The Genius Club

Review by Rebecca Grace - AFA Journal, March 2008
 

 The Genius Club is a mind-boggling movie that attempts to solve the world’s problems by picking the brains of seven geniuses, all with IQs over 200, from all walks of life.
  These individuals’ lives are put on the line when they are forced to become part of a national emergency on Christmas Eve. The group is at the mercy of a madman named Armand who threatens to detonate a nuclear bomb if they don’t earn 1,000 points in a game he forces them to play.
  As part of the game, the group discusses solutions to world hunger, war, cancer, terrorism and corporate America, among other issues. There is a logical debate about the existence of God and his role in the universe and in life. There is also a discussion about Christianity and how it has been reduced to politics.
  But it all boils down to the question: “What is the meaning of life?” The answer: “[W]hen you finally realize who you are and why you’re here,” which is rooted in love and forgiveness. 
  The Genius Club concludes that the world’s problems can be solved through self-discovery, for it is in one’s self that one understands the meaning of life.
It is rated PG for thematic elements and some disturbing content. There are a number of emotional outbursts as well as some violence and gore. Old clips from news reports and war scenes are shown.
  There is no overt profanity in the film, but there are several abbreviated uses of insulting language, as well as numerous uses of words such as “stupid,” “dumb” and “fool.”
  There are discussions of death, a Planned Parenthood sign in the background, and comments about reducing the world’s population as a possible solution to world hunger. However,  writer and director Tim Chey, who is overwhelmingly anti-abortion, claims that the sign was not an intentional part of the film.
  The Genius Club is available on DVD.