This month’s theme is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Revenge of the Nerds. It remains one of the best Teen Sex Romp movies made in the Eighties; Animal House appeared five years earlier and started an avalanche of these.
According to co-star/breakout actor Curtis Armstrong, it was originally released July 20, 1984 but maybe not in every market at once and I’m going with my flawed memory of that year…I remember commercials plugging it later. Regardless, I didn’t see Revenge until 1985 when it was debuted on HBO/Showtime and videotape; for those under 40, in ancient times, you had to a wait a full year for most things to reappear via those venues.
Being a teenager and obviously not a popular one; I attended five high schools, played D&D, wasn’t into “real” sports and preferred that “faggot music” on MTV; Revenge was a favorite flick alongside Better Off Dead and Weird Science which were movies with the underdogs winning. These underdogs differed in they were the “losers,” not the underrated sports teams of Hoosiers or every other boring-ass sports movie. The nudity and dirty jokes didn’t hurt, most teenage boys can’t resist seeing naked women.
One downside of course has been how it hasn’t aged well given most people’s evolving positions regarding the actions the Nerds took to exact their revenge on the Alpha Betas (Jocks) and Pi’s (Cheerleaders). Not all the credit goes to the #metoo movement, it’s more of an “ohhhh, wait!” realization intelligent people had years later much like how everyone began to cut out the socially acceptable cruelty towards homosexuals when Rock Hudson revealed his AIDS diagnosis. Today, Gilbert would be in prison for rape or sexual assault over tricking Betty in the funhouse. This isn’t to excuse the scene but the rationale then would be “Oh, it worked out. She decided to date him afterwards and in the third movie they’re married. Besides, Betty was an indirect culprit in the Alpha Betas’ attacks on the Nerds.” Still wrong, yet the majority overlooked it in the Eighties as people in the Thirties did with blackface. I also haven’t forgotten how the Nerds would all be arrested for the panty raid, or worse if their video surveillance on the Pi’s was discovered. The stereotype jokes involving gay Nerd Lamar is another eye rolling concern. Beyond losing their power over the university, the Alpha Betas aren’t punished as badly as their female Pi counterparts unfortunately.
Again, I’m not trying to mount a defense for Revenge any more than I would for Blazing Saddles. They’re both movies offering a window on the past and what attitudes the general public actually held. Instead of trying to erase these things as overrated author Brett Easton Ellis accuses Millennials of doing, we should keep them around as reminders of what we shouldn’t backslide on and not forget the context of some jokes (don’t get my started on how PC schmucks miss the point with Blazing Saddles). Another aside, my argument isn’t applicable with tearing down Confederate monuments. As a Yankee, those “losers-get-a-trophy” abominations are an affront on numerous levels. Now, if you put aside the disturbing elements, Revenge is a hilarious movie in a crowded genre filled with absolute dogs. I finally saw Porkys some years ago and thought, the kids on the playground made it sound more interesting and funny, or maybe they were talking about something entirely different because it sucked.
I do want to make another point, especially when The Guardian had an article claiming how misogyny is a part of “nerd culture.” I disagree. A true nerd or geek never forgets how much being excluded or mocked hurts, therefore, they strive to be inclusive. At times, we screw up but another aspect is owning up to our mistakes and doing what we can to address them. I for one, have to remember my blind spot with Trumpkins. Unless they’re unrepentant racists, I need to be more patient and forgiving of them. Desperation makes people do stupid things.
Revenge of the Nerds has a special place in Texas too. Part of the film was shot at Texas A&M over the Summer of 1983 with the rest at Arizona State (where my nephew Nick goes). I think it was John Goodman’s first big role before he became more famous as Roseanne’s husband.
Today, the “nerds” have had their revenge through all the ubiquitous technology and popular culture (superhero movies, Sci-Fi/Fantasy shows and D&D acceptance) we live with. Ergo, there shouldn’t be any need to remake this film until FAANG are entrenched in a century and a new nerd culture arises.
GQ recently published a good story about the film too.