A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018) User Reviews

Shirley doesn't live here anymore

[begob · 8/10 · 28 January 2018]

A driven joker pushes his way through Harvard and on to comedy stardom, but the fun begins to get manic ...

Clever story telling that takes a while to get the right mood, but once it hits the American Hustle-style montage pace with the '70s period look it just rolls along. Plenty of decent laughs, but with good introspection by the lead actor. I didn't know much about this guy, and his stuff was just before my time, but I found the story really engaging, and of course there's the satisfaction of spotting a host of comedy stars at the start of their screen careers. Biggest laugh was Chevy Chase trying to pour a drink at the parents' new mansion.

The meta narrative is amusing, with a pointed reference to the source of the movie's title, but it also pulls a clever trick in setting up a shock ending for anyone who doesn't know this man's life. Only complaint is that there's no killer line. Maybe: "All you had to say was don't call me Shirley".

The performances are good all round, and the direction, editing and cheerful music keep it bubbling all the way through.

Overall: Nice surprise, big recommend.

Read this review or I'll shoot this movie...

[BandSAboutMovies · 8/10 · 6 February 2018]

Based on A Futile and Stupid Gesture: How Doug Kenney and National Lampoon Changed Comedy Forever, Kenney basically assembled the cast of Saturday Night Live before the show even aired. From John Hughes, Anne Beatts and P.J. O'Rourke to Tony Hendra (Spinal Tap's manager Ian Faith) and Chris Miller (who co-wrote Animal House) on the writing side to Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner (and more) on the performance side, you can see how nearly every comedy in the 1980's had the Lampoon stamp - and stink - all over it.

As for the film, it's pretty much made for comedy geeks who have the hardback of Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead and have watched the documentary that ensured ad nauseam, that have read and re-read every book on SNL, that can breathlessly tell you of the relevance of 1970's comedy. Yes, I am looking at the man in the mirror.

If you knew nothing about Kenney, I'm not sure you'll come out of this film loving him. In my reading of him, I've always seen him as this mysterious force that would write and write and write and then disappear, only to come back and prove himself all over again until he fell into a whirlwind of drugs and depression and faded away from this reality. I've always found myself more drawn to the pure menace and in your face nature of Michael O'Donoghue, who is portrayed in the film by The State's Thomas Lennon. His intro scene, where he goes into a manic rant that sounds life and death and is really only directed to a record club operator is perfect. So if you're looking for a memoir of his greatest hits, this film is for you (indeed, the movie ending food fight has Beatts and O'Donoghue locked in a romantic embrace, making him near heroic).

This is almost a game to spot the comedian and who they are playing, kind of like The Greatest Story Ever Told, but for comedy. That's Will Forte and Martin Mull as Kenney (I hoped against hope that I had been Mandala Effected into a world where Kenney survived, but no dice). Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux!) as Henry Beard. Pittsburgh's own Jon Daly as Bill Murray. John Gemberling (Bevers from Broad City) as Belushi. Ed Helms as a picture perfect Tom Snyder. Natasha Lyonne as Anne Beatts. Even Joel McHale, portraying his old Community castmate Chevy Chase, who comes off as much an enabler as a friend. Tony Hendra is the only person who really gets a hatchet job here, coming off as a joke and girlfriend thief (and his daughter's allegations of sexual abuse make him a troubling figure to enjoy these days). Paul Scheer even shows up as Paul Schaffer! Seriously, this film is just about a laundry list.

I really liked some of David Wain (The State, Wet Hot American Summer) transitions in the film, such as how he uses the Lampoon Foto Funny style to explain Kenney's divorce and then how he decides to escape to Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Kathryn Walker. There's also plenty of explanation for why no one really looks like the people they're playing, an attempted explanation for the Lampoon's lack of minorities and a laundry list of the way the movie plays fast and loose with what really happened ("some other things we changed from real life for pacing, dramatic impact, or just cause we felt like it.").

Obviously, this is a movie basically made for me to enjoy. And I did, but it's difficult for me to recommend it to anyone who doesn't really care about where comedy comes from.

A creative but cliched biopic on a unique man

[Quinoa1984 · 6/10 · 25 June 2018]

It's weird watching this immediately after Drunk Stoned Stupid Dead (Im also reading the Making of Caddyshack, which is basically about the making of National Lampoon) and....

Joel McHale as Chevy is inspired casting. A lot of the casting is - Will Forte and Domnhall Gleeson at the top and their scenes in the first half of the film making up the real heart of the thing (like Social Network but totally wiseass, which is fun).

But that framing device is just pure WTF, and it ends on a note that maybe Kenney would have appreciated if he were alive, but he's not and we are and it feels so... I dunno. It's also strange to be living in 2018 and (as David Erhlich pointed out, im sure he wasnt alone) have a straight-faced take on the "wrong kid died" cliche that was mocked ten years ago in Walk Hard. Sure it did happen here, but Wain's treatment doesnt skirt the cliche, it just is one.

