National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) Reviews

• Often imitated, never duplicated.

  Hermit C-21999-05-25

  You'll have to excuse me and some of the other proponents of 'National Lampoon's Animal House' if we seem a little defensive about the movie. That's because it's often not recognized as the superior comedy classic that it is. Instead, too often it is lumped in with the multitude of inferior films that it inspired, which is totally unfair. Some of the conventional wisdom about 'Animal House' is absolutely right, though. John Belushi does give a bravura performance that is reminiscent of the great comics before him like Chaplin, Keaton (Buster, not Michael), the Marx Brothers, etc., and he does it with a wonderful economy of words. His character of "Bluto" Blutarsky is often emulated and imitated but many times the persons doing so have no idea what it was that made him and his performance so great. Tim Matheson as "Otter" and his other frat house buddies were also prototypes that were much imitated too, and again often without success. Otter was the quintessential smooth talker, always working an angle on everybody, especially the ladies. When a woman tells him that his lovemaking wasn't that great, he cocks his head, points a finger at himself and mouths the words, "not great?" in mock disbelief. Before Tom Hanks got "Big" he made a career out of playing this character. Also John Vernon set a standard for straight men with his portrayal of the beleaguered Dean Wormer, plagued by his "zoo fraternity." Not all of the movie's humor aims low, by any means; some of it is quite sophisticated. (Yes, you read it right.) The screenwriters and director John Landis did a great job evoking Kennedy-era America and they found a lot to laugh at. This comedy is an unqualified classic by the simplest definition-- it makes you laugh, long and loud.

• What started it all- and still the best

  Quinoa19842000-06-03

  This is the best college comedy ever made. Nothing has ever come close to comedic perfection, and never will again. The early bird director John Landis directs this film into greatness bringing stars John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Tom Hulce, Mark Metcalf and Donald Sutherland to the screen in brilliance. True, this film is just about a bunch of misfits defying authority in a campus of 1962, but that's what makes it so good, and original. Belushi, Metcalf, and others bring many of the laughs here, but it is mainly it's reputation that brings this film into hilarity. A landmark in cinema comedy. By the way, screenwriters Harold Ramis and Chris Miller originally were going to make this a film about Charles Manson called Laser Orgy Girls, so thank god Douglas Kenney came in and straightened this out to the right part.

• Animal House: Enjoyable but not the cult classic I expected

  Platypuschow2018-10-25

  Controversial one in 3....2...1. Animal House is one of those infamous household name cult classics, yet despite my movie obsession it's taken me this long to get around to it. It's been in the IMDB's top 250 and isn't far off going in there again, but what did I think? I think, it's very overrated. Don't get me wrong Animal House was an enjoyable film and provided me with laughs and that feel good warmth that few films deliver these days but is it THAT good? I really don't think so. It tells that commonly used fraternity storyline where it's the party animals that don't conform vs the snooty frat house and the "Powers that be". We'd seen it before this and we've seen it plenty of time since, it's a classic concept and usually a fairly fun one. What really helps the film is its cast, it has a host of familiar and talented faces from those you can name to those you'll just recognise as being prominent character actors for the past number of decades. Notable names would be John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Donald Sutherland and one of my earliest "Celebrity" crushes Karen Allen. Seriously, what an outstandingly naturally beautiful girl she was! Though not as funny as I expected Animal House does have laughs and I totally see the appeal. What I don't see however is why it was met with such critical acclaim, it's a fun movie but why is it considered THAT good? Animal House is a harmless little comedy but hardly groundbreaking even in the 70's. The Good: Incredible cast Karen Allen #drool Feel good charm The Bad: Simply not THAT funny Weirdly could have used a bit of extra time Things I Learnt From This Movie: Knowledge is good Real ladies use rubber gloves Women commonly stand in front of windows in a state of undress God delivers Playboy bunnies on demand.............now I get the appeal Rape jokes are funny when they're about men

• Maybe Can't Really Be Appreciated Anymore

  pattersonsmith2002-11-11

  If you have only seen this movie on TV, you have not really seen this movie. One of the best movie experiences of my life was seeing this movie in the theater with a full house of college students. I have never heard an audience laugh so hard, and I was laughing with them. That experience can never be recaptured. I don't know why this movie doesn't make the midnight movie tour in college towns. That way it might have some of the same impact. Also when it came out in 1978 it is hard to explain how big John Belushi was unless you were there and saw it first hand. It's still funny on the small screen, but only if you see it uncut. Never watch it on a network, they cut out most of the jokes!

• Laughs are on the "House"....

  Mister-61999-08-24

  Every successful movie has its myriad clones and imitators, but none of them ever come close to what made the original so good. That's certainly true of "Animal House". The laughs are all solid, especially when the main focus is in toppling the stoic pillars of decency and normality with a battle cry of "food fight!". Pledges Pinto (Hulce) and Flounder (Furst) are good soldiers, making us laugh with their desire to fit in at first then, finally, to succumb to the madness and pillage and destroy with the other Deltas, led by Bluto (Belushi), who waylays all in his path. No subsequent attempt to cash in on the "Animal House" success has ever made good in toppling the once and future king of the mountain. Who has ever come close to creating a creature as lovably destructive as Bluto Blutarsky? What other college movie's dean ever made Dean Wormer seem like an easygoing, laid-back guy? What college movie scene comes close to the introduction of the Deltas? The toga party? The horse in the Dean's office? The road trip? The final parade? The.... Well, space is limited but you get the idea. Ten stars, and a crushed-beer-can-on-the-forehead salute to all involved with the subversive garbage that is "Animal House". More power to you. And remember, knowledge is good.