My next choice for review is a film from 1985. Yes, the decade that gave us some of the best and most memorable characters of all time. Mr. Miyagi. Indiana Jones. Doc Brown. Marty McFly. Yes, the '80s was a hit-and-miss time for films, and this one landed on the hit side.
The film opens on a secret test of a laser that's in space that the CIA can use to zap a person on Earth with pinpoint accuracy. Dr. Jerry Hathaway is tasked with actually developing the weapon, but instead of doing it himself, he is making his students do all the work, while he uses the money he was paid to remodel his house. One of those students is Mitch Taylor, a 15-year-old genius who finished high school incredibly quickly and is about to attend College. Mitch is informed that he will be staying in the same room as physics "legend" Chris Knight, who Mitch has always looked up to as being one of the smartest people on the planet! Of course, once Mitch actually MEETS Chris, he finds out that the man is a slacker who enjoys pulling pranks more than actually studying.
The film opens on a secret test of a laser that's in space that the CIA can use to zap a person on Earth with pinpoint accuracy. Dr. Jerry Hathaway is tasked with actually developing the weapon, but instead of doing it himself, he is making his students do all the work, while he uses the money he was paid to remodel his house. One of those students is Mitch Taylor, a 15-year-old genius who finished high school incredibly quickly and is about to attend College. Mitch is informed that he will be staying in the same room as physics "legend" Chris Knight, who Mitch has always looked up to as being one of the smartest people on the planet! Of course, once Mitch actually MEETS Chris, he finds out that the man is a slacker who enjoys pulling pranks more than actually studying.
Mitch also quickly meets a myriad of new people, including: Jordan, an incredibly hyper girl who barely ever sleeps, and Lazlo, a mysterious scientist who lives in Mitch and Chris's closet. Then there's Kent, the resident douchebag who acts as Jerry's personal assistant, but become incredibly angry when Hathaway chooses Mitch to head up the project instead of him. College doesn't start out so well for Mitch. He sticks to himself a lot, and all of his classes keep losing actual students in favor of tape recorders. At the same time, Chris is given a timetable to finish the project which he knows cannot be met, but is threatened by Hathaway. Mitch feels like he's the only one who cares about the laser project, and one night grows increasingly angry with Chris, who takes the boy to a special event he set up. A pool party, with girls. Yup. Anyway, Hathaway finds out, gets pissed at both Chris AND Mitch, and Kent continues to act like a dick.
Hathaway eventually informs Chris that no matter what he does, he will not be graduating. Feeling backed into a corner, Chris decides that not only will he finish the laser project, but he will also ace Hathaway's exams. Kent thinks it would be fun to sabotage the laser, but this actually causes the opposite effect, allowing Chris and Mitch the ability to reach their goal and finish the project. As the team are celebrating their apparent victory, Lazlo informs them that a laser of such high energy can only be used for one purpose: as a weapon. Chris realizes what they have done, and when they rush back to the lab to get the laser, they find that Hathaway had already been there, taking everything with him.
They trick Kent into telling them where the laser is going to be tested, then follow Hathaway to an Air Force Base near the college. Chris and Mitch attempt to find their way onto the base, while Lazlo hacks into the Base's computer system and changes the target to become Hathaway's house. When the laser hits the house, it immediately hits the giant tin of popcorn the team had placed inside, and begins the popping process. The team stands out in front of the house, watching with glee as the popcorn starts bursting through the windows, and Kent, who had come to Hathaway's house unexpectedly, follows suit.
There are many reasons to like this movie. Maybe for the distinct 1980s feel it has. Maybe for the fun they have with the story. But for me, its got to be the casting. Everyone they cast for the characters in this film were spot on with their performances. William Atherton was perfect for the role of Jerry Hathaway, and his interactions with Kent, played by Robert Prescott are damn funny! Jon Gries, who was a go-to guy for supporting character roles in '80s movies, does a great job with the character of Lazlo. And Gabriel Jarret as Mitch Taylor was an incredibly choice. He brought believability to the role, and helped carry the film.
Of course, the star that shined brightest throughout the film was that of the man who portrayed the role of physics genius-turned college slacker Chris Knight. A man by the name of Val Kilmer. At this point in his career, Kilmer had a lot of stage experience, but his only real big screen success came from the 1984 spy comedy/musical "Top Secret!" Kilmer brought the right kind of attitude to the role. The kind where the guy knew he was smart, but didn't want to let that run his life and force him to miss out on all the fun that was happening around him. But at the same time, if he needed to think his way out of a jam, he could no problem. Of course, Kilmer would go on to play some incredibly memorable characters through his career, including Iceman in 1986's "Top Gun", Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's musical biopic "The Doors", Doc Holliday in the 1993 western "Tombstone", Bruce Wayne/Batman in 1995's "Batman Forever", and as John Henry Patterson in the 1996 historical adventure "The Ghost and the Darkness", just to name a few.
During a decade where the movie-going public were inundated with teen comedies that either tried too hard or didn't try hard enough, "Real Genius" was able to break away from the pack and shine. I would encourage anyone to view this film!