"Real Genius," released in 1985 and directed by Martha Coolidge, presents a college dramedy centered on Gabe Jarret, a 15-year-old prodigy in laser technology. He’s brought into the orbit of physics Professor Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton), who has his own reasons for wanting the young man to work in his private lab. Jarret's roommate happens to be an exceptionally gifted freshman now in his senior year, seemingly caught up in college antics (Val Kilmer). Michelle Meyrink portrays a lively student with an interest in Mitch (Jarret), while Jonathan Gries appears as a peculiar and almost ghostly figure. Robert Prescott is present as someone who excessively flatters others. The filmmaking style is comparable to Coolidge’s 1983 film, “Valley Girl.” While both share similarities, "Real Genius" distinguishes itself with its college backdrop rather than a high school setting, plus the involvement of exceptionally intelligent individuals. I eventually found Kilmer's character's cleverness and easygoing nature to be somewhat tiresome, and there’s an overall feeling that things aren’t quite grounded in reality, particularly with the supporting characters who seem exaggerated, like during the pool party or at a restaurant/bar. The ice playground at the fraternity house is another instance of this. It just seems…why not! Despite these issues, it's enjoyable if you appreciate 1980s youth dramedies. I appreciated that the characters felt distinct and avoided being predictable genre tropes—no typical jocks, overly attractive women, or a character like the one John Belushi played in “Animal House” (1978). The film has a running time of 1 hour and 48 minutes and was filmed in Southern California locations including Claremont, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Canyon Country. The writers were Neal Israel, Pat Proft, and Pj Torokvei. My rating is a B-/C+.

Source on TMDB