REAL GENIUS

US, 1985, 108 minutes, Colour.
Val Kilmer, Michelle Meyrink, William Atherton,
Directed by Martha Coolidge.

Real Genius was written by Neal Israel and Pat Croft, authors of such films as Bachelor Party and the original Police Academy. This one is not quite so 'low brow' humour. It focuses on a child prodigy who goes to a school of advanced science. The film shows developments in science as well as the eccentric students who contribute and the exploitive professors in collusion with C.I.A. and army officials.

The film is a mixture of verbal wit and visual humour, rather broad but enjoyable as satire and spoof. Students who enjoy science will appreciate the laboratories, experiments and inventions.

The film was directed by Martha Coolidge, director of such documentaries as David: Off and On and Not a Pretty Picture as well as such features as Valley Girl.

1. Enjoyable comedy? Satire? Spoof? Youth film?

2. The atmosphere of the school, the laboratories, experiments? The background to military and scientific experiments? Professor Hathaway's home? Stunts and special effects? The musical score and the range of songs included as background?

3. The title and the focus on young students? Mitch and Chris? Jordan? The background to their studies, careers? Their personal interactions and development? Their relationship to the professor and staff?

4. The focus on Mitch: the prodigy, his intense seriousness, the academic atmosphere? Shy and homesick? Friendship with Chris? The relationship with Professor Hathaway? Mitch and Chris and their experiments, the laser project, Hathaway's using it? Friendship with Jordan and Laszlo? Laszlo and his disillusionment? The use of the computer? The plan for using the laser on Hathaway's mansion? The final explosion? The humanising of Mitch?

5. Chris Knight and his being at the school for three years, genius, his experiments at work, his being the school's social director, his pranks and zaniness? The leadership of Chris? Love for Jordan? Friendship with Laszlo? The experiments, Professor Hathaway? The laser plan? Success with the explosion?

6. Jordan as heroine? Attractive? Relationship with Mitch and Chris? Helping?

7. Laszlo and his being a student, his retreat, disillusionment, isolation, in the tunnels, his knowledge, skills with computers? His becoming part of the plan? The comedy of the experiments and the explosion?

8. Professor Hathaway and his arrogance, personable, relationship with the students, taking their work, liaison with powers, the C.I.A.? His stealing the plan? His pride in his home? Its destruction?

9. The background of the staff and students, their isolation, pressure, scientific advancement, need for letting off steam, jokes and pranks?

10. The build-up to the military test, the laser, the infiltration of the station, the activation of the laser, the effect on Hathaway's house?

11. Enjoyable youth movie? Insight into science students and the pressures? Their place in the contemporary world? Exploitation of the genius?