Revenge of the Nerds (DVD, 2009, The "Panty Raid" Edition)

This movie as a DVD is like rediscovering an old friend. We watched and howled in the 1980s when it first came out, and it is still so funny today! It is also a true revenge movie for anyone who has ever been ridiculed for being too fat, too skinny, poor eyesight, too dumb, too buxom, too studious, gay, black, Oriental, Puerto Rican, average looking, or even ugly.

The story revolves around Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) and Louis (Robert Carradine)--so excited about leaving home and going to college at a distant city. When they get there, they find a campus run by what they call the beautiful people--jocks, cheerleaders, fraternity brothers, and sorority sisters who are all out to harrass and ridicule everybody else. Eventually Lamar Latrelle (gay black), Wormser (a child student), Bugger (a sort of dirty, perverted, druggie hippie), a Chinese, and a red headed, almost blind nerd (Timothy Busfield) band together and form their own fraternity with the help of a national fraternity composed of all blacks.

The movie revolves around what the new fraternity--Lambda-Lambda-Lambda--does to get even with all the harassment they endured at first--some of which are not too honorable including a panty raid. Being nerds, they do have lots of talents, and they learn that they can run the Greek council if they win the homecoming carnival. Each one of them has a talent that mostly outdoes the beautiful people--javelin throwing, riding a tricycle, burping, and best of all a musical contest where they do moon walking and play electric, rock music.

This movie brought several of the young stars to the attention of Hollywood and television. The most famous, Anthony Edwards, appeared in several other movies, ("Gotcha," "Top Gun, etc.") but is most famous for the "ER" TV series. Timothy Busfield (the red headed, almost blind nerd) was a regular on "Thirtysomething". Robert Carradine was already a member of the famous Carradine family and has appeared in other movies. Ted McGinley, the main frat man, appeared on "Married With Children."

For a real good time, this movie is for all of us nerds or anyone who has ever felt persecuted for whatever reason. It is so much better than "Animal House"--its closest relative in this genre!

Beware though, there is a lot of female nudity in this movie and some insuations of all kinds of sex. It is not for children!