Animal House

Plot synopsis:
In 1962, college freshmen Lawrence "Larry" Kroger (Tom Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst) seek to join a fraternity at Faber College. They visit the prestigious Omega Theta Pi House's invitational party, but are not welcomed there. They then try next door at Delta Tau Chi House, where Kent's brother was once a member, making Kent a "legacy." There they find John "Bluto" Blutarsky (John Belushi) urinating outside the fraternity house. The Deltas "need the dues" so they permit Larry and Kent to pledge. They receive the fraternity names "Pinto" (Larry) and "Flounder" (Kent).Vernon Wormer (John Vernon), dean of Faber College, wants to remove the Delta fraternity from campus due to repeated conduct violations and low academic standing. Since they are already on probation, he puts the Deltas on something he calls "double secret probation" and orders the clean-cut, smug Omega president Greg Marmalard (James Daughton) to find a way to get rid of the Deltas permanently.Flounder is bullied by Omega member and ROTC cadet commander Doug Neidermeyer (Mark Metcalf), so Bluto and Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day (Bruce McGill) persuade Flounder to sneak Neidermeyer's horse into Dean Wormer's office late at night. They give him a gun and tell him to shoot it. Unbeknownst to Flounder, the gun is loaded with blanks. Unable to bring himself to kill the horse, he fires into the ceiling. The noise frightens the horse so much that it dies of a heart attack.In the cafeteria the next day, smooth-talking Eric "Otter" Stratton (Tim Matheson) tries to convince the stuck-up Mandy Pepperidge (Mary Louise Weller) to abandon her boyfriend, the uninteresting Marmalard, and date him instead. Bluto proceeds to provoke Marmalard with his impression of a popping zit by stuffing his mouth with a scoop of mashed potatoes and propelling it at Marmalard and table mates, Chip Diller (Kevin Bacon) and Barbara "Babs" Jansen (Martha Smith). Bluto then starts a food fight that engulfs the cafeteria.Bluto and D-Day steal the answers to an upcoming psychology test, but it turns out the Omegas planted the exam stencil and the Deltas get every answer wrong. Their grade-point averages drop so low that Wormer needs only one more incident to revoke the charter that allows them to remain on campus.To cheer themselves up, the Deltas organize a toga party, during which Otis Day and the Knights perform "Shout". The dean's alcoholic, lecherous wife, Marion (Verna Bloom), attends the party at Otter's invitation and has sex with him. Pinto hooks up with Clorette (Sarah Holcomb), a girl he met at the supermarket, and makes out with her only to learn she is the mayor's 13-year-old daughter. He later takes her home in a shopping cart. Due to the party, Wormer organizes a kangaroo court with the Omegas and revokes Delta's charter and all belongings are confiscated.To take their minds off their troubles, Otter, Donald "Boon" Schoenstein (Peter Riegert), Flounder and Pinto go on a road trip. Otter picks up some girls from Emily Dickinson College by pretending to be the fiancé of Fawn Liebowitz, a girl who recently died on campus. They stop at a roadhouse because Otis Day and the Knights are performing there, not realizing that it caters to an exclusively black clientele. The hulking patrons intimidate the guys and they flee, damaging Flounder's borrowed car and leaving their frightened dates behind.Boon breaks up with his girlfriend Katy (Karen Allen) after discovering her sexual relationship with a professor (Donald Sutherland). Marmalard is told that his girlfriend is having an affair with Otter, so he and other Omegas lure him to a motel and beat him up. The Deltas' midterm grades are so poor that an ecstatic Wormer expels them all. He even notifies their draft boards of their eligibility. In the process, before Bluto attempts to speak to the dean, Wormer orders Flounder to speak with the words, "Well? Out with it!", whereupon Flounder vomits on the dean.It seems time for the Deltas to give up, but Bluto, supported by the injured Otter, rouses them with an impassioned, historically inaccurate speech ("Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!") and they decide to take revenge on Wormer and the Omegas. The Deltas construct a rogue parade float with Flounder's car as its base and wreak havoc on the annual homecoming parade. During the ensuing chaos, the futures of many of the main characters are revealed. The last shot of the film is of Bluto driving away in a white convertible with his soon-to-be wife, Mandy Pepperidge.

