37 Years After Release, “Real Genius” Remains Just As Hilarious And Topical As Ever.

As a child of the 1980s, I was witness to all kinds of bullying toward nerds, dorks, and geeks. If it wasn’t happening in front of me (or to me), then it was happening on-screen. You’d think a film like Revenge of the Nerds (1984) would create some kind of guiding star, but, sadly, that film not only falls into the many pitfalls and stereotypes of social pariahs, but also contains quite a bit of misogyny and one of the worst depictions of non-consensual sex on screen. (Just because she’s having a good time, doesn’t mean she knew who her partner was.) A year later, though, a savior arrived in the form of Val Kilmer’s Chris Knight, a brilliant mind with a sharp tongue who allies himself with good people, in Martha Coolidge’s Real Genius. This film is one that I quote frequently and remember fondly. It will always put me in a better mood. Not only does the film hold up fairly well, but the deeper aspects of the narrative become more obvious some 37 years since its release. Thanks to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, fans such as myself can now enjoy Real Genius with a brand-new 4K UHD release that includes Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus brand-new bonus features… read more >