When brains go bad: "Real Genius" (1985)

Let's once again take a step back into the '80s.

Why not?! It seems to be where many forgotten flicks were first introduced. Val Kilmer hit it big as the cocky and fearless fly boy, Lt. Tom 'Iceman' Kazanski in the 1986 film, "Top Gun". Was he the hero or the villain? Hmm. Good thought.

I know, I know…."Top Gun" isn't a forgotten flick. So let's just go back one more year to 1985. Those of us with high I.Q.'s, or at least reasonably fair memories will recall a movie called "Real Genius" directed by Martha Coolidge. Chris Knight (Kilmer) and Mitch Taylor (Gabe Jarret) were fellow nerds, college classmates, and room mates. Being incredibly smart seemed to work to their benefit most of the time for parties, girls, and the occasional and always over-the-fence practical jokes.

Sometimes though, being a real genius would prove to work against their purpose. Using their thinking skills for evil instead of good, Chris and Mitch's teacher, Prof. Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton) gave them the class project of creating a laser capable of destroying everything that fell victim to its line of fire. Once the project is finished, Hathaway steals the laser and sells it to the military.

Lesson one -- don't be a scandalous jerk. Lesson two -- don't mess with nerds that posses an equally scandalous and very mischievous sense of humor. Chris and Mitch take care of business after they find out their teacher had actually used them to create a powerful weapon. Let the games begin!

Of course, who could forget Lazlo, the strange-yet-lovable guy that lived in Chris and Mitch's dorm room closet? Lazlo (Jon Gries -- also played Uncle Rico in "Napoleon Dynamite") spent most of his time in his Laz cave underneath the dorm. Since nerds sometimes have a lot of time on their hands, Lazlo enters a contest more times than all other entrants combined, and wins most of the prizes! Way to use your head Laz!

"Real Genius", a forgotten flick that will surely bring back some fun memories.

Keep an eye out for director Martha Coolidge's new film opening this year called "Material Girls". I don't know what it's about, and judging from the title of the film, I didn't bother to even find out!