I decided that the last two posts were on pretty depressing tear fests. This selection is calculated to break that pattern. Animal House is the archetypal movie about college life and for good reason: it is damned funny. Parts are crass and tasteless, but who needs taste when we're talking about comedy? The basic plot you're probably familiar with because every film about a frat or a sorority ever since has been based upon it. It's iconic for a reason. There are so many things that ring true still about college, like Donald Sutherland's stoned hippie professor who sleeps with a student. (Every college has at least one of those, right?) The students who appear to have no major. It was directed by John Landis, written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller, deriving inspiration from their actual college experiences, particularly from Dartmouth. The only thing approaching a film long plot line is Stephen Furst as Flounder, a Freshman trying to find his way in the flat. (Nerd alert: He was Vir on Babylon 5). So, I think it's better if I just do the highlights.
Obviously, TOGA! Our heroes faced with insurmountable odds throw a party that will help nothing, doing one of my favorite bits with Otis Day and the Knights. Seriously, I do enjoy this for no reason. I even get excited when they play it at the Spurs game, but of course they usually do that when we're up by ten...
It also leads to this bit, where some of the guys after a foray to a women's college take their dates to a nightclub because Otis Day and the Knights are playing. They discover to their surprise and chagrin that the people are all black. Being white Ivy League boys, they are terrified.
Of course, this scene is when they're on trial and Otter, played slickly and brilliantly by Tim Matheson, gives possibly the greatest defense ever conceived.
One of the greatest parts of this movie is John Belushi, I love the way he goes through the film with so little dialogue, but when he speaks it's worth listening to such as this speech he gives when it appears all hope has been lost for Delta House.
He along with Bruce McGill (San Antonio native, also University of Texas alum) as Daniel Simpson Day have the greatest, dialogue light parts in this film.
About the ending of this film, after the hilarious and brilliantly executed homecoming parade, it concludes with telling us what happened to each of the characters. Now craft tip, if you do this in fiction, it sucks everywhere but the ending of this movie. Filmmakers need to stop ending movies not based on a true story with title cards telling us what happened to the characters! You are either finished with the movie or you're not! Also, stop ending movies where I obviously know what happened the same way as in, "George Washington went on to lead the Continental Army and was later elected the First President of the United States." That's not an actual example, I just can't remember an actual one right now. The only possible exception is when it is funny like this movie.
By the way, John Landis babysat Donald Sutherland's son. That's right, Kiefer. Imagine being able to walk around saying, "I babysat Jack Bauer." I would have a bumper sticker that says that.
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