Revenge Of The Nerds 3: The Next Generation
Proof positive that if a franchise takes a step down from R-rated to PG-13, the LAST thing you want to do is make the next entry a TV movie, but that’s what they did. The idea here is to introduce the “next generation” of nerd Tri-Lams, only the entire lot of them (with the exception of the Korean Elvis impersonator and the cute female pledge) are wholly unlikable, unfunny, and uninteresting. In fact, there are times where they just come off as smug (like Skolnick’s repulsive nephew; never have I more wanted to drive a gas guzzler after hearing him espouse on the wonders of Ethanol fuel), and the “politically correct” vibe they try to give off actually makes one root for the Alpha Betas (not exactly a bunch of winners in their own right) to fuck them up bad. One actually wonders why the legendary Booger would even hang out with these guys (when asking why they don’t eat meat or do drugs, Boog and the viewer is subjected to a sickening speech about doing the right thing, with a little dig thrown at him as a kicker). The returning regulars are a slightly better story: Carradine plays Skolnick as a changed man, more of a hipster dork than a real nerd before he “rediscovers” himself; Armstrong does what he can, but Booger is only suited for an R-rating; Julia Montgomery looks good for her age as Betty and her loyalty to Lewis is touching; Lamar, UN Jefferson, Takashi, and Mr. Skolnick come back for useless cameos (with off-putting new actors playing Wormser andGilbert). Really the acting highlights belong to Morton Downey Jr. as the organizer of the Alpha Beta rebellion and Ted McGinley returning as Stan Gable. Indeed it is Gable who is the most compelling character here, as his arc from the nerd-hating jock as we knew him from the first film to the latest member of their ranks is satisfying for anyone who enjoyed his villainy in the original. However the story and script here are shit, with the idea of a “nerd strike” coming off as stupid and unbelievable. In the end, a failed effort for die hard fans of the franchise only…
4/10