ComedyRomanceScience Fiction

Real Genius

- When he gets mad, he doesn't get even… he gets creative.

When teenage geniuses Mitch Taylor and Chris Knight, working on an advanced laser project, learn that the military wants to use it as a weapon, they decide to thwart the plan.

Release Date : 1985-08-07

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Tri-Star-Delphi III ProductionsBrian Grazer Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Real Genius

Cast

Character Name : Chris Knight

Original Name : Val Kilmer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mitch Taylor

Original Name : Gabriel Jarret

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jordan

Original Name : Michelle Meyrink

Gender : Female

Character Name : Professor Hathaway

Original Name : William Atherton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kent

Original Name : Robert Prescott

Gender : Male

Character Name : Major Carnagle

Original Name : Louis Giambalvo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lazlo Hollyfeld

Original Name : Jon Gries

Gender : Male

Character Name : CIA Man Decker

Original Name : Ed Lauter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shuttle Pilot

Original Name : Stacy Peralta

Gender : Male

Character Name : Laser Ray Victim

Original Name : Daniel Ades

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender

Original Name : Andres Aybar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force General

Original Name : Charles Shull

Gender : Male

Character Name : George

Original Name : Beau Billingslea

Gender : Male

Character Name : Larry

Original Name : Charles Parks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy at Science Fair

Original Name : Sean Frye

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl at Science Fair

Original Name : JoAnn Willette

Gender : Female

Character Name : Old Lady

Original Name : Ina Gould

Gender : Male

Character Name : Student at Science Fair

Original Name : Nadine Vix

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Taylor

Original Name : Paul Tulley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Taylor

Original Name : Joanne Baron

Gender : Female

Character Name : Darlington Recruiter

Original Name : Harry Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sherry Nugil

Original Name : Patti D'Arbanville

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Dodd

Original Name : Monte Landis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Meredith

Original Name : Sandy Martin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Meredith

Original Name : Severn Darden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cornell

Original Name : Randy Lowell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carter

Original Name : John Shepherd Reid

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bodie

Original Name : Tommy Swerdlow

Gender : Male

Character Name : 'Ick' Ikagami

Original Name : Mark Kamiyama

Gender : Male

Character Name : Math Professor

Original Name : Martin Gundersen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carpet Man

Original Name : Brett Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Milton

Original Name : Dean Devlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fenton

Original Name : Yuji Okumoto

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chris' Girl at Party

Original Name : Lynda Wiesmeier

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ick's Girl at Party

Original Name : Penny Baker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cornell's Girl at Party

Original Name : Marcia Karr

Gender : Female

Character Name : Girl at Party

Original Name : Isabelle Walker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Girl at Party

Original Name : Marii Mak

Gender : Female

Character Name : Girl at Party

Original Name : Cheri Wells

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl at Party

Original Name : Catherine MacNamara

Gender : Male

Character Name : Student

Original Name : Johnny Vasily

Gender : Male

Character Name : TV Makeup Man

Original Name : Ed Garrabrandt

Gender : Male

Character Name : TV Stage Manager

Original Name : Isabel Cooley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Waitress

Original Name : Robin Stober

Gender : Female

Character Name : Susan

Original Name : Deborah Foreman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Student in Hall

Original Name : David Marvit

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force Gate Guard

Original Name : Michael Crabtree

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force Gate Guard

Original Name : Charles Sweigart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force Gate Guard

Original Name : Peter Parros

Gender : Male

Character Name : Computer Technician

Original Name : Ronald Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force Major

Original Name : James Carrington

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force Controller

Original Name : Michael Backes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force Sergeant

Original Name : Corki Grazer

Gender : Female

Character Name : Laser Technician

Original Name : Jeanne Mori

Gender : Female

Character Name : Engineer

Original Name : David Ursin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Congressman

Original Name : Joe Dorsey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Laser Specialist

Original Name : Will Knox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Air Force Technician

Original Name : Kevin Hurley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl in Popcorn (uncredited)

Original Name : Kimberly Spak

Gender : Female

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

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

@FilipeManuelNeto

2024-03-27

**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.