The nerds are back and this time they’re nerdier!
This sequel to the highly popular Revenge of the Nerds includes some of the original cast members reprising their roles as the nerdiest guys on campus. In this installment, the Tri-Lams are summoned to a fraternity conference as elected representatives of Adams College. Of course the Alpha Betas aren’t happy that nerds are infiltrating their hallowed turf and they make life as difficult as possible for the boys.
As is all too often the case, this sequel stinks of cash-in and while the success of the original and the presence of a small group of the key players adds some life to Nerds 2 it certainly doesn’t hold a candle to the first movie. Even Anthony Edwards who’s star rose in a small way due to his appearance in Top Gun after the first Nerds movie only makes a token appearance. James Cromwell had the smarts to avoid too much screen time but not the smarts to avoid the subsequent two parts III and IV.
The ones that didn’t dodge the sequel bullet, or just needed the money more than their dignity do a fine job of upholding the Nerd banner. Booger (Curtis Armstrong) is back and as revolting as ever, the terminally awkward Poindexter and the sexually confused Lamar are also back together with Robert Carradine as Lewis, without whom a Nerds film wouldn’t work at all.
While I’m spouting off useless Nerd trivia, Armstrong and Carradine hold the dubious distinction of being the only Nerds to stick by the series for all four movies (the last two made for TV), and who could forget Carradine’s portrayal of “Skinhead” in Escape from L.A. (everyone?).
Strangely enough, two of the stars of this instalment went on to appear in The West Wing together. Is there some kind of real life Nerd fraternity we’re not being told about?
Revenge of the Nerds 2 - Nerds in Paradise is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and is enhanced for widescreen displays.
The video transfer is generally rather poor being plagued with some of the usual suspects of grain, compression artefacts and the occasional appearance of film artefacts. On a positive note the colour balance is decent and skin tones look natural without being oversaturated in most scenes, black levels and shadow detail are also fine in contrast to the general look of the transfer.
The limited two channel stereo audio track is typically flat and dull with all the sound being presented through the main and centre speakers with very little use of the surrounds and no detectable subwoofer.
This true bare bones budget release includes no special features at all, even the menu is a static one page affair.
The Nerds series has also spawned another two follow up sequels that were made for TV but expect them to make an appearance on DVD some time in the future, depending on how many copies of Nerds 2 end up in land fill.
Overall fans of the first movie will be happy to see some of the characters making a return and there are some giggle worthy moments but the story and comedy presented in Nerds 2 isn’t a shadow on the classic original.
