This is one of those gems from the 80's that I was too young for and missed its cultural zenith. Obviously it's not going to have the same impact it might have had for people who grew up with it but it does still have an incredibly young Val Kilmer doing his best to be as zany as a Looney Tunes cartoon.Teenaged genius Mitch (Gabriel Jarrett) is initially ecstatic to be chosen by Professor Hathaway (William Atherton) to work on a project building a new laser because it brings him into proximity with his idol, teen genius cum total slacker Chris Knight (Val Kilmer). Mitch soon learns that Hathaway is not a benevolent overlord and that he is essentially holding Knight's future hostage to force him to work on the project. The two geniuses must come up with a plan to foil their work being used in a CIA black bag weapon before it's too late.
This isn't as annoying or preachy as some of the Cold War-era films. It's still an 80's movie so there are several montages set to catchy pop tunes, big hair, and horrendous fashion. It holds up despite all that, thanks to an eminently quotable script, but I'm sure nostalgia adds another coat of gloss.
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