Common Sense Media Review
By Ellen Dendy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
College comedy has offensive stereotypes, sexual assault.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Revenge of the Nerds
What's the Story?
Nerds unite in REVENGE OF THE NERDS—a 1980s comedy about college freshmen Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) and Lewis (Robert Carradine), who find themselves in a battle against a jock-filled fraternity. After the jocks take over the freshman dorms, Gilbert, Lewis, and a rag-tag group of genius outcasts decide to form their own fraternity. Led by insolent buffoon Stan (Ted McGinley), the jocks of Alpha Beta fraternity and their sister sorority try everything they can to ensure that the nerds aren't granted fraternity status. Pushed to the breaking point, the nerds resort to desperate measures to get back at the jocks and the sorority sisters.
Is It Any Good?
This fun but dated college comedy mirrors National Lampoon's Animal House, with one retaliation scene after another. Revenge of the Nerds also relies heavily on binge drinking, sex talk, making out, nudity, strong language, and a little pot smoking to maintain the familiar "college kids gone wild" vibe. While Gilbert, Lewis, and the rest of the nerds are likable at times, using their smarts to get back at the jocks, they also cheat in a competition, and their behavior toward women is disrespectful and normalizes assault—with them recording and having sex with teenage girls without their consent. Stereotypes abound, and racist portrayals of Black and East Asian characters, as well as derogatory comments about an "ugly" sorority of women, can't be saved by the movie's comedic intentions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the struggles that the "nerds" face against the "jocks" in Revenge of the Nerds. Why do you think certain groups of people label other groups as uncool outcasts? What are the negative effects of bullying? Where would you turn to if you or someone you knew was being bullied?
The movie relies heavily on stereotypes. Which ones did you notice? Why can stereotypes be damaging? Why is it important to acknowledge and challenge stereotypes?
How does the movie portray women? In what ways do the male characters behave unacceptably toward women? Can you think of other examples in comedies where women are mistreated for the sake of humor?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 19, 1984
- On DVD or streaming : March 6, 2007
- Cast : Anthony Edwards , Robert Carradine , Ted McGinley
- Director : Jeff Kanew
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 22, 2024
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