# Is it just me or is Real Genius one of the best movies ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2001, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269 "2001-10-29T09:25:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Solomon7t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Solomon7t](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solomon7t)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/1 "2001-10-29T09:25:20Z")
Ok, I just watched **Real Genius** for the millionth time on HBO right now. I have come to several conclussions. 1) Val Kilmer was a FAR better actor in his early movie career. And 2) **Real Genius** is one of the best movies ever. I know its got a corny plot, cheesy romance and quirky characters, but it just works. And its my favorite movie. Chris Knight is the coolest and funniest genius, Lazlo is crazy but I sympathize with him, Mitch has problems but so does everyone in the movie, Kent is Jerry’s b###h and is a mega nerd, I wish I knew Ick’s forumla for chemical ice that evaporates after an hour of fun, and blah blah. This movie is great. Am I the only one or does anyone else like this oddball flick? ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/2 "2001-10-29T09:54:22Z")
It was one of my favorite movies when it came out, and it stands the test of time better than most teen-oriented movies of that era, but I wouldn’t say it was even close to being one of the ‘best movies ever’. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/3 "2001-10-29T13:24:38Z")
It’s just you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/4 "2001-10-29T13:27:30Z")
It’s not one of the Best Movies Ever, but I have to admit that the scene of the Val Kilmer character getting revenge on his advisor by using a Laser Beam and a lot of unpopped popcorn has a certain appeal for me. I’ve seriously considered sending vast quantities of popcorn to one of my former advisors – but I don’t think he’d get it. Plus, he’d have a lot of popcorn to give away. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/5 "2001-10-29T13:40:16Z")
Put me down in the LOVE THE MOVIE category. Witness the infant state of laser and computer technologies in the early-to-mid eighties, and how the jokes still work after all these years. Witness Val Kilmer in one of his best roles. Witness the classic revenge plot, with a techno-geeky angle. Witness the beauty of using technology and science to lure a bunch of scantily-clad babes to a bitchin’ jacuzzi party 😃 ! Also… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Solomon7t \* > **I wish I knew Ick’s forumla for chemical ice that evaporates after an hour of fun** Dry ice. If you live in Joplin, MO, you can buy it for $.69 per pound at Consumer’s grocery, at 4th street and Maiden Lane. Unless they’ve closed; I haven’t been to Joplin in a couple of years… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/6 "2001-10-29T13:58:19Z")
I loved the “Jordan” character, and Michelle Meyrink was a real cutie. Just the type I go for. Too bad she quit acting. I liked _Weird Science_ better, but _Real Genius_ was right up there. There were a lot of films I liked around that time. _Real Genius_, _Weird Science_, _Ferris Bueller’s Day Off_, _The Breakfast Club_… ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/7 "2001-10-29T14:29:52Z")
yep, it’s one of the best movies. Over half of me and my husband’s (my husband’s and my? Mine and my husband’s) clever quotes come from that movie. I don’t know why, but we always have to watch it when it comes on. “Rue the day? Who talks like that?” “This is Jesus, Kent. Stop touching yourself” “Oh, are you peeing?” “OK, let’s just take a step back. No, a step forward. No, a step back. Now we’re doing the cha-cha.” Those might not be exact quotes, but they’re close. Besides, it’s early in the morning and I need to go to sleep. And I can’t think of any more lines. Lorie ---
**Author:** ![Mogwei22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Mogwei22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogwei22)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/8 "2001-10-29T15:31:33Z")
Love this movie! My mother got so frustrated with me when I was little because I was allowed to rent a video every Friday night and I always picked **Real Genius**. “Ice is nice! Lazlo buddy!” “It should have gone much further much faster.” “What about that time I found you naked with a bowl of Jello?” “So I guess it goes from God, to Jerry, to you and to the cleaners.” I’ve always found it strange and hilarious that Kent’s arms bend back the way they do when he’s standing in front of the massive erupting Jiffy Pop in Jerry’s house. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/9 "2001-10-29T16:12:32Z")
Yep. “Was that a launch problem, or a design problem?” “Would you be prepared if gravity reversed itself?” “I’d like to see more of you around the lab, Chris.” “Fine. I’ll gain weight.” And why doesn’t Val Kilmer ever do that cool walking-quarters bit anymore? So, anybody know when this one’s due out on DVD? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/10 "2001-10-29T16:19:21Z")
