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Written by: Neal Israel & Pat Proft (story), Neal Israel & Pat Proft and PJ Torokvei (screenplay)
Directed by: Martha Coolidge
Starring: Val Kilmer, Gabriel Jarret, Michelle Meyrink, William Atherton, Ed Lauter
Rated: PG
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Plot
Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities while developing a high-powered laser for a university project. When their professor intends to turn their work into a military weapon, they decide to ruin his plans.
Verdict
A wacky '80s romp that I'm guessing is one of those movies you had to grow up with to appreciate. The story is mundane, but the writing prevents the movie from becoming boring. That and Kilmer does a great job with the role and dialog.
Skip it.
Review
Intellectual prodigy Mitch (Gabriel Jarret) gets the chance to attend college. After being paired with former star prodigy, now expert procrastinator Chris Knight (Val Kilmer), Mitch learns there's more to life than just books. The story is bland with all of the typical elements '80s movies exploited. The movie loves montages.This ends up with the kids rebelling against a teacher who is using them to further his government contract.
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| Val Kilmer and Gabriel Jarret play Chris and Mitch. |
The best thing about the movie is the word play comedy. I don't consider this movie quotable, but there are are a lot of one liners in the movie aiming to be quoted. Some of the gags are rather complicated and stretch the suspension of disbelief. The man living in Chris and Mitch's closet is a chief example.
The dynamic between Chris and Mitch shows the extremes. Mitch does nothing but study while Chris only wants to party. I don't think this movie is positing Chris rebelled from the high stress environment of academics. He's a party guy, because this movie needs a wacky character on which to pin the comedic elements.
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