Nerds! Nerds! Nerds! ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ Holds Its Own Thirty Years Later

© Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1984)

This year marks the 30th anniversary of that classic tale of nerds versus jocks, Revenge of the Nerds (RotN). (For those unchristened, know that I let loose here with few minor character spoilers, but nothing that would totally ruin the film.)  Set in the 1950s (questionably, at best), RotN tells the story of Lewis Skolnick and Gilbert Lowell, two prototypical nerds with glasses, pocket protectors, and highwaters, as they embark on their freshman year at Adams College. Lewis and Gilbert quickly find enemies in the school’s jocks, most of whom form the formidable Alpha Beta fraternity. But they also find friends within a group of nerdy, geeky, and/or dorky guys that include the nearsighted Poindexter, the naïve Takashi, and the sarcastic yet “high”-ly loveable Booger. Together the guys attempt to form their own fraternity, seeking chaptership from Lambda Lambda Lambda. Meanwhile, Lewis deals wholeheartedly with his crush on Betty, girlfriend of Alpha Beta leader Stan, and the group attempts to make  name for themselves on campus. And it’s all wrapped up with a short yet stirring speech from Lewis on togetherness, complete with the rallying cry “Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!”