Revenge of the Nerds

What’s the Story?

Nerds unite in this hilarious 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 the nerds are not granted fraternity status. Pushed to the breaking point, the nerds resort to desperate measures to get back at the jocks and their sister sorority. The nerds turn peeping tom and install hidden video cameras so they can watch naked women and a nerd wearing a mask pretends to be Stan so he can have sex with Stan's girlfriend, among other sneaky modes of revenge.

Is It Any Good?

REVENGE OF THE NERDS mirrors National Lampoon's Animal House, with one retaliation scene after another. But there's something decidedly different here: the nerds are really nice guys, which gives this film a more heartwarming vibe. While the story has heart and Gilbert, Lewis, and the rest of the nerds are likable, this film is definitely "college kids gone wild." There's plenty of binge drinking, sex talk, making out, nudity, foul language, and a little pot smoking. While the nerds use their smarts to get back at the jocks, they also cheat in a competition. None of the characters are shown studying or attending classes.

Stereotypes abound, and there's rampant bad behavior, sure, but there's a strong positive message about acceptance to enjoy, too. Unlike the protagonists in Animal House, the heroes in this film are sweet, smart guys who just want to be treated with the respect they deserve. The story shows the unfair treatment of people considered outsiders, and in the end, emphasizes the acceptance of outsiders.