Real Genius

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Brent H Since its release in the mid-80s, I've watched Real Genius more times than I can count. With Kilmer's passing, I had to rewatch the film to remember just how great he is in this movie. The film shifts back and forth between a quick-witted comedy and a somewhat serious political drama. Honestly, without Val Kilmer's charm as Chris Knight, it would not work as well as it does. It would still be an enjoyable movie, but Kilmer, in his second feature role, brings an intangible element that allows the film to maintain a healthy balance between serious and humorous moments. The plot revolves around engineering students unknowingly creating a military weapon. While that doesn't necessarily sound like something that would contain laugh-out-loud moments, the cast and the script find a way to make something that sounds quite serious on paper an intelligent yet comedic film. Some of the more serious political elements may be a bit much for some people, but don't let that deter you from seeing the charismatic wit of Val Kilmer at the beginning of his career. Oh, and the use of Tears For Fear's "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" as the movie transitions into the credits is a masterful choice. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/29/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 46 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $130,800.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/04/25 Full Review Audience Member Whatever. Probably was good in the 80s but doesn't hold up now Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/11/25 Full Review Carlos I "Real Genius" is a decent, wacky teen comedy that capitalizes on the popular 80s trend of science-centric narratives. Val Kilmer delivers a standout performance as the charmingly irreverent genius, imbuing the film with a lively energy that elevates its high jinks. While the movie cleverly mingles humor with scientific brilliance, its blend of outlandish escapades and youthful ingenuity ultimately makes it an entertaining, if somewhat forgettable, piece of 80s cinema. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/04/25 Full Review Matthew P Utterly unenjoyable. I didn't think it was possible for Val Kilmer to be unlikable in a movie, but he was intolerable in this. He's not alone, as every character in the film except Jordon was unlikable. There's nobody to root for as I disliked everybody. The jokes are stale and the worst of 80s comedy style. Even the jokes that should be funny are delivered so poorly that they stop them from working. Nearly 2 hours of tedium. An utter disappointment. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 04/03/25 Full Review Alan D Loved the movie. One of my favorites. Definitely my favorite Val Kilmer movie. Yes, over Top Gun. My next favorite was his portrayal of Detective Dobson on Psych. The only thing holding this back from 5 stars is the the trailer and the movie poster showed Val Kilmer floating in a balloon chair, which was NOT IN THE MOVIE. RIP Val Kilmer. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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