Product Details

• Actors: Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Timothy Busfield, Andrew Cassese, Curtis Armstrong
• Directors: Jeff Kanew
• Writers: Jeff Buhai, Miguel Tejada-Flores, Steve Zacharias, Tim Metcalfe
• Producers: Peter Macgregor-Scott, Peter Samuelson, Ted Field
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 7, 1997
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301697294
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,244 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny, September 27, 2004

By 

Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Revenge of the Nerds [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Regardless of how many times I have seen this movie, I always look forward to certain parts, and I am unable to resist seeing it just one more time. I could never categorize this movie as great, or even a classic; it is just an enjoyable comedy.

As the title suggests, this movie is about a group of hyper-stereotypical nerds. Leading the pack are Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards. In addition are a number of other strong supporting characters, including an alternative lifestyle African-American, an Asian, a pint-sized genius, a classic coke-bottle-glasses geek, and a character aptly named "Booger." Each character is a caricature, and yet they have their basis in reality as I can attest.

This movie focuses on a band of college students frustrated with their inability to be recognized in a school where the football team seems to always have the best of everything. In the real world, Nerds are rarely members of cliques or jocks. You may almost guarantee that they do not hang out with the cool people. The end result is that Nerds almost always make sacrifices. However, the group of Nerds in this movie refuses to be continually kicked around.

After suffering multiple insults, the Tri-Lam's (Lambda-Lambda-Lambda) and the Omega-Mu's combine forces to attempt to take over the presidency of the Greek Council. The contest between the Tri-Lam's and Omega-Mu's against the jock/cheerleader team of the Alpha-Beta's and Pi-Delta-Pi's yields multiple funny moments, and a surprise or two meant for the over-18 crowd. One high point of this movie is the musical number by the Tri-Lam's and Omega-Mu's and another is the end of the movie when the Nerds finally make their point.

This movie is certainly over-the-top, but it does point out that nerds, geeks, or whatever they are called seem to be overlooked in college (and certainly in high school). However, a subtle message in this movie is appropriately captured in a joke that has been making the rounds. What do you call a nerd ten years after graduation? Answer: Boss. If you have ever considered yourself put upon by anyone for whatever reason, or if you ever felt you were an outsider in high school or college, you'll find this movie full of some funny moments and you will definitely enjoy the ending.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Nerds" a quintessential 80s movie, December 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Revenge of the Nerds [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Revenge of the Nerds" is a quintessential 80s movie. This film has it all--partying, pranks and one more "p" not suitable for this review. Betty Childs (Julie Montgomery) will blow you away. She's a classic 80s blonde in the sorority (Pi)that fraternizes w/ the jocks' frat (Alpha Beta).

Best friends from high school, Louis (Robert Carradine) and Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) go away to Adams College together. Upon arrival they and their nerd friends are picked on by the super-cool football playing Alpha Betas.

The nerds refuse to let their nerdiness sentence them to second-class citizenship. They take matters into their own hands when the "cool" kids keep messing w/ them. Some slyly placed video cameras and some smart usage of "liquid heat" provide some pretty darn funny moments. Their general nerdiness will keep you laughing, too.

In the end, the film's moral is that nerds are people just like everyone else. As Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) says, "No one will really be free until nerd persecution ends."

We're all nerdy in our own way... that's what this film taught me.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You just got your asses whipped by a bunch of Goddamn nerds", May 24, 2000

By 

J. Brittman "The Bottom Line" (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Revenge of the Nerds [VHS] (VHS Tape)

John Goodman is king. This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Dirty, raunchy, and completely unsuitable for teenage viewing, this movie makes it fun to remember what it was like when comedies actually contained full frontal female nudity! The locker room speech by John Goodman is one of the funniest things I have ever heard. BUY THIS MOVIE NOW! P.S. "What is hairpie?" or "Step Aside Mama, I Wanna See Some of That Muff".