There are enough fun bits here to make it watchable (grading sort of on a Netflix curve), and the actors are all trying their best. And... It's fine. Which is not the kind of praise Kenney would've wanted.

A QUIRKY AND WATCHABLE GESTURE

[markj-02556 · 7/10 · 4 February 2018]

A Futile and Stupid Gesture is about the creation of the National Lampoon brand and its creator Doug Kenney. This film follows Doug through his extraordinary heights and lows of his life in the comedy business.

This film is directed by David Wain (Role Models), Wrote by Michael Colton and John Aboud (Penguins of Madagascar). It stars Will Forte (Nebraska) as Doug Kenney, Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina) and Martin Mull (Clue) as The Narrator. Along with a great line up of stellar comedians.

What I liked about this film was it's direction and in my opinion pitch perfect interpretations of famous actors and directors. I really enjoyed Joel McHale as Chevy Chase and Will Forte as Doug Kenney. Most of the jokes are funny as well especially the ones featuring famous scenes in films and how they came about. My favorite scene would have to be the ending though which for someone who didn't know the story actually had me tearing up a bit.

But some of the jokes do not hit for me, along with a dive in quality in the middle of the film which makes it last forever. means that it certainly isn't comic genius.

However I do like this film and think you should watch it. Its a bit rough around the edges but it means well and for fans of National Lampoon films, this fil is defiantly for you.

7/10

A Very Good Mocumentary

[Eric266 · 7/10 · 11 March 2018]

POILER: I really enjoyed this film. I have watched several of the documentaries concerning Animal House and Caddyshack and Doug Kenney's name comes up quite often amongst the cast and crew. Chevy Chase and he were really close and Chevy still feels some guilt over leaving Hawaii right before Kenney's death. The man was apparently a comic genius who couldn't escape his childhood baggage.

The format is well played with Will Forte as the young Doug and Martin Mull as kind of older, alternate universe Doug, if Kenney had lived, narrating the film. The rest of the cast is well known, playing unknown actors and writers. It took me a second to recognize Natasha Lyonne (American Pie) as Anne Beatts, Thomas Lennon (Reno 911) as Micheal O'Donoghue, and Joel McHale (Community) as Chevy Chase. All of them are covered in 70s hairstyles and McHale does a really good job of mimicking Chase's speech patterns and even his trademark pratfalls.

The film excels in showing how Kenney rose from a malcontent to a Harvard grad to a fledgling magazine editor to movie writer. Forte is especially compelling and funny as Kenney. He doesn't quite have the acting range to pull off the downward spiral of the person, but he does an excellent job with the jokes and the other aspects of Kenney's life. Where the film fails is trying to shoehorn too many characters into its 100 minute run time. There is even a humorous scene of older Kenney (Mull) explaining to a bunch of supporting characters that there wasn't enough screen time for all of them so they get ignored. But the film goes to great pains to cram in other famous people such as Gilda Radner, Christopher Guess (Seth Green), Bill Murray, and John Belushi. The actors playing Murray and Belushi came off as actors lampooning (no pun intended) the famous comedians. Belushi was such a huge personality, I doubt anyone could portray him properly in such a short cameo.

Another special mention goes out to Emmy Rossum. She is a stunning screen presence and even though her appearance is short, as Kenney's last girlfriend, she lights up the screen. She is a gorgeous actress as well.

There is also a fun nod to Animal House with Mark Metcalf (Neidermeyer) portraying a publisher.

The movie moves fast through the various periods of Kenney's life, but I think he would have enjoyed it. He comes off as funny, yet troubled, a brilliant comedian, but an emotionally stinted adult. A Futile and Stupid Gesture is anything but. The only thing I would have added, is maybe some post interviews with the actual people portrayed in the movie who knew Kenney, even if they were archival for some (Belushi and Ramis). Still, this was a well-done film.

Enjoyable movie but a bit one eyed

[denzil-09434 · 7/10 · 28 January 2018]

This is a good movie. It's a story well told but it's certainly one sided. For one thing it ignores the fact that National Lampoon wasn't very funny. It is also a bit of a hatchet job on the parents and P J O'Rourke, whose least credit, as probably the funniest American print writer of the 20th century, is editor of NL.

Worth watching though.

A strong TV feel to it!

