Review: Revenge of the Nerds!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 31, 2012
One of my favorite movies is "Revenge of the Nerds." Made in 1984, it is set at fictitious Adams College in California and centers around two stereotypical nerds, Gilbert and Lewis. Lewis, in particular, has set his sights upon the statuesque, blonde Betty Childs, who is everything Lewis is not---tall, physically attractive, outgoing, and popular. Lewis's singular focus is to woo and evenutally bed the lovely Betty.Lewis eventually fulfills his desires in a memorable scene in the movie where, disguised as Darth Vader, he ends up seducing Betty on the floor of a bounce house. When Betty discovers who her Lothario is, she is at first disgusted and repulsed at the very thought of having made love with a nerd. However, her utter ecstasy and satisfaction with his remarkable lovemaking skills immediately overcomes her initial objections to his very presence, and when she eagerly demands to know if all nerds are as good in bed as he is, Lewis responds by stating that all jocks are ever interested in are sports, and all nerds are ever interested in is sex---which pleases Betty to no end.Such a scenario is closely paralleled in Sandra Ross's "Exploding: A Virgin Nerd's First Sex Adventure!" The story revolves around one protagonist, Ron, a senior in college who has held sexy, lascivious thoughts toward a co-ed, Adriana. Ron is a self-described nerd, complete with all the accoutrements of nerd-dom: skinny, slight, bent upper body, thick glasses, and a sad expression on his face. (About the only qualities the author does not mention include the requisite acne, pocket protector, and stringy, greasy hair.)The reader is introduced to Ron's plan of seduction: he "decides to go old-fashioned" in his pursuit of Adriana, and is gradually enveloped as the story progresses in Ron's tenacity and single-minded devotion to make sweet love with Adriana. The ultimate challenge for him is as follows: How does he succeed in his quest despite 1) his physical detractions, and 2) Adriana's seemingly utter indifference to his affections?It seems as if every nerd's fantasy is to win the most beautiful girl in school/on campus. As a former self-described nerd, I could certainly identify with Ron in that regard. Confidence is a panacea for most people (regardless of social scenario), and this is Ron's bete noire. Ross brings the reader along on Ron's semi-Quixotic quest, while skillfully weaving his self-doubts and preoccupations with that of his attempts to draw Adriana into his circle of desire.Desire is a universal quality of love, and the author creates sensuous descriptions of Ron and Adriana as the relationship unfolds. Initially, Ron's desire is more pronounced and uneven, but as the story progresses, a deeper emotional connection is attained between both Ron and Adriana. Just as a master craftsperson continues to hone their skills on a continuous basis to achieve a finished high-quality product, so, too, does Ron slowly improve his social skills and his self-assurance in his pursuit of Adriana."Exploding" is a title worth reading, and provides a nice fantasy for nerds everywhere.