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Title: Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Robert Carradine | ... | Lewis | |
| Anthony Edwards | ... | Gilbert | |
| Timothy Busfield | ... | Poindexter | |
 |
Andrew Cassese | ... | Wormser |
| Curtis Armstrong | ... | 'Booger' | |
| Larry B. Scott | ... | Lamar | |
| Brian Tochi | ... | Takashi | |
| Julia Montgomery | ... | Betty Childs (as Julie Montgomery) | |
| Michelle Meyrink | ... | Judy | |
| Ted McGinley | ... | Stan Gable | |
|
|
Matt Salinger | ... | Burke |
| Donald Gibb | ... | Ogre | |
| James Cromwell | ... | Mr. Skolnick (as Jamie Cromwell) | |
| David Wohl | ... | Dean Ulich | |
| John Goodman | ... | Coach Harris | |
When lovable nerds Gilbert and Lewis embark on their freshman year at Adams College, little do they realize the dangers that await them. They are beset by taunting from the jocks of Alpha Beta fraternity, which only worsens when the jocks accidentally burn down their house and toss the freshmen out of the freshmen dorm. To make matters more problematic, Lewis develops a crush on pretty Betty Childs, popular sorority sister and quarterback's girlfriend. Joined by the aptly named Booger and the violin-playing Poindexter, the nerds soon realize they must form their own fraternity in self-defense. Soon the tables are turned as the nerds employ high-tech warfare against the jocks.... but can they really succeed and make a difference? Written by Rick Munoz <rick.munoz@his.com>
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Revenge Of The Nerds came out during the 1980-86 R-rated teen flick bonanza that was coming out of Hollywood. While this one is much milder than some of the others, it does have it's moments of raunchiness.
The story is simple: two young men are attending Adams University; but find out quickly that their type (the gawky, glasses wearing, intellectuals) are treated like nobodies. In fact, any male who isn't a jock or a WASP isn't even allowed to live in the dorms. A group of "misfits" including the two main characters Lewis and Gilbert are forced to live in the gym. They do find accommodations but they continue to suffer humiliation and embarrassment from the Alpha Betas. And so, like in the title of the movie, they get REVENGE.
This is a movie that certainly can't be made today. Affirmative Action certainly would be in place to disallow discrimination on college campuses. The "villains" make fun of anyone who isn't like them. Still, when it's all said and done the film sends out a message that you should be proud of yourself and how you look and not let anybody tell you otherwise.
Yes, as an 80's film you'll see every requisite of the decade, but you'll also see something that's a portent of the future. The Nerds raid the women's dorm so they can cause a distraction so others can install cameras in the bedrooms and showers so they can be spied on. That has become very popular on the 'Net.
As for the cast: Oh my! You'll never see this intriguing mix too often. Like in Freaky Friday, you'll see a lot of actors who made it big on T.V.
Ted McGinley - The leader of the Alpha Betas. He's been on a zillion T.V. shows. I always thought he was more of a nerd than jock.
John Goodman - Head coach of the football team. He looked so lean. Along with Roseanne; he's a superb supporting actor in major motion pictures but a weak lead actor.
Anthony Edwards - Gilbert Lowell. Dr. Mark Greene on ER. Considered a heartthrob during those years.
Robert Carradine - Lewis Skolnick. Member of the Carradine acting family.
Timothy Busfield - Poindexter. Elliot Weston on "thitysomething".
Matt Salinger - Danny Burke. The son of "The Catcher In The Rye" writer J.D. Salinger.
Curtis Armstrong - Booger. Remember him from Moonlighting?
Even James Cromwell makes a brief appearance as Lewis' father.
As for the comments of Julie Montgomery's beauty; sure she's beautiful. Especially if you like the Kate Moss, Calista Flockhart, J. Cynthia Brooks, Paris Hilton, Samia Ghattas, etc. skin and bones body. I don't, myself.
All in all, this is still a good film that does its job. Just avoid the sequels. None of them are good and lack the bite of the first film.