Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Jeff Kanew

Country

USA

Cast

Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Timothy Busfield, Andrew Cassese, Curtis Armstrong, Brian Tochi, Larry B. Scott, Michelle Meyrink, Ted McGinley, Donald Gibb, Matt Salinger, Julia Montgomery, Lisa Welch, John Goodman, David Wohl, Bernie Casey, James Cromwell, Alice Hirson

Storyline

When lovable nerds Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) and Lewis (Robert Carradine) embark on their freshman year at Adams College, little do they realize the perils that await them. They're beset by taunting from the jocks of Alpha Beta fraternity, which only worsens when the jocks accidentally burn down their house and toss the freshmen out of the freshmen dorm. To make matters more problematic Lewis develops a crush on pretty Betty Childs (Julia Montgomery), popular sorority sister and quarterback's girlfriend.

Opinion

Here I am again, watching and reviewing big hits of the '80s and failing to see why they were huge hits back then.

One of the many American college/sex comedies, "Revenge of the Nerds" is a lighthearted film that manages to be funny occasionally.

As you can guess from the title, the film is about nerds, who are either ignored or discriminated against by the popular 'kids'. Now, being a nerd myself, even though I'm a woman, I know the feeling of being not respected by others, and finally seeing them get even was amazing.

Despite being completely predictable, the story shows everybody that nerds are people too, and, most important, it teaches us an important lesson: be proud of who you are.

Another good thing about the film is that the nerds are a diverse group of people. While some are still stereotyped, as a whole they are very well portrayed.

All of this being said, I was still let down by the film because of the comedy. The juvenile humor did not bother me because it was exactly what I was expecting to find here, but somehow the films fails to be hilarious. There are a few good laughs, but nothing more.

However, the all-star cast is very likable, they all play their parts with a lot of enthusiasm and energy, and they make the film quite enjoyable.

Neighbors (2014)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Nicholas Stoller

Country

USA

Cast

Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dave Franco, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gallo, Craig Roberts, Jerrod Carmichael, Lisa Kudrow, Hannibal Buress, Halston Sage, Ali Cobrin, Jason Mantzoukas, Brian Huskey, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, Adam DeVine, Blake Anderson, Anders Holm, Kyle Newacheck, Keith Cashin, Jake Johnson

Storyline

Forced to live next to a fraternity house lead by Teddy (Zac Efron), Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne), a couple with a newborn baby, do whatever they can to take them down. 

Opinion

I was in the mood for a comedy, and I was sure a film starring Seth Rogen wouldn't disappoint me. I couldn't be more wrong.

Besides the funny moments seen in the trailer - not even that funny in the film itself, and the only laughable moments in the whole film -, Neighbors is a truly tedious - neither worse nor better - version of American Pie, whose sexual humour is a hundred percent unfunny. Of course, if you think a man trying to milk his wife or a frat boy winning over a fight using his erection are funny, you will definetly enjoy the film and laugh the whole time. 

Back to reality, the script is so unbelievably stupid and full of cliques that makes you cringe. For the most part, the dialogue doesn't go beyond the words fu*k, sh*t, and d*ck. The characters are awful, starting from the old couple, for which is hard to feel any empathy, to the frat boys, which don't look bonded to each other. Seth Rogen's character seems way too obsessed with Zac Efron's body, and it would have been fine if it wasn't for the fact that he is neither a gay nor a woman. 

The performances are just awful. Seth Rogen, usually a very likable guy, in here is annoying from the beginning, and, along with Rose Byrne, does an awful job. Also, the chemistry between Rogen and Byrne is not much believable. Zac Efron, quite talented and handsome, is not that bad, but there is still nothing he can do with the horrible film and awful direction.