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Before guys like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg took over the world, smart kids were picked on and pushed around. If you wore thick glasses and played around with computers, you were permanently doomed to the life of a social outcast. So for those with higher-than-average math scores, the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds was a kind of hilariously inspiring rallying point.
This classic ‘80s comedy stars Anthony Edwards as Gilbert Lowell, an incoming freshman at Adams College, home of one of the best computer programs in the country. Though Gilbert and his best friend, Lewis (Robert Carradine), are excited to embark on this new college adventure, they soon cross paths with the nerd-hating jocks of Alpha Beta. Bullied and humiliated by the school’s beautiful people, Gilbert, Lewis, and their nerdy new friends decide to start their own fraternity. But the only way that the school will ever take them seriously is if they’re able to win the annual Homecoming Carnival.
Nerds, geeks, dorks, and other outcasts unite in this quirky comedy, pitting lovable losers of all shapes and sizes in a battle against a band of ruthless jocks and stuck-up cheerleaders.
Granted, the story is really nothing new or surprising. In fact, it fits into the same tried and true formula that’s often used in inspirational sports movies: the story of a bunch of hard-working underdogs fighting against the odds. But while the story may not offer a whole lot of unexpected twists, the characters make it worth repeat viewings.
Of course, it’s the nerds who take center stage. From soft-spoken leader Gilbert and his easy-going sidekick, Lewis, to music-loving Poindexter (Timothy Busfield) and even Curtis Armstrong’s Booger, each one is lovable—or at least amusing—in his own outrageous and sometimes entirely over-the-top way. And as they defy the odds to get their revenge on their collegiate oppressors, you can’t help but get caught up in their R-rated hijinks.
Their rivals, meanwhile, are about as stereotypical as they get, but that’s what makes them the perfect villains: they’re the kind of guys you’ve always loved to hate. Ted McGinley’s Stan is the ringleader of the jocks—a totally ‘80s scoundrel with George Michael good looks (complete with cropped tops, short shorts, and perfectly feathered locks). He’s encouraged by the archetypal college football coach (played by a younger, thinner John Goodman), who believes that the world revolves around his players. And he’s assisted in his evil deeds by a wacky team of lackeys (like Donald Gibb’s overgrown Ogre).
Together, these two competing teams make Revenge of the Nerds an entertaining—and nostalgic—pick for brainless Friday night viewing. It’s unapologetically silly, it’s joyfully outrageous, and it’s delightfully geeky. So if you’ve ever felt like a nerd, a geek, or some other kind of outsider, I recommend picking up a copy and keeping it handy for those moments when the beautiful people get you down.
Blu-ray Review:
The Blu-ray release of Revenge of the Nerds is almost as fun-filled as the movie itself. If you take the time to explore the film’s special features menu, you’ll find six deleted scenes, the unaired pilot for an ill-fated Revenge of the Nerds TV show, and a commentary track with director Jeff Kanew and stars Robert Carradine, Timothy Busfield, and Curtis Armstrong. Though they spend their share of time giggling at the movie, they do also share some interesting anecdotes.
The most entertaining special feature, however, is I’m a Nerd, and I’m Pretty Proud of It, a lengthy making-of feature, in which Kanew and various cast members discuss their general reluctance to make the movie and their real on-set antics. So if you’re looking for more nerdy hijinks after rewatching this ‘80s comedy classic, take a few minutes to check out the extras—starting with the making-of feature.
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