| By Glenn Gaslin Directed by Jeff Kanew, Roland Mesa, Joe Roth, Steve Zacharias. Starring Robert Carradine, Ted McGinley, Curtis Armstrong, Julia Montgomery, Gregg Binkley, Timothy Busfield. Released by 20th Century Fox. Box office (U.S.): $41+30 million. Before there were freaks and geeks, and Harold and Kumar, and a 40-year-old virgin, there were nerds. And before there were nerds, or at least this classic randy college romp, awkward smart guys didn't have a true nickname or heroes or a franchise of their own. Now, they run the world. Maybe this very funny, geeks-vs-greeks epic has something to do with it? Maybe not, but the triumph of Booger and Wormser and Poindexter over the Alpha Beta jocks had such wit and heart and fearlessly gratuitous T-and-A that it spawned three sequels and decades of imitators. This edition packs all four flicks, and even the last two made-for-TV movies are notable for retaining much of the same cast and charm throughout. And pay attention for cameo gems, such as then-obscure John Goodman as the bully head coach. |
