Comedy

Romance

Science Fiction

Real Genius

Tri-Star-Delphi III Productions

Brian Grazer Productions

United States of America

English

Val Kilmer

Gabriel Jarret

Michelle Meyrink

William Atherton

Robert Prescott

Louis Giambalvo

Jon Gries

Ed Lauter

Stacy Peralta

Daniel Ades

Andres Aybar

Charles Shull

Beau Billingslea

Charles Parks

Sean Frye

JoAnn Willette

Ina Gould

Nadine Vix

Paul Tulley

Joanne Baron

Harry Johnson

Patti D'Arbanville

Monte Landis

Sandy Martin

Severn Darden

Randy Lowell

John Shepherd Reid

Tommy Swerdlow

Mark Kamiyama

Martin Gundersen

Brett Miller

Dean Devlin

Yuji Okumoto

Lynda Wiesmeier

Penny Baker

Marcia Karr

Isabelle Walker

Marii Mak

Cheri Wells

Catherine MacNamara

Johnny Vasily

Ed Garrabrandt

Isabel Cooley

Robin Stober

Deborah Foreman

David Marvit

Michael Crabtree

Charles Sweigart

Peter Parros

Ronald Taylor

James Carrington

Michael Backes

Corki Grazer

Jeanne Mori

David Ursin

Joe Dorsey

Will Knox

Kevin Hurley

Kimberly Spak

John J. Connor

Thomas Newman

Edie Panda

Brian Grazer

Martha Coolidge

Neal Israel

Richard L. Bennett

Zoltan Elek

Robert Daley

Pat Proft

Phil Cory

Jane Jenkins

Janet Hirshenson

Richard Chew

Josan F. Russo

Jack G. Taylor Jr.

Phil Abramson

PJ Torokvei

Vilmos Zsigmond

Becky Mancuso-Winding

Sam Crespi-Horowitz

George Budd

Marla Schlom

Michael Papale

Michael F. Hamer

Ted Whitfield

Joseph Roveto

Julia Evershade

David Stipes

Bernie Pock

Joseph P. Moore

Steven Wolff

Robert Samuels

Bill Wilner

Roxanne Jones McCarthy

John T. Reitz

Stephen McEveety

Beth Bergeron

Lauren Palmer

James Husbands

Kenny Alexander

Jerry D. Deats

Marshall Winn

Barbara Harris

Sandra Renfroe

Billy Ray Smith

John Roesch

Ellen Heuer

John Vigran

Anna Boorstin

John P. Fasal

Shane Dixon

Linda Lee Franklin

Richard W. Deats

Spiro Razatos

Paul C. Warschilka

David M. Graves

Alex Tavoularis

Robert Jason

Arthur Coburn

Alexandra Leviloff

Marian Green

Frederick Elmes

C. Darin Knight

Marcia Reed

Debby Porter

Virginia Cook-McGowan

Christy Richmond

Gary A. Hecker

Cari Lewis

Doug Hemphill

Carlton Kaller

David E. Campbell

Edward J. Ulrich

Ken Nishino

Albert Coleman

Deborah Cichocki

Allan Graf

Mike Schilz

Kenny Ferrugiaro

Erin M. Cummings

Elliot Lurie

David L. Glazer

Terry E. Lewis

Joanie Blum

Jan Walker

Gregg Rudloff

Charles J. Bond

Donald A. Bolger

Mark S. Taylor

The Big Bang guys when they were in college (not really, but sort of)

RELEASED IN 1985 and directed by Martha Coolidge, "Real Genius" is a college dramedy about a 15 year-old genius in laser technology (Gabe Jarret) who’s recruited by physics Professor Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton), who has ulterior motives for having the kid work in his personal lab. The newbie’s roommate turns out to be the most brilliant freshman in history, who’s now a senior and seemingly clouded by college-age mischief (Val Kilmer). Michelle Meyrink plays a kinetic student interested in Mitch (Jarret) while Jonathan Gries appears as a curious wraith-like individual. Robert Prescott is on hand as a brown-nosing foil.   

To give you an idea of the filmmaking style, the director also made 1983’s “Valley Girl.” “Real Genius” is generally on par with that more popular movie, but different due to the setting being college rather than high school, not to mention that it involves genius types. I found the witty nonchalance of Kilmer’s character to be trying after a while and there’s a pervading sense of un-reality about the proceedings with the peripheral characters unconvincingly over-the-top, like during the pool party or at the restaurant/bar. The ice playground at the frat house is another good example. Why sure!     

Still, there’s enough good here if you like 80’s youth dramedies. I like the way the characters are unique rather than tried-and-true stereotypes of the genre, like jock types, hot bimbos or John Belushi’s character in “Animal House” (1978). 

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 48 minutes and was shot in S. Cal. (Claremont, San Diego, Los Angeles and Canyon Country). WRITERS: Neal Israel, Pat Proft and Pj Torokvei.  

GRADE: B-/C+

Filipe Manuel Neto

**After all, it is possible to make a film for teenagers without barracks humor or sexual obsessions.**

During the 80s, there was an explosion of films aimed at young audiences, and this is, perhaps, one of the most interesting, although it is as forgettable as almost all of them. Of course, it fits into the young thinking of the time: rebellion, revolt against institutions and parents, incapable of understanding their children, but it combines humor, youthful boldness and a certain education that does not give space to slang or obscene situations. After all, it is possible to make a funny youth film without barracks or sorority jokes, and without a permanent obsession about sex.

The story is set in a university (or pre-university) institute, where young people with great mental capacity and ingenuity are recruited for advanced scientific projects. It turns out that one of them is, actually, a secret super weapon that the US Army plans to have, something that not even these teens know about. In the midst of that, the usual conflicts and friendly interactions between them, the rebellion of one of them towards the institution itself and its rules, clandestine parties and other jokes and mischiefs.

The script is quite creative and the technical conception of the film deserves praise, thanks to the good sets, special effects, editing and cinematography. However, what supports the film is the unpretentious and witty work of Val Kilmer, who shows us that he was really talented when he didn't have movie star tics or try to be the heartthrob, as in later films. Gabriel Jarret, who I've never heard of, does a good job in the lead role. It's a shame it didn't evolve. William Atherton also manages himself well, in a character that had to be unpleasant.

First 10 Minutes

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Real Genius

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Cast

Val Kilmer

Gabriel Jarret

Michelle Meyrink

William Atherton

Robert Prescott

Louis Giambalvo

Jon Gries

Ed Lauter

Stacy Peralta

Daniel Ades

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