[Hellmant · 7/10 · 2 February 2018]

'A FUTILE AND STUPID GESTURE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A comedy biopic about writer Doug Kenney, who was the main contributor to the success of National Lampoon in the 1970s and 80s. The film stars Will Forte as Kenney, and it was directed by David Wain (who also helmed 'WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER', and several episodes of the TV series based on it). It costars Domhnall Gleeson, Martin Mull, Emmy Rossum, Matt Walsh, Joel McHale, and many others (in cameos as famous comedians). The movie was scripted by John Aboud and Michael Colton, and it's based on the book (of the same name) by Josh Karp. The film was released by Netflix through it's streaming site, and it's gotten mixed to positive reviews from critics. I found it to be both educational and funny, but it's also a little too dark and unbalanced.

The film is narrated by Doug Kenney, supposedly in modern day (Mull). He tells his life story, starting when he was in his twenties (Forte); when he and his best friend Henry Beard (Gleeson) decided to create the magazine National Lampoon. It of course became a huge success, and blockbuster movies followed (like 'ANIMAL HOUSE' and 'CADDYSHACK'). Kenney could never be content, or happy, still though.

I knew nothing about Doug Kenney previous to seeing this movie, but I love his work. So I was absolutely fascinated by this film, and I of course found it to be very educational. I also loved seeing all of these other actors portraying other famous actors (like Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and John Belushi). I also just really enjoyed seeing how these classic comedy films, and that famous comedy magazine, came to life. Forte is great in the lead too, and the supporting cast is all more than adequate. The film, as funny and interesting as it often is, is still really dark and depressing though. It left me with mixed feelings about how I really felt about it as a whole. It's also got a strong TV feel to it, which kind of cheapens what should have been a theatrical film feel (the story deserved a theatrical presentation at least).

Funny

[hettihutley · 7/10 · 26 January 2018]

Somewhat crass but obviously a fair reflection of how it actually was when he was creating the National Lampoom/ Animal House. Will Forte plays a good Doug Kennedy but I wish his character was a little less flat, only brushing over the past that has apparently made him into the somewhat terrible person he is. Definitely an entertaining watch though.

Wonderful film

[haring-hudson · 10/10 · 26 January 2018]

David Wain tells a true story in a creative way, creating the kind of the film his subject would have written, although a little sadder. Every actor does a superb job, Will Forte hits the perfect melancholic note. Dom Gleeson as usual is excellent. This is a wonderful tribute to Doug.

A beautiful movie with a perfect ending.

[patricolomatteo · 7/10 · 26 November 2020]

Beautiful. Again cinema is surprising me with a beautiful story, and one of the most uplifting endings I have ever seen. I recommend this!

Netflix's' Best In a Looong While

[bigbadbassface · 10/10 · 28 January 2018]

Rarely do movies make me laugh out loud anymore. This movie not only made me do it repeatedly, but had me laughing hours later remembering some of the bits. Extremely clever, well told story of a brilliantly hilarious guy who I, and I would guess most of my generation (I'm 31), am not familiar with. This was truly a 10/10 and I hope Netflix makes more like it down the road.

Cliché but solid acting all around

[devilsmaiden · 7/10 · 3 August 2020]

National Lampoon has a special place in my heart as its responsible for most of my sense of humor and to see a biopic about the legendary Doug Kenney got me intrigued and excited. Will forte did a superb job as Kenney but the story was lackluster. Although creative and something I believe Kenney would do its bland plot lines and lack of climax made it drag a bit, but the acting of all supporting cast that included Joel McHale as Chevy Chase and Domhall Gleeson as Henry Beard did fantastic jobs

A messy biopic

[eddie_baggins · 4/10 · 27 June 2018]

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

A funny biography

[Gordon-11 · 29 December 2018]

This is a biography of a iconic funny man.

The story maintains its light hearted atmosphere throughout the film. It is vibrant, youthful and colourful. It makes a good evening watch.

Entertaining story and movie - but I'm confused!

[mikez-96255 · 7/10 · 7 February 2018]

Not sure why the movie pretends Doug Kenney is alive (Martin Mull plays him at the beginning) and why some people are saying Alex Garcia-Mata is a fictional character. Not really a spoiler but if Doug died in 1980 why does the movie pretend he's alive at the beginning? And as far as Alex is concerned, I'm no expert but a quick Google search shows she did exist and there's a NY Times article announcing their engagement in 1970 (http://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/17/archives/miss-garciamata-is-engaged-to-douglas-kenney-an-editor.html).

Anyway....It is entertaining, which is what movies should be and I enjoyed watching it. I'll leave the rest to others to hash out!

Good movie

[nicorip22 · 6/10 · 24 November 2020]

Good movie about the story of a person who made history in comedy. Very good performance by Will Forte.

If You Enjoyed "Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead"

[BoomerDT · 7/10 · 25 June 2018]

You will probably like this somewhat abstract bio of Doug Kenney, one of the founders, original writer and editor of the hilarious satirical magazine "National Lampoon." NL had a great run in the 70's, an era of terrific and edgy satirical humor. The 'Poon would spawn an entire generation of comedy that still continues, unfortunately it hasn't been done as well as most current so-called counter culture comedy primarily serves as a propaganda wing to promote a left wing agenda, while Kenney and the NL were truly equal opportunity satirists...they went after everyone.

