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Real Genius (1985) 7.0
Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities while developing a laser. Director:Martha Coolidge |
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Title: Real Genius (1985)
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2 wins & 2 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Val Kilmer | ... | ||
| Gabriel Jarret | ... |
Mitch Taylor
(as Gabe Jarret)
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| Michelle Meyrink | ... |
Jordan
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| William Atherton | ... | ||
| Jon Gries | ... |
Lazlo Hollyfeld
(as Jonathan Gries)
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| Patti D'Arbanville | ... |
Sherry Nugil
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| Stacy Peralta | ... |
Shuttle Pilot
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Daniel Ades | ... |
Laser Ray Victim
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Andres Aybar | ... |
Bartender
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Louis Giambalvo | ... |
Maj. Carnagle
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| Ed Lauter | ... |
David Decker
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Charles Shull | ... |
Air Force General
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| Beau Billingslea | ... |
George
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Charles Parks | ... |
Larry
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| Sean Frye | ... |
Boy at Science Fair
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
Mitch is one of the youngest students ever accepted to a university known for its programs for geniuses. He's partnered up with his roommate, science club legend Chris Knight, on a project to develop a high-powered laser. Together with their hyper-kinetic friends, they employ their intellects in the pursuit of bigger blasts, practical jokes, and a deeper understanding of what real genius is. When their final, functional laser is stolen by their teacher for a military weapon, they decide to get even. Written by Lordship <lordship@juno.com>
Taglines:
MEET CHRIS KNIGHT, THE EINSTEIN OF THE '80'S. He can turn the simple into the simply amazing, and now he turns revenge into high comedy. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
7 August 1985 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Academia de genios See more »Box Office
Gross:
$13,000,000 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Chris Knight: Because if I wear it any place else, it chafes.
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Written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Performed by Carmen McRae
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
In earlier versions of the script the Potassium-Cyanide laser, not the Bromide-Argon laser, used frozen fuel. This is why Chris tells the laser to "stay cool" before he goes off to take Hatheway's exam. See more »Goofs
The false IDs used by Chris and Mitch to enter March AFB are shown as DD Form 2A - which is an identification card for military personnel (one of them is shown to have a pay grade of "O-1" - for the Air Force, that's a Second Lieutenant. Chris tells the gate guard that "Someday you might be in the private sector, too" - but if they're covered as military officers, they're not "private sector" personnel With a DD2A, they'd also have had an easier time getting through the gate in uniform, rather than in civvies. See more »Quotes
Dr. Dodd: Why is that toy on your head?Chris Knight: Because if I wear it any place else, it chafes.
See more »
Soundtracks
You Took Advantage of MeWritten by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Performed by Carmen McRae
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »
As a child of the 80s, I have a soft spot in my heart for creatively-executed movies from this period. At their worst, 80s movies become dated more quickly than films from nearly any other period in film history. At their best, 80s movies reflect the cultural undertones of an exciting time where humor and optimism were rampant in films despite the specter of cold war, the advent of AIDS and a rocky economy.
Real Genius takes the happy, go-lucky optimism of the 80s and superimposes it on the grim topics of military research, cold war espionage and assassination. The movie is set in a west-coast college (see Caltech, Berkeley, Stanford) and makes full use of the hyper-intelligent, eccentric dialog you might expect in elite California academia. The sound track from Thomas Newman (Less than Zero, American Beauty and many others) is technically complex and involving and fits the movie perfectly. At times, the movie suffers from the usual poor depiction of science (see lame computer applications and some bad blue screen work on aircraft) and unbelievable scenarios (see water slide in lecture hall and ice sledding in dormitory). Despite these forgivable breaches, the Neal Israel's unique dialog is truly brilliant, the situational comedy is eccentric, and the humor is uplifting. Val Kilmer is outstanding in his portrayal of Chris Knight and I lament his departure from this odd and extremely intelligent form of comedy (See Top Secret) - Though Kilmer has been involved with "better" movies since, I don't think he has ever been more genuinely entertaining.
I think this movie is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys science, comedy and the 80s genre, or for anyone who is planning on attending a technology school on the West coast. This movie may not depict reality, but it communicates a hopeful spirit we could all use more of in today's world of harsh reality.