Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
When teenage geniuses Mitch Taylor and Chris Knight, working on an advanced laser project, learn that the military wants to use it as a weapon, they decide to thwart the plan.
Real Genius is a charming 80s teen comedy that distinguishes itself through its affectionate portrayal of actual intellectual culture rather than typical high school archetypes. The plot is serviceable but follows a fairly predictable arc of discovery and rebellion. Acting is solid with Val Kilmer delivering a charismatic, witty performance that elevates the material above its peers. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable, typical of mid-budget 80s comedies. The ending — the iconic popcorn-fills-the-house payoff — is genuinely inventive and memorable, earning its keep as one of the more delightful climaxes of the decade's comedies.