It is Comedy with a REAL GENIUS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital from director Martha Coolidge and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is time with a REAL GENIUS.

The very young Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret) is about to enter the prestigious Pacific Technical University under the tutelage of Professor Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton). He wants another kid genius, Chris Knight (Val Kilmer) to work with Mitch in the field of laser physics. Mitch is thrilled to work with Chris but discovers quickly that Chris would rather irritate the powers that be than make the powers.

What they don’t know is that Professor Hathaway has been given a project by the CIA to create a laser weapon that could hit a target from outer space and now time is running out. He begins to put pressure on Chris, Mitch and dealing with lacky Kent (Robert Prescott). Mitch also falls for the cute and sweet Jordan (Michelle Meyrink) and Chris looks to closet student Lazlo (Jon Gries) for advice.

The only way to get what he wants; Hathaway threatens Chris that he will fail and keep him from graduation. Kent is a little jealous and plots to ruin Chris and Mitch’s’ hard work! Working out the kinks, the laser works, and the gang celebrates except Lazlo asks the big question of ‘what do they need something like that for?’

Now realizing that they might have been used by Professor Hathaway, Chris, Mitch, and Jordan have a plan of their own and they need Kent to help – whether he knows it or not!

Kilmer as Chris is hilarious, and his comedic timing is impeccable. One moment he is saying a line with perfection and then his face does a double jump and he’s on to the next thing. Seeing the film in 80’s, I loved it then and I love it even more now. It is because of Kilmer’s performance giving us fun and intelligent adventure.

Jarret as Mitch is a great sidekick to Kilmer’s Chris but, he is also a force to be reckoned with on his own. Starting out as a shy, genius star struck student, he is quickly transformed into a self-assured man on a mission. Jarret gets a chance to show his own chops and it works.

Meyrink as Jordan is as smart as everyone else and has her own quirks just like everyone else, so she fits right in with Chris and Mitch. Meyrink gives us a self-assured intelligent girl who has moments of insecurity that are not a surprise. Gries as Lazlo is so adorable, I can’t hardly stand it and his reasoning behind contests is solid and I like it.

Prescott as Kent just the comic relief on a whole other level. The teeth implant is pure genius and how Prescott portrays this character is just amazing. He’s an inept bad guy who doesn’t know he is. Atherton as Professor Hathaway proved himself the bad guy from start to finish. He has done it again and again in films because, well, if you are good at it then why not?

Other cast include Mark Kamiyama as Ikagami, Ed Lauter as David Decker, Louis Giambalvo as Major Carnagle, Severn Darden as Dr. Meredith, Beau Billingslea as George, Joanne Baron as Mrs. Taylor, Sandy Martin as Mrs. Meredith, Dean Devlin as Milton, Yuji Okumoto as Fenton, Deborah Foreman as Susan Decker and Patti D’Arbanville as Sherry Nugil.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

4K Ultra HD Special Features include Feature scanned from the original camera negative and presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, reviewed and approved by director Martha Coolidge, All-New Dolby Atmos and 5.1 audio, reviewed and approved by director Martha Coolidge and Original Dolby Stereo.

Bluray Disc Features include Feature presented in High Definition, sourced from the 4K master, 5.1 Dolby Stereo Audio, “Balloon Chair” Deleted Scenes and Raw Takes Montage, TV Version of the Film and Feature Commentary with Director Martha Coolidge.

REAL GENIUS is a member in good standing with the 80’s films that have become part of our lives. Starting with my generation to my kids and now my grandkids. They get to see how much fun films were once upon a time.

Filled with humor, gags, sidekick action, jokes and so much fun, this film is everything and every reason we went to the movie theatres. I took my kids three times to see REAL GENIUS and they still love it today.

Add REAL GENIUS to your own home entertainment library because it would not be complete without it!

In the end – you need brains to act this crazy!