Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Jeff Kanew

Writers:

Jeff Buhai (writer)
Tim Metcalfe (story)

Release Date:

20 July 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

It's time for the odd to get even

Plot:

At a big campus, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self respect.

Plot Keywords:

Nerd | Jock | Fraternity | College | Sorority

Cast

Robert Carradine	...	Louis Skolnick
Anthony Edwards	...	Gilbert Lowell
Timothy Busfield	...	Arnold Poindexter
Andrew Cassese	...	Harold Wormser
Curtis Armstrong	...	Dudley 'Booger' Dawson
Larry B. Scott	...	Lamar Latrell
Brian Tochi	...	Toshiro Takashi
Julia Montgomery	...	Betty Childs (as Julie Montgomery)
Michelle Meyrink	...	Judy
Ted McGinley	...	Stan Gable
Matt Salinger	...	Danny Burke
Donald Gibb	...	Fred "The Ogre" Palowakski, Alpha Beta
James Cromwell	...	Mr. Skolnick (as Jamie Cromwell)
David Wohl	...	Dean Ulich
John Goodman	...	Coach Harris

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2004) | Canada:14A (Ontario - 2006) | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (original rating) | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity House - 638 E. University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Interscope Communications

Trivia:

Lamar's date at the party was a member of the crew. So was the burly homeowner he approaches when house hunting.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the end credits for the musical listings, Elektra Records is misspelled as Elecktra.

Quotes:

Lewis: [in line at the Kissing Booth at the Homecoming Carnival] Hi, Betty.
Betty Childs, Pi-Delta-Pi: A nerd? I'm not kissing a nerd.
Lewis: You have to. I paid my money.
Betty Childs, Pi-Delta-Pi: [Lewis tries to kiss Betty] It's time for my break.
Stan Gable: [Stan brings a short, fat, ugly woman, instead] Kiss this, nerd.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Robot Chicken: Boo Cocky (#3.16)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

THEY'RE SO INCREDIBLE

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

Typical 1980s teen comedy that is near the top of its unspectacular genre. The title says it all as college freshmen led by Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine learn that university life is even worse than high school life as they are bullied by a fraternity of football players led by Ted McGinley. Revenge does take place as a civil war of students ensues and is fueled by gross-out jokes, sexual situations, and all sorts of other crazed perversions. When all is said and done the film is a curious over-achiever in the end. The main reason is the cast is so likeable. Donald Gibbs steals the show as one of the crazed football players and established actors like James Cromwell, John Goodman, and David Wohl also leave lasting impressions. Former NFL star Bernie Casey is also great as the nerds' fraternal sponsor. Far from excellent, but still an enjoyable little film. 3.5 out of 5 stars.