Revenge of the Nerds

Nerds without computers may seem a contradiction in terms, but life was simpler back in 1984 and the geeks seemed to get along fine with just a slide rule and a plastic pocket protector. A variation on the fraternity-farce plot of Animal House, the picture celebrates the triumphs of a gang of geeks, led by Robert Carradine and a pre-E.R. Anthony Edwards, as they get back at a rival frat house full of jocks and preppies. Although the brains-over-brawn theme ought to be sure-fire, the movie gets by mostly on charm; there are very few explosively funny sequences. The supporting cast includes some surprising familiar faces, notably James Cromwell (Babe, L.A. Confidential) as Carradine's look-alike dad, pants hoisted proudly to his armpits. The director, Jeff Kanew (Gotcha!), went on to the 1991 private-eye belly flop V.I. Warshawski and has not been heard from since. --David Chute