Revenge of the
Nerds is a movie I expected to enjoy, but I didn’t. It’s meant to be a comedy,
but it lacked genuine humor. The writers and the person responsible for the
musical score seemed to take everything too literally. Nothing in this movie
stands out; everything just plays into stereotypes—from the characters to their
costumes. Nerds weren’t the only ones seeking revenge; all the outcasts joined
forces against the jocks. Yet, with all their combined brains, the best they
could do was resort to perversion and petty pranks.
The movie’s
intended climax is a showdown between the two sides, but for me, that’s where
it completely derailed and failed to entertain.
The plot follows two young men, Lewis and Gilbert, as they start college. They managed to endure high school with their dignity and hopes intact despite being bullied for being nerds. They believe college will be different, a place where the bullying will finally end. However, on their first day, they’re called the very name they thought they’d left behind—“nerds.” Things only get worse when the jocks take over the freshmen dorms, forcing all the freshmen to live in the gym.
Enough was
enough. The freshmen, along with other outcasts, led by Lewis and Gilbert,
decide to fight back. Their plan is to take revenge, strip the jocks of their
power, and bring balance to the school.
The story lacks
the cohesion needed to merge all its subplots into something truly engaging. At
times, it’s easy to predict where the movie is heading, and at other times,
you’re left wishing it had more substance beyond the simple idea of nerds
standing up for themselves.
I appreciated
the concept of the nerds (and other outcasts) standing up to the jocks. I also
liked that the nerds weren’t portrayed as total losers who cared only about
books. However, these were the only aspects of the characters that deviated
from the stereotype; everything else felt clichéd.
The movie was a
huge financial success, so I guess many people enjoyed seeing the underdog
triumph over the regulars. For me, the movie is not one that lasted the years,
the jokes do not feel the same as it would be if I saw this in the 80s, and the
acting was just too silly for me to feel I can see this movie again.
So, the cult
following of this movie continues, I am just not a member.
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