."
Room Mitch: "Me too."
AND
Chris: "Was it a dream where you see yourself standing in sort of Sun God robes, on a pyramid, with a thousand naked women screaming and throwing little pickles at you?"
Mitch: "No."
Chris: "Why am I the only person that has that dream?"
After this movie, everybody moved on to do more serious work.
Michelle Meyrink as Jordan Cochran goes on to be April Flowers in Nice Girls Don't Explode (1987) [only made nine movies]
Deborah Foreman as Susan Decker goes on to be Mary in Lobster Man from Mars (1989) [see my review]
Val Kilmer as Chris Knight earlier played Nick Rivers in Top Secret! (1984) [See my review]
Better Off Dead
Movie Review: Excellent underrated classic from the 80`s
Summary: 5 Stars
Real Genius is one of the best and most underrated movie ever made in my opinion. It is one of those movies you never get tired of watching. The humor in it is very funny in a more intellectual manner, which is a change from the usual gross out humor in most college movies. In fact seeing the pranks in it increased my interest in science.
The standout performer in the movie without question is Val Kilmer. In the last few years, he has become known for more darker roles, but he really shows his comedic talent in Real Genius. Kilmer perfectly portrayed Chris Knight with great irrelevance and biting snarkiness. Chris is one of my favorite characters ever created. He`s one of those guys that you instantly want to become best friends with when you spend a few minutes with him. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship with him and Mitch throughout the movie.
Another aspect of Real Genius i liked was the brillant political commentary on the government and military getting or i should say hijacking a project created by young geniuses, who never meant for it to be used as a weapon, which was very subtle, but at the same time doesn`t come off as preachy. In fact it`s still pretty relevant today. After all you never know if a science project at a local college could be the next secret weapon.
So in closing Real Genius is a great underrated classic that i highly recommend to everyone.
Movie Review: One of the best movies ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, we have two main stars and they happen to be geeks, one geek ... one guy is an up and comer named Mitch (It's been awhile since I've seen it but oh how I love this movie) and the other is named Chris. Mitch is pretty smart, and he looks and acts the part. A classic definition of the word (GEEK)! While Chris looks and acts nothing like the part but he's smarter then Mitch!
Their main job is to build this laser see. (The equations are wrong by the way) and Mike in failure comes up with the perfect solution but it's not really about the laser, there is so much more to this story. There is love, there is revenge, there is learning to fit in and most importantly, don't take things too seriously.
After seeing this movie, I try to ask myself the question. "WHAT WOULD Chris DO!" or WWMD for short!
Here is a sample of the funniest scene in this whole movie (my humble opinion)
Chris: After leading the gang to a beautian party
Look around, they are from juilet school of beauty!
Nameless guy/ Geek friend one:
They are beautians?
Chris:
Yes, look ... Given the type of guys you are and the lives that you lead ... This maybe your only chance to have ... SEX, ever!
and everybody goes and joins the party!
But there is more in store if you buy this movie, believe it!