Real Genius 2

[BerringerX]

From FilmFodder.com:

"Real Genius" - The Sequel
It looks like Val Kilmer will be Chris Knight once again! Kilmer has reportedly signed on to star in a sequel to the 1985 comedy, 'Real Genius'.

Hmmm...did I hear a defeaning silence? I should be hearing wild cheering! Seriously!

'Real Genius' was, well, pure genius. It perfectly captured the feel of a high pressure, high-level academic environment, shrewdly packaged as a teen comedy. Admittedly, as I was a freshman in an Aerospace Engineering program when I first saw this movie, I am a bit biased. Still, the genius of the first movie was not in the plot, but in the characters - I saw bits my classmates in Chris, Mitch, Jordan, Lazlo and the other characters. The scene where a student cracks while studying for an exam and runs from the table is classic. The rest of the students look up, pause, and then resume studying like nothing out of the ordinary happened.

So, can a sequel work? Obviously, making a sequel to a cult movie twenty years after the fact is pretty risky. It might be better just to re-do the original movie with Kilmer as a professor, but not reprising his original role. The new young stars could keep the flavor of the original (it would be "It's a moral imperative!"), but the campus lifestyles could be updated to present day. It could work.

In any case, this is probably a good move for Kilmer. It was reported that his intentions were "...to take on more comedic roles in the future in a bid to alter his Hollywood image and take his career to a new level". I don't know about "a new level", but he clearly has comedic skills (see 'Real Genius', 'Top Secret', and even some scenes in 'Willow'). I don't expect him to become a Leslie Nielson, but he could do quite well in the genre. As an obvious fan, I hope he succeeds - and, that the sequel doesn't suck.

Seriously, WTF?

[Hubbitron]

AWESOME!

[Dolemite]

Could be cool if done right and if Val loses 80-90 pounds. The last movie he was in he was quite the fatty.

[Hubbitron]

It's not like they're re-making the original.

[Type Ryan]

This is awesome news! Real Genius is one of my all-time favorite 80's movies.

Depending on the writers, this could be interesting.

[Zac]

This is cool news the first is an 80's classic. Val Kilmer started as a comedy actor (Top Secret) so maybe he'll do well going back to his roots.

[voltz]

You mention Willow, I've always wanted a sequel to that.

[Doc Holliday]

While we're dreaming and the Hobbit's in studio purgatory... I'd like to see Peter Jackson remake Neverending Story.

[Some Stupid Japanese Name]

there certainly is precedent.
I felt as though Kong would never end.

[Type Ryan]

You mention Willow, I've always wanted a sequel to that.

That movie sould definitely have a sequel.

Out of the way, Peck!

While we're dreaming and the Hobbit's in studio purgatory... I'd like to see Peter Jackson remake Neverending Story.

Agreed.