Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

Director:

Jeff Kanew

Writers:

Jeff Buhai (writer)
Tim Metcalfe (story)

Release Date:

20 July 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

It's time for the odd to get even

Plot:

At a big campus, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self respect.

Plot Keywords:

Breathing Fire | Food As Sex Metaphor | College Campus | Panty Raid | Tricycle

Cast

Robert Carradine	...	Louis Skolnick
Anthony Edwards	...	Gilbert Lowell
Timothy Busfield	...	Arnold Poindexter
Andrew Cassese	...	Harold Wormser
Curtis Armstrong	...	Dudley 'Booger' Dawson
Larry B. Scott	...	Lamar Latrell
Brian Tochi	...	Toshiro Takashi
Julia Montgomery	...	Betty Childs (as Julie Montgomery)
Michelle Meyrink	...	Judy
Ted McGinley	...	Stan Gable
Matt Salinger	...	Danny Burke
Donald Gibb	...	Fred "The Ogre" Palowakski, Alpha Beta
James Cromwell	...	Mr. Skolnick (as Jamie Cromwell)
David Wohl	...	Dean Ulich
John Goodman	...	Coach Harris

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario - 2006) | Iceland:L | Canada:AA (Ontario) | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2004) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (original rating) | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity House - 638 E. University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Interscope Communications

Trivia:

Booger's bizarre interaction with a reclusive homeowner through a mail slot was improvised. The scene had originally called for Booger to smear snot on a rude housewife's front door.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The trichloromethylene Takashi takes to counteract the alcohol does not exist. A common misconception is that they are talking about chloroform, which is also known as trichloromethane. Ingesting chloroform would have very different effects.

Quotes:

Booger: [on Booger's T-shirt] "Gimme' Head Till I'm Dead"

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The School of Rock (2003)

Soundtrack:

BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

Typical 1980s teen comedy that is near the top of its unspectacular genre. The title says it all as college freshmen led by Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine learn that university life is even worse than high school life as they are bullied by a fraternity of football players led by Ted McGinley. Revenge does take place as a civil war of students ensues and is fueled by gross-out jokes, sexual situations, and all sorts of other crazed perversions. When all is said and done the film is a curious over-achiever in the end. The main reason is the cast is so likeable. Donald Gibbs steals the show as one of the crazed football players and established actors like James Cromwell, John Goodman, and David Wohl also leave lasting impressions. Former NFL star Bernie Casey is also great as the nerds' fraternal sponsor. Far from excellent, but still an enjoyable little film. 3.5 out of 5 stars.