Remembering the Revenge of the Nerds

The Urban Dictionary definesa nerd as someone whose IQ exceeds his weight. Note the gender implied by thepronoun “his”: the assumption here is that nerds are males, though wimpy ones.They’re smart, particularly in the so-called STEM fields, but not sociallyadept, and hardly of much interest to the opposite sex. For a recent example,see Sheldon (played to a T by Jim Parsons), the awkward young physicist on thetwelve seasons of TV’s The Big Bang Theory. But do note he eventuallymanaged to find true love with a female of the species, neuroscientist AmyFarrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik).

 In 1984 the term “nerd” wasin only limited use. But Hollywood studios had recently enjoyed major successwith such rowdy campus comedies as Animal House(1978) and Porky’s(1981). And Twentieth Century-Fox, flush with cash from its Star Warsfranchise, decided it could gamble on a tax write-off with the low-budget Revengeof the Nerds. This sweetly raunchy romp, which pulled in a nice chunk ofchange for Fox, makes its beleaguered nerds into campus heroes. That’s not howthey start out, however. Lewis (Robert Carradine) and Gilbert (Anthony Edwards)are thrilled to be matriculating at Adams College, supposedly the bestcomputer-science school in the nation. This is hardly Caltech, though, wherebig-time sports and female students remain almost non-existent. Adams College(played in the film by the University of Arizona) is pretty much run by itsrah-rah football coach (John Goodman in an early role). And the campus isswarming with jocks and sexy coeds, all of them affiliated with Greek houses.Because of careless, nasty pranks pulled by frat boys, incoming freshmen likeLewis and Gilbert lose their campus housing and must sleep on cots in the gym.For self-preservation they band together with other frosh nerds (like afrizzy-haired violinist, an innocent from Japan, a stylish gay guy, and a boygenius) to form a fraternity of their own.

 The nerds end up shaking offthe schemes of the jocks and using their own offbeat smarts to win the GreekGames and carnival. No one in this film ever seems to do something as mundaneas attending classes. Education comes by way of social interaction, even withgirls. Though the nerds do connect with a campus sorority made up of awkwardand unattractive female outcasts, their biggest pleasure comes fromelectronically bugging the Pi Delta Pi house, then watching over video as itscuties casually disrobe. (One later exclaims, in horror, “A nerd saw menaked!”) At least one nerd later puts his knowledge to good use, provinghimself to be a surprising stud with the most bodacious young woman on campus,who happily gives up her handsome blond quarterback boyfriend for him. Sothere!  

Most of the tricks played bythe nerds on their tormentors are funny rather than disgusting, though they doresort to dousing the jocks’ jockstraps with liquid heat. By the time theystage a razzle-dazzle musical show for the student body (complete withfireworks, rock violin, electronic effects, and breakdancing), we’re firmly ontheir side, and glad to respond to the campus cry that “We are allnerds!” while Queen’s “We are the champions” blasts out on the soundtrack

  The DVD I watched included a jubilant reunionof most of the cast, including star Robert Carradine (who in real life respondsfar more to race cars than computers). The two biggest names in the production,John Goodman and James (back then Jamie) Cromwell, didn’t show for thetaping.  But I suspect a good time on setwas had by all.