I.Q. (1994)

A mechanic romances the mathematician niece of physicist Albert Einstein, with help from Einstein and his friends.

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writers:

Andy Breckman (story), Andy Breckman (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, Walter Matthau

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Robbins	...	Ed Walters
Meg Ryan	...	Catherine Boyd
Walter Matthau	...	Albert Einstein
Lou Jacobi	...	Kurt Gödel
Gene Saks	...	Boris Podolsky
Joseph Maher	...	Nathan Liebknecht
Stephen Fry	...	James Moreland
Tony Shalhoub	...	Bob Rosetti
Frank Whaley	...	Frank
Charles Durning	...	Louis Bamberger
Keene Curtis	...	Eisenhower
Alice Playten	...	Gretchen
Danny Zorn	...	Dennis
Helen Hanft	...	Rose
Roger Berlind	...	Duncan

Storyline

Edward Walters, an auto mechanic, falls for the intelligent and beautiful Catherine Boyd. It is love at first sight. There is however a problem: she's engaged to stuffy professor James Moreland. Fortunately, Catherine's uncle likes Ed, and with his friends they scheme to make Catherine fall for Ed. The comedy in this movie stems from the fact that Catherine's uncle is none other than Albert Einstein, who's portrayed as a fun loving humble genius, as are his mischievous colleagues, Nathan, Kurt and Boris.

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Plot Keywords:

love at first sight | genius | rural setting | outer space | mouse | 

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Taglines:

With Einstein as Cupid what could possibly go wrong?

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

25 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fórmula para amar

Filming Locations:

Cranbury, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$26,372,663

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures,Sandollar

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Ed's house, there is a movie poster for the 1951 film The Day The Earth Stood Still prominently displayed on the wall. The character of Professor Barnhardt in that film was widely understood by audiences of the time to be based on Albert Einstein.

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Goofs

When the four men are driving in the blue sedan and nearly hit another car, the camera/boom is obvious continuously in the side panel of the car.

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Quotes

Ed Walters: You see, you have a Lucas type four generator on a 12-volt system, and you know the British. They'd rather spend time gluing wood on a dashboard than getting the electrical system right.
James Moreland: Fascinating, but what is wrong with the car?
Ed Walters: [while looking at Catherine Boyd] Well, my guess is your stroke is too short and you're getting premature ignition. Does it ever feel that way?

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Crazy Credits

Several characters' names are given incorrectly in the credits; Stephen Fry's character is spelled "James Morland" without the E, Lou Jacobi's character Kurt Gödel is spelled with no umlaut over the O, and Tony Shalhoub's character is titled "Bob Watters," not Bob Rosetti as given throughout the film.

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Connections

References The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

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Soundtracks

TUTTI FRUTTI
by Little Richard (as Richard Penniman), Joe Lubin & Dorothy La Bostrie
Performed by Little Richard
Courtesy of Specialty Records, Inc.
by arrangement with Fantasy, Inc.

User Reviews

A lovely romantic comedy

I just watched I. Q. again tonight and had forgotten how much I love this movie. It is wonderfully entertaining and leaves you feeling that all is right with the world. I love the allusions to Mozart all throughout from the opening with "Einstein" playing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on the violin to him humming Eine Kleine Nachtmusik during the IQ testing of the Ed Walters. I love that a woman is portrayed as intelligent and encouraged to have a career, an especially unique situation for the 1950's, the time in which this movie is set. (I myself have been a teacher but stayed at home to raise my children, so please don't think I am some staunch women's libber.) It's wonderful how a man who is "only a grease monkey" is finally seen to be just as important and worthy as Catherine's fiance, a clinical behavioral researcher. The message to me is that we are not what we do, but who we are is defined by so much more - no labels. There are so many little gags and one-liners that are almost throwaways if you don't watch and listen carefully.

I did catch a few things in the movie that are not listed on the goofs page. In the scene when Ed Walters is to speak at symposium, there are 3 instruments (protractor, ruler, etc.) hanging on the right from the chalk ledge. In the next camera shot, there only 2. In the credits on our video, it lists Tony Shaloub's character as Bob Watters, not Bob Rosetti as he introduces himself in the movie and is listed here on Imdb.

I highly recommend this movie. It may be a piece of fluff in some estimations, but has lots more substance than many give it credit for. Not only that, what a great cast is assembled here. Watch it and enjoy!