Kenney is best known for writing "Animal House" and "Caddyshack" two exceptionally creative and funny movies of the late 70's. It made him very wealthy but apparently it didn't buy happiness. It's a mostly lighthearted bio, amusing but not loaded loaded with gut busting lines and gags like the films he scripted-although they do try too hard with some scenes that are obviously preposterous BS. If you have no interest in the era or the subject matter you will probably wonder why a bio was made of such a self-indulgent and pretentiousness narcissist.

ok

[Jithindurden · 6/10 · 25 February 2018]

Going into this I had no idea who Doug Kenny was or about any of his films other than I have heard those in some comedy film lists. So the twist kind of work but like the rest of the film, it was kind of stupid and crazy but ok too. The impression I got from this film is that anything National Lampoon is just flukes and disasters.

guess waht

[misomilenaz · 7/10 · 26 January 2018]

Drugs are bad,especially when suffering from depression. explained netflix way

Well made biography worth to be told.

[deloudelouvain · 8/10 · 15 April 2020]

After looking up Douglas Kenney (quote: Though almost completely unknown, this man was one of the originators of a highly popular and groundbreaking new form of comedy and satire) and reading his full biography I admit I never heard of him before, even though I watched Animal House and Caddyshack, like everybody else probably. It's an interesting story to watch, a bit sad but told in a funny way, probably just like he would have wanted it. It's just too bad there wasn't a small part for the real comedians from those movies, that would have been a nice addition. But watching Will Forte is always funny. Since the series The Last Man On Earth I'm a big fan of him. The cast was just very good for this movie, mostly comedians better known from comedy series, but none of them has to prove anything anymore as they are all funny. The movie is well shot, never a dull moment, and it's a story that is worth to be told. National Lampoon is a name everybody knows or has heard of, and this movie is a nice hommage to one of the co-founders, maybe a bit excentric, certainly not a fully happy man, but with a fascinating life.

Great subject, but doing it for Netflix castrates it's full potential

[ConditionsOfUse · 7/10 · 26 December 2021]

As someone who didn't grow up in the 70s and am not America, all I know of National Lampoon was the Vacation movies and every time I tried to understand if there's any chronology or some sort of link between the movie, I got lost.

So one of the best things about this movie for me, was to understand the history of National Lampoon.

Obviously some persons and events were left out, but like they say in the movie, they needed to squeeze it in order to tell a story.

Another great thing is the casting. Either it was spot on like Forte performance or looked alike like Rick Glassman as Harold Ramis.

I think that this movie deserved more time to develop it's character, because they feeling is sort of there but it feels like much more things happened of screen than on screen.

So when some key characters split from Doug, it doesn't hurt as much as it should.

One critic said, that David Wain the director and John Aboud Michael Colton the writer, covered more ground that they intended.

It's starts as a biopic and then turns into a periodical piece about the National Lampoon and we are not really really with Doug and not completely with the Lampoon's events.

IMO, the fact this movie was created within Netflix, held it from going through a more cinematic treatment that would have brought the movie into a higher level in terms of story.

Netflix rarely do good movies, it's just a very wet funded Hallmark production that lacks a strong dramatic engine in 99% of it's productions and this is a great examples.

Nonetheless, Doug Kenney characters is fascinating and understanding the importance of the National Lampoon, help to reclaims it's place in shaping comedy for the past 50 years.

Definitely worth to watch.

[ardaacuner · 10/10 · 29 January 2018]

Brilliantly written. Perfectly orchestrated. Wonderfully acted. A great tribute to Douglas Kenney.

Life Stories Better Than Fiction

[rdg45 · 6/10 · 19 May 2018]

Not all creative people have problems, but it seems that they all get caught up at some time or another, with problems due to too much time and money. An interesting story in the life of one of the founders of National Lampoon Magazine.

One founder was wiped from history

[F_Gump · 3/10 · 28 January 2018]

Three classmates and Harvard Lampoon veterans founded The National Lampoon: Robert Hoffmann, Henry Beard & Doug Kenney. Did Hoffmann's widow threaten to sue the filmmakers? If your story is the founding of The National Lampoon how can you pretend one of the three founders never existed?

When MAD was fad, Kenney was rad

[bettycjung · 30 January 2018]

1/29/18. An entertaining biopic about Doug Kenney, the "brain" behind National Lampoon during the era that made MAD - What me worry?" humor a national pastime among the Baby Boomers. Yes, Kenney's humor is what that generation found to be irreverent enough to support the pop culture of the day. If you love SNL, then relive the early days of that TV show.