I loved this movie from the fist moment I saw it on video back in the 80s. And then when I worked in a video store, this is one that we threw on in the background and would say all the dialogue to, and crank the 80s tunes when they played.

It’s just fun. And while some people go to Top Secret! for their Val Kilmer comedy fix (and I do like it) I prefer Real Genius. It’s funny, has great moments, and a number of the pranks and experiments are based on real events.

Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret) is a fifteen-year-old prodigy. He’s just been given early access to Pacific Tech, to study, and work on a project with the renowned scientist, Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton). Mitch is excited beyond belied, especially when he learns he’ll be working with genius student, Chris Knight (Kilmer).

But Hathaway plans to drive Knight and Mitch as hard as he can, he’s got a timetable to deliver a powerful laser to fulfill a military contract. And he’s not above holding back high-profile jobs and diplomas to make sure he gets what he wants.

When he betrays Chris, and humiliates Mitch, the pair decide it’s time for revenge. Something that is only egged on when they learn what the laser is going to be used for.

Through it all, Mitch needs to muddle though his classwork, huge assignments, a flirtation with a fellow classmate, Jordan (Michelle Meyrink) and a reclusive genius who lives in Mitch’s closet.

Brilliantly funny and filled with endlessly quotable dialogue I love this movie dearly. It’s one of those films that is so important to me, and one I’ve seen so many times that I can’t see any of its faults in it. It just entertains me. I love the soundtrack, and Kilmer is absolutely awesome in this role.

It’s wild to think that two years later he would be bringing Iceman to life for Top Gun.

Atherton is appropriately slimey. He’s probably the nicest guy in the world, but he’s played tool bags for almost his entire career. Snarky, mean, and trouble. He makes a wonderful villain, and you know that Chris and Mitch are going to deliver the perfect comeuppance to his Hathaway.

It’s goofy, it rocks, it’s fun, and man, that soundtrack. This one would be on once or twice a week when I worked in a video store. I haven’t seen it in years, decades actually, but all the dialogue was still right there in my head, and I had so much fun redicovering it.

This one may have to find its way into high viewing rotation.