I’m in the “just you” camp. Val Kilmer was ingratiating. He was like Keanu Reeves on Qualudes. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/11 "2001-10-29T18:16:56Z")
Exposure to Real Genius at a young age has permanently warped my perceptions of the opposite sex. Now I can only date uber-geeks. 🙂 Chris: “I’ve suceeded! But I’ve failed!” Lazlo: “um… well, then I’m happy and sad for you.” ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/12 "2001-10-29T18:27:07Z")
I **LOVE** this movie!! “This, for example, was under “H” for toy.” “I was just thinking of the immortal words of Socrates who said, “I drank what?”.” “Can you hammer a six inch spike through a board with your penis?” “Not right now.” “A girl’s gotta have her standards.” That is a great movie, so fun and light. Like cool-whip. ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/13 "2001-10-29T18:31:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Val Kilmer was _ingratiating_. He was like Keanu Reeves on Qualudes. \*\* **in·gra·ti·ate** Pronunciation: in-'grA-shE-"At Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing Etymology: 2in- + Latin gratia grace Date: 1622 : _to gain favor or favorable acceptance for by deliberate effort_ – usually used with with \ Looking at the definition of ingratiating, and given the fact that I find Chris Knight completely adorable . . . I’d have to agree with you, **Libertarian**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Monkeypants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Monkeypants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkeypants)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/14 "2001-10-29T19:58:30Z")
1. “You wanted to see me, your joggingness?” 2. I want a pair of panda earmuffs like Val Kilmer has on during the ice scene. ---
**Author:** ![TexasSpur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@TexasSpur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TexasSpur)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/15 "2001-10-29T20:07:16Z")
People will think I am retarded for this, but for a while I was convinced that the actor who played Mitch was Sarah Jessica Parker dressed as a boy. If you watch her in some of her younger roles she looks very similar to him. ---
**Author:** ![VeraGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9bcb4/32.png) [@VeraGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeraGemini)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/16 "2001-10-29T20:13:22Z")
“Welcome to Smart People on Ice” “Now, if I can just keep it from exploding…” “I never sleep. I don’t know why. I had a room mate and I drove her nuts, I mean really nuts, they had to take her away in an ambulance and everything.” “Jesus? Jesus? Hello?” “There was what, no one at the mutant hamster races and we had one entry into the Madame Curie look-alike contest and he was disqualified later. Why do I bother?” I think one’s appreciation for this movie is directly proportional to one’s age at first viewing divided by one’s nerdiness level in high school 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Solomon7t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Solomon7t](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solomon7t)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/17 "2001-10-29T22:24:28Z")
“I noticed your not stuttering anymore” “Ive been giving myself shock treatment” “good, up the voltage” ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/18 "2001-10-29T22:43:30Z")
I haven’t seen it in YEARS and I used to love that movie. Is it out on DVD yet? I’d like to own it. I’m sure it was one of the things that influenced the development of my sense of humour. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/19 "2001-10-30T00:27:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rastahomie \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Solomon7t \* > > I wish I knew Ick’s forumla for chemical ice that evaporates after an hour of fun > > Dry ice. If you live in Joplin, MO, you can buy it for $.69 per pound at Consumer’s grocery, at 4th street and Maiden Lane. Unless they’ve closed; I haven’t been to Joplin in a couple of years… Nope. Dry ice isn’t slippery. Ick’s secret formula remains a mystery. “Now, if we can just keep it from exploding!” God, I love that movie. I can quote the whole thing, start to finish. I guess I betray my total geekiness when I say that Val Kilmer was way sexier in baggy-assed boxer shorts and bunny slippers than all ripped, dripping with sweat playing volleyball in Top Gun. “Why is that toy on your head?” “Becaue if I wear it anywhere else, it chafes.” ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269/20 "2001-10-30T01:35:59Z")
Count me in. It always ranks in my Top 5 of comedies and top 25 of movies in general. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-real-genius-one-of-the-best-movies-ever/90269.md?page=2)