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 A Review of the Film "Real Genius" by quarterbar Films starring young geniuses have been very hot lately (A Beautiful Mind, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester). It's an easy way to explain holes in the plot. I can see the screenwriter saying, "We'll just have the genius kid do some calculation or build a robot and that will distract the audience." Well, if you're looking for a top-notch young genius film that doesn't fall prey to such tactics, you might want to try a video shop. Inside that video shop, you can't go wrong with "Real Genius". This early Val Kilmer vehicle features not one, but an entire cast of college-age geniuses. The plot, which serves mostly as a framework for Kilmer's clowning, is as follows: Chris Knight (Kilmer) is one of the top young minds in the country working towards a degree in some sort of laser-related science. His mentor, self-serving villain Dr. Jerome Hathaway (William Atherton), brings 15 year-old prodigy Mitch Taylor (Gabe Jarret) on board to work with Knight on a special project. Mitch has a hard time adjusting to life at the ultra-competitive college, but with the influence of Knight's carefree style he's able to come alive socially and academically. The conflict of the story arises when Dr. Hathaway's "special project" turns out to be a diabolical weapon. Side characters like speed-talking love interest Jordan (Michelle Meyrink) and sycophantic fellow student Kent (Robert Prescott) help bring to life a unique and amusing vision of life at college.  The curious casting of (still) unknown Gabe Jarret in the role of young Mitch now seems like a *Real* stroke of *Genius*. Everything about Jarret says "total wiener": his long camel face, his impossibly nerdy middle-parted hair, his tight Lee jeans. He absolutely embodied the role. He WAS Mitch Taylor. One moment that will live forever in the Pussboy hall of fame is when Mitch calls his parents crying to come home. "You rented out my room?! Mom, to who?!?" Of course Kent records the phone call and later plays it during lunchtime in the cafeteria. A storytelling ploy that IS applied here, and liberally, is the montage. Specifically, the teen film montage is a series of clips strung together behind music giving the effect of time passing and something being worked on. Real Genius has several of these. There's one where Mitch and Chris are feverishly working on the laser and becoming really close pals over a song called "Man in the Making". It's complete with furrowed brows, furious studying, and high-fives. William Atherton's performance as the loathsome Dr. Hathaway is outstanding. He's cruel, rude, preoccupied with his appearance, and unconcerned with the plight of his students. His ever-present composed glare makes him so easy to hate and makes the situations he gets into all the more funny. Knight's total lack of respect for the man adds to the hilarity. Basically, Knight ignores whatever Hathaway says.  In the end, Kilmer's character is the star of the show. He is perpetually avoiding everything related to responsibility. He never gives a straight answer and is full of irreverent wisecrackery. When asked, "Why is that toy on your head?", Knight answers "Because if I wear it anywhere else, it chafes." Or comments like, "All my filth is in alphabetical order. This, for example, was under 'H' for 'Toy'." Classic stuff. What a perfectly eccentric smartass! As a 10 and 11 year-old kid, I badly wanted to be Chris Knight. I remember asking my mom to tell me that she was disappointed with me just so I could deliver Knight's quip, "And I you, Mom". Embarrassing, but telling. What was behind Knight's avoidance and my fascination? Can we take his few serious statements in the film at face value? Was he really deciding to take things less seriously after seeing an older student crack under pressure? I believe that was the filmmakers' intended motivation for Chris, but that's not enough for the real world. Knight is engaged, as so many of us are, in the perpetual dance of avoidance. Putting off the work we need to do to make ourselves happy because we know it's difficult. Herešs a great Real Genius site complete with pics and .wav files. |
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