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Real Genius [1985]
![Real Genius [1985]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5106XGDE66L._SL160_.jpg)
Chris (Val Kilmer) is the top brain who just wants to party, Mitch (Gabe Jarret) is the 16 year old whiz-kid, and Lazlo (Jonathan Gries), America's number one brain, literally lives in a world of his own. Chris' closet. Supposedly hard at work on a lab project, they still find time to turn the dorm into an ice-skating rink, dismantle a nerd's car and re-assemble it in his room, and throw a beach party in the auditorium complete with a lagoon and bikini-clad beauties. When the geniuses discover that their unscrupulous mentor Professor Hathaway (William Atherton) has had them working on a secret weapon for the military, they plot an elaborate revenge. Their plan culminates in an incredible scheme that outsmarts the military and convinces the professor that it doesn't pay to fool with a REAL GENIUS!
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Our Price: £5.59 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
An underrated little picture, Real Genius offers a rare college comedy that doesn't rely on gross-out humour as well as a look at Val Kilmer before he turned into a star. A high school whiz kid (Gabriel Jarret) arrives at a brainy college, where the crème de la crème of the science students are marshalled under an ambitious professor (expert villain William Atherton). Unbeknown to them, the kids are working on a weapons system that the prof. plans on selling to the government. The star student and chief rabble-rouser is played by Kilmer, in good early form as a cocky genius who hasn't lost touch with his goofy side. The director is Martha Coolidge, whose Valley Girl was one of the brightest (and most unexpected) of 1980s comedies; she keeps the movie perking along and never worries about dumbing down a film that just happens to be about smart people. --Robert Horton
Editorial
DVD Description
Special Features: none
Languages in Dolby Digital Surround : English, Italian
Languages in Mono: French, German, Spanish
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
1:2.35 Aspect Ratio, Enhanced for 16:9 Widescreen TVs
Editorial
Synopsis
When 15-year-old science genius Mitch Taylor (Gabe Jarrett) is recruited by the pompous Professor Hathaway (William Atherton) to be part of a special research team, he has no idea he will be working on a top secret military weapon. Enrolling at Pacific Tech College, he meets his fellow whiz kid classmates, including infamous senior Chris Knight (Val Kilmer), whose intelligence and irreverent behavior are legendary; they become roommates, despite their different approaches to life. When Hathaway threatens to expel Chris for bad behavior, the two brains join forces to finish the special laser project before it is too late, in the process unveiling secrets about the project that inspire them to plot an elaborate revenge.
Editorial
From the Back Cover
When a group of crazy college geniuses put their heads together, almost anything can happen. Hold on for a free-wheeling, uproarious look at just how much mischief a bunch of high IQers can concoct.
Smashing 80s nostalgia - still holds up today!
Review date: 2005-11-14 Rating: 10 out of 10
Had very fond memories of this film as a kid in the 80s. Still holds up even today. DVD widescreen format shows off how well directed this movie is. Val Kilmer is terrific as the genius slacker hero. The whole cast gel well together, and the dialogue is very sharp and well-written (reminded me of TV show Scrubs in places). Had me laughing out loud in many places - rare for a modern version like American Pie. Lots of tasty 80s musical montages scattered throughout. Something really likeable and positive about this movie, leaves you feeling really good at the end. Highly recommended - really hasn't dated at all. An enjoyable trip down 80s memory lane!
Similar Products
- Top Secret [1984]
- My Science Project [1985]
- Better Off Dead [1985]
- Weird Science [1985]
- Adventures In Babysitting [1987]
Reviews
A New Favourite
Review date: 2004-05-25 Rating: 10 out of 10
Arrived this morning and watched this afternoon, i had never heard of this film before my search through amazon for Val Kilmer films, and boy am i glad i found it! My flatmate and i laughed through it, the comedy provided almost exclusively by Kilmers great comic skills. It's something you rarely see from him in his other films, but he does it superbly and with real enthusiasm and joy here, and you can really feel how much fun he is having with the role.
The film is not only funny, but has a real feel good factor that is only helped by the eighties sneaker-and-jeans feel. It made me want to go back to school. And i absolutely hated school.
There are also some great music choices for music-video style sections within the film... a real must for anyone looking for a good healthy laugh, feel good fun and games, a real sense of zany fun and of course for Kilmer fans. A step better than Top Secret... i'd really recommend this film!
Wow! the 80's!
Review date: 2003-10-20 Rating: 8 out of 10
One of those few films that you remember watching years ago that actually is as good as you remember. Kilmer plays Chris Knight, a whiz-kid who's decided to enjoy life rather than let his existance become nothing but thinking for other people.
Enter Gabe Jarrett, a 15-year old who's actually smarter than Knight. Knight takes him under his wing and tries to stop him taking life to seriously.
At the time, there was a slew of films such as these (weird science, ferris bueller) that seemed to concentrate on the hormonal side of matters. There's a few hormones bouncing around, but they're treated gently, and never allowed to interrupt the main plot, which revolves around the formation of a super-laser, purportedly just for coursework set by Dr Hathaway, played by the always excellent William Atherton.
Most of the side actors faded into obscurity (I believe that Jarrett's last major appearance was as Green 1 in Apollo 13) but the film has certainly stood the test of time. Not something that can be said for many films of the genre
Worth a look.......
Review date: 2003-01-21 Rating: 8 out of 10
This is a largely unknown and unheralded. but very funny film. An early performance in Val Kilmer's career, he plays one of a number of elite students on a project to develop a new laser. Kilmer's character - Chris Knight - incurs the wrath of their self-centred professor, and other students, with his antics, and his attempts to help the new young student to relax. There is some very funny dialogue, very amusing scenes - particularly the exchanges between Knight and professor Hathaway - and also some good characters, with good performances by the cast. Definitley a film worth seeing, reccommended.
I agree
Review date: 2002-06-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
Yes, i completely agree with your statement that you can watch it over and over again, and i have! i accedently videod this movie and missed the begginging, but from what i saw, it was really good. The fun and mischief these school kids get up to is so funny and umbelievable.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Val Kilmer
Jon Gries
William Atherton
Gabriel Jarret
Michelle Meyrink
Creators:
Val Kilmer (Primary Contributor)
Gabriel Jarret (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822077188
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2002-06-17
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1985-08-07
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Bulgarian (Subtitled)
Language: Czech (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Greek (Subtitled)
Language: Hebrew (Subtitled)
Language: Hindi (Subtitled)
Language: Hungarian (Subtitled)
Language: Icelandic (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Polish (Subtitled)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: Turkish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: German (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)