MUBI

(Originally written June 4, 2006)

This movie is often referred to as one of the funniest films of all time. It has achieved cult status, a favorite among many. However, it’s difficult to look at this for what it is as a film since it has been so influential in our pop culture and the way writers and directors make comedies. Watching the film today, viewers such as myself cannot imagine how fresh and original this film was upon initial release. Its material that has become common for even the dumbest of modern comedies, and the brilliance of this film has yet to be revealed to myself. This is a fun movie with its hilarious moments including John Belushi’s first appearance in the film and Belushi’s speech to the Delta house about the Germans bombing Pearl Harbor. In fact, the only reason why this movie is still valuable today is because of John Belushi’s performance. The crying shame is that he does not have enough time in this film. While W.C. Fields is repulsively drunk, the character of Bluto is a loveable drunk, a student attempting to enjoy his seven years of college. Belushi lights up the screen every time he appears whether he’s guzzling bear or pissing on someone’s shoe. Donald Sutherland’s brief appearances in the film as a hippie professor are also very entertaining. However, this is a party movie, and perhaps there’s a truth to its depiction of college partying that does not come across for a younger viewer such as myself. Many of the best comedies are creative, playing with cinema as an art form to deliver the jokes. Consider the way in which Mel Brooks imitated the styles of classic films in his spoofs or how This is Spinal Tap used the “documentary” format. Much of Animal House’s reputation comes about by the depravity of the situations rather than the artistry of the film. Regardless of the classic moments, this film is inconsistent and does not hold up well today.