Ammunition, Grenades and a Pocket Protector!?

For the past few weeks now, I've seen the image of a pocket protector being tucked into a top pocket. I woke up in a cold sweat the other night thinking about it. I felt it like a phantom, resting against my chest when I'd go out wearing a shirt with a pocket on the chest. I even accosted one of the salesman at Geek Squad the other day, when he smirked at my dilemma and responded back with a snarky comment.

I knew this image fit into a suit-up scene... but which one?

Now, before you say, "Ummm, Revenge of the Nerds maybe? Asshole!" Remember my past words of wisdom on the religion of the suit-up. They prevailed during the 80s, a time when movies about high school nerds ran rampant. Nerds ruled the screen.

But whose nerds were I seeking? 'Sixteen Candles'? 'Three O'Clock High'? 'The Breakfast Club'? Maybe 'Real Genius'?

No, it was 'Revenge of the Nerds'... like we all originally thought. But not quite, smartasses. It was 'Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds In Paradise'. Furthermore, twice I got duped into thinking I knew where the suit-up scene was, only to be disappointed. This usually doesn't bode well for a review. It signifies an over-confidence in the scene you are about to uncover... a nostalgic re-imagining of how the scene will go. This happened to me recently with 'First Blood Part 2: Rambo'. Would it happen again with 'Nerds 2'?

Almost. So let's talk about the scene now, shall we?

Through a series of pranks by the Alpha Betas, the good nerds of Lamba Lamba Lamba are abandoned and left for dead on a desert island. Doomed, depressed, and ready to finally throw in the towel against the evils of jock-dom and bullying, our lead hero Lewis Skolnick decides to rally his brethren towards an escape plan. And so, in true Gilligan's Island fashion, they decide to build a boat. Resident redhaired nerd Arnold Poindexter has them build a a metal detector (which includes headphones made out of coconuts!) and soon, they drop in (literally) on a secret military bunker under ground.

Here is where Skolnick hatches an even better plan then merely escaping the island: The nerds shall have their revenge!

Cue suit-up scene: Military drums score the scene as we're greeted by clean close-up cuts of Skolnick suiting up. A belt is fastened. Ammunition criss-crosses his chest. A grenade is latched on. (who's he going to blow up!?!?). And of course, the pocket protector... that image that haunted me for days on end... is tucked in proudly.

Skolnick is ready to kick ass and take names!

The scene is a little quick, but it's shot well, lit well, and has surprisingly good sound design. I was a little disappointed though that the scene didn't end with Skolnick's trademark laugh. I think that would have scored this one a higher rating. Still, all in all, a decent entry to our database.