Plot: What’s it about?
Mitch Weaver (Gabriel Jarret) is perhaps the smartest sixteen year old ever, with a massive I.Q. and test scores that make even brilliant students do a double take. So he is accepted into a most prestigious, very exclusive program, where only the top tier of students are invited and even then, Mitch could be the smartest of the lot. This program has all kinds of projects to keep intelligent youngsters challenged and active, including one project that involves the upper level of students, one that involves a complex laser. This is where Mitch will be placed and his roommate is also assigned to the project, though his roommate is not your typical genius. Instead, Chris Knight (Val Kilmer) is a unique, energetic smartass who loves to cause trouble, experiment, and of course, picks up girls on the side. Mitch soon becomes close with Mitch and some of the other students, as they begin to solve the laser’s problems and get the project on track. But when a teacher tries to take the project to hand it over to the military, the students decide the time has come for action, but can even they outsmart their teachers and even the government?
It took a few years, but Real Genius has finally arrived on DVD and while the extras are absent, the movie has never looked this good. I’ve watched this one on cable countless times, as well as on VHS and laserdisc, but not even once, have I ever tired of the antics of Val Kilmer as Chris Knight. I think Real Genius is one of the better teen comedies from this period, which is impressive, given the roster of genre films from the ’80s. We’re given a look into a world where young people have more pressures than high school and normal colleges, as well as how they deal with that pressure, which is where Real Genius excels. An endless stream of memorable quotes, a terrific turn from Kilmer, and a solid, well crafted overall picture make Real Genius a true ’80s classic. I do think William Atherton takes his role a little too far over the top, but not enough to lessen the picture much. As I mentioned, this disc has a new widescreen transfer, but sadly, no extras were included. But even as a bare bones release, fans will want to pick this one up, as the movie is simply too cool to pass up. I do wish some kind of bonus materials were included, but the new widescreen transfer is enough to recommend this one to fans, without question.
It is hard to believe that he was “Iceman” Kazanski just one year after this film, but then again, Val Kilmer has played a wide selection of roles in his career. Even so, I think his work in Real Genius (his second feature film role) is some of his best, which is a real compliment, since Kilmer has been so good in so many films. I think it is a shame he hasn’t returned to comedy very often, as he seems to have a natural gift for timing, as well as having a likable persona, which is one of the main reasons he is so good in Real Genius. A lot of actors have tried and failed to play this kind of part, but a likable wiseass like Chris just isn’t easy to pull off. But thankfully, Kilmer succeeds on all fronts and delivers all the one-liners masterfully. Other films with Kilmer include The Saint, The Doors, Thunderheart, Tombstone, and The Island of Dr. Moreau. The cast also includes Gabriel Jarret (Apollo 13, The Last Days), Michelle Meyrink (Revenge of the Nerds, Valley Girl), and William Atherton (Ghostbusters, Die Hard).
Video: How does it look?
Real Genius is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition included on the disc’s flip side. Columbia has given us the finest home video treatment to date for this film, thanks to a clean, brand new anamorphic widescreen transfer. Aside from some normal, acceptable grain, this image is excellent and if you’re a longtime fan, this is how you’ve dreamed Real Genius could look. The image has superb detail levels and is sharper than I ever expected, with a cleaner print and less grain also. The colors have a natural, but bright appearance, while black levels seem rich and refined as well. I commend Columbia for their work here, as this is one of the better ’80s catalog transfers I’ve seen from them.
Audio: How does it sound?
As with most comedies, this film’s audio is driven by dialogue and lacks power, but the included 2.0 surround option is more than solid. The music adds to the depth of the mix and sounds good, but aside from that, this is a reserved, dialogue based experience. A few scenes do have some spark, especially once the popcorn starts to churn, but keep your expectations grounded, as this material simply doesn’t need the bells & whistles. The dialogue sounds clean and never hard to understand though, which is all we can ask in this case. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
