Why on Earth do I keep doing this to myself? After my review of Nerds III, I thought I’d had all I could take of Nerd-dom. Much to my chagrin, there’s another made-for-TV movie I hadn’t seen yet so I figured what the hell. How bad could it be? As it turns out, Nerd IV is better than its predecessor (if you can believe it) but that still doesn’t make it any damn good.
It’s at this point that I could easily refer you to the above link for Nerd III and call it a day on this one. I’m struggling to find a way to write a different review than that one, but I’ll do my best to offer new insights. If you’re worried you’ll become lost, stay calm and remember it’ll all be over soon.
This time around, the nerds gather for the wedding of their beloved Booger (Curtis Armstrong). The planned nuptials to his Omega Mu fiancé Jeannie (Corinne Bohrer) are naturally interrupted by her nerd-hating father (Joseph Bologna). All manner of chicanery is afoot as the haters attempt mean-spirited wedding sabotage. The shenanigans end with predictable results like food fights, heart to heart talks with head nerd Louis (Robert Carradine), and third act reconciliations. It’s not funny and it’s quite boring.
There’s a weird plot-line where an unscrupulous son-in-law (Stephen Davies) and a conniving P.I. (Robert Picardo) concoct a story about a love-child from Booger’s past. No one thinks to ask Booger any questions, and he never thinks to offer that, if the story is true, that this is the first he’s hearing of it. Then the fabricators hire an orphan to pose as his daughter – who is (SPOILER ALERT) eventually adopted by Booger and Jeannie. That’s what I call class.
I will say this in Nerds IV’s defense: their positive outlook on life is finally defined – something I find slightly endearing. Also, in a running gag, Booger continually refers to his future in-laws as “nouveau riche.” There’s something in the far-away stare and the contemptible way he says it that I like.
I will add, once more, that I’d have preferred if the original TV commercials from 1994, like these, had been included in my screening.
James is a writer, skateboarder, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.