Charles Herold (cherold) Just after watching the documentary "Drunk Stoned Stupid Dead" I discovered that there was also a TV movie covering the same period, focused on co-founder Doug Kenney. So I had to watch that, even though the reviewers were middling.I don't understand those middling reviews, because I thought this was tremendously entertaining. It's basically a movie about very witty people saying funny things, held together by the protagonist's downward spiral. It is less reverential than the documentary, which tiptoed around the whole priveleged-white-male thing, and it does it's best to mock itself, as when a scroll points out all the discrepancies between the movie and the real story.The movie does at times rely too heavily on its narrative devices, sometimes falling into a gimmicky cutesiness, and the ending feels like a flailing attempt to pull things together, but overall this is funny and very well acted. My advice: ignore the critics, watch the movie.

eddie_baggins All of us at some time or another have had a National Lampoon's experience.Perhaps it was a sneaky viewing of Animal House when you were too young to do so, watching the Griswold's various eventful vacations or maybe some golfing antics in the form of Caddyshack, National Lampoon's played an important part in mainstream comedy events of the late 70's and 80's and therefore has played a part in our lives at some stage or another.Looking to provide insight into how this world-wide recognised brand came to be, Wet Hot American Summer director David Wain has assembled a capable cast to front his Netflix distributed biopic A Futile and Stupid Gesture but this 90 minute feature will leave many more casually interested fans left wanting, while diehard fans will quickly begin to realise that well-renowned documentary Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead is a much more assured and insightful look at the rise and fall of main National Lampoon campaigner and co-creator Doug Kenney.Here played by cult figure Will Forte, Kenney is a complicated and hard to read figure that remains an illusively mysterious character throughout Wain's feature and a figure that's hard to fully connect with both due to the fact Kenney is a rather obnoxious person and that Forte feels out of his depth with a role that's hard work for the actor, particularly in the times Forte is tasked with bringing a college aged Kenney to life in the films early stages.Surrounded by quality actors such as a near unrecognisable Domhnall Gleeson as Kenney's partner in crime Henry Beard, Emmy Rossum as Kenney's second wife Kathryn Walker and supporting turns from the likes of Ed Helms and curiously Joel McHale as Chevy Chase, Forte never fully convinces in his lead turn while most actors struggle to make an impact as Wain's focus continually stops and starts as Futile's brief but cluttered 90 minute runtime moves forward.Adopting a rather unique approach to proceedings and trying its best to divert from the usual biopic by the numbers rulebook, Wain's film isn't afraid to break the 4th wall and even at one stage admits to all the things its skipped over or changed for dramatic license but at the end of the day Wain's film still feels rather generic and most disappointingly like a National Lampoon's greatest hits parade, showcasing all the things we expected to see (e.g. Animal House's inception, Chevy Chase doing far too many illegal drugs) without ever really surprising viewers in any meaningful way.Final Say - The story of National Lampoon and Kenney is a story worth telling and a no doubt intriguing one for fans of the comedic brand but A Futile and Stupid Gesture feels like a missed opportunity to fully encapsulate the brands inception and the beginning of a whole new era of comedy.2 studio lot fisticuffs out of 5

kosmasp So while I was not aware of the guy depicted here (and how he changed the comedy industry in America and therefor around the world too) and was more aware of ZAZ connection, I found out I am not alone with my lack of knowledge. And the movie is here to rectify this, although you could also call it an almost documentary. One that breaks the 4th wall quite a lot.We get introduced to the character right off the bat and because I had no idea what he looks like I couldn't tell if he played himself in older age (though that is something that will be clear towards the end, if you didn't know already yourself). The we get quite a few comedy talents of our recent times, playing quite a few of comedy legends of that time the movie depicting. It is funny, but it is also weird and therefor not really for everyone. I like the fact this dares to be different, I can't say if that rings true for you

James Graham This film tells the story of National Lampoon. From a magazine at Harvard to all the films. Really it mostly tells about Doug Kenney. I have seen the films such as Caddyshack, National Lampoons Vacation etc... but did not really know much about the magazine or Doug Kenney. The film has a unique way of telling the story with an old Doug Kenney narrating while you see a young Doug Kenney. The older Doug Kenney not only narrates but comments on the film as well. The ending is sad and unexpected because I really knew nothing about Doug Kenney. I thought it was clever that you have youngish actors playing older actors who were most likely their inspiration. Overall this is a very interesting film that gets your attention from the beginning. I am sure die hard National Lampoon fans will pick it to pieces. But really if you want an interesting, funny and entertaining film then I would definitely pick this. If you know a bit about National Lampoon then it will help to follow the story but to be honest you would enjoy it probably better if you know nothing about it.