Tags: comedy, cult, satire, revenge, entertaining, prank

Review:
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.
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.
I saw this picture for the first time when it was released to theaters and laughed my buns off; it still holds up today, almost 30 years later.Every actor in the show gives a bravura performance, with stand-out debuts by the likes of Thomas Hulce, Tim Matheson, Karen Allen, Bruce Davidson, and others.
A simple story of college life for a bunch of delinquents who seek solace with a an endless supply of beer, toga parties and loads of young girls.It doesn't matter that the Delta House (the home of said delinquents), continually fail to pass their exams, for them sex & booze is all what life is about.The movie is a perfect vehicle for Saturday Night Live star, John Belushi, who is allowed to show off his considerable talent as the biggest sicko of the Delta bunch - check out his impression of a Zit!!But he is well supported by Tom Hulce, and surprisingly Donald Sutherland as the hippy professor with wayout theories.
Able actor, John Vernon, plays the Principle of the college and often the butt of the Delta House: finding a horse in his office is a classic piece of farce!All in all, the film hangs together very well with a good script and superb visual jokes.
It is the gross-out boys-only flick that launched a new wave of rude-n'-crude teen comedies, as well as immortalizing John Belushi as one of America's most beloved comedic icons.It's the 1960s and the Delta fraternity is in trouble with the Faber College's Dean Wormer (John Vernon) yet again.
The writers  Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller  create a plethora of strong characters, which helps define and separate "Animal House" from many of its imitators (and indeed compares it to the equally-enjoyable "American Pie" series, which  like the "Animal" before it  took the time to study and care for its characters, rather than completely exploit them for "humor"  it's always harder to laugh at characters we don't care about, and much easier to laugh at those of whom we do).Director John Landis (who would re-team with Belushi again in 1980 with "The Blues Brothers") not only understands his cast (mainly Belushi) but also his audience and paves a way for sibling genre entries through his realistic slapstick approach (this is not crazy in the same way as Airplane, Naked Gun or Police Academy is  in fact it's far more rooted in realism and only a few sequences really get out of hand and turn into classic dumb slapstick).John Belushi as the alcoholic Bluto Blutarsky (on getting kicked out of college: "Seven years down the drain!
I might as well join the Peace Corps!") remains the scene-stealer to this day, yet despite the film's close links with Belushi in general he is just a co-star, and when on-screen rarely speaks (a fact played to the film's comedic advantage  when Bluto gives his final rousing speech, it seems to mean something, even ifwellit doesn't.) Belushi demanded the largest paycheck of all the actors  including Donald Sutherland  but is hardly the "star" of "Animal House." Had he been, it may very well not have been as successful as it turned out to be  not because Bluto is annoying, but because introducing him in smaller portions  rather than focusing on him alone  constructs a fall-back mechanism of sorts; when the comedy is lagging too much, they bring in Bluto for support.Bluto thrives on fun and partying  when he learns of a possible toga party, he begins a chant.
"Animal House" doesn't only have its fair share of funny material and iconic screen moments, but is also incredibly entertaining, rowdy and cool  the quintessential college film and certainly the sort of comedy any self-respecting bachelor would make sure he views at least two hundred times a year.
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.
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.
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 castKaren Allen #droolFeel good charmThe Bad:Simply not THAT funnyWeirdly could have used a bit of extra timeThings I Learnt From This Movie:Knowledge is goodReal ladies use rubber glovesWomen commonly stand in front of windows in a state of undressGod delivers Playboy bunnies on demand.............now I get the appealRape jokes are funny when they're about men.
This has got to be the most-OVERRATED comedies of all time,I have no idea why everyone haved been raving about this silly SO-CALLED CULT-CLASSIC,sure that's what i expect from a movie like this and i do enjoy the genre,but the cookie-cutter script just frankly lacks BREAK-AWAY humor and the humor is too dull for my taste,I'll go with PORKYS, BLUES BROTHERS or AIRPLANE!
The posh kids wouldn't have them, and the losers couldn't care less, so the join Delta House, who are already on "double secret probation" (what the hell is that – how are you supposed to know you are in trouble if you aren't told about it?) After various illegal activities, underage drinking, underage sex, hints at date rape (we believe his conscience got the better of him) horse murder, in addition to academic issues, such as NOT GOING TO ANY CLASSES or having grade point averages of less than zero, they seem somewhat surprised and shocked when they are expelled.I did identify a few attempts at humor in the process:  The inability to open a bra strap has now become such a cliché – and I know it wasn't a new joke when this film used it – that it is purely not funny.
The closest thing for me to an actual comedy moment, was when the house was being emptied and a cow was led down the front steps.In protest at their expulsion, our (anti?)heroes decide to get their revenge, ruining the homecoming parade, an event that the good people of the town were very much enjoying, they assault, molest and pretty much attempted murder their way to notoriety, finishing off with driving their "death wagon" or some such into the platform holding the Dean and his wife.
Animal House is beautifully filmed, has a good soundtrack and John Landis does a great job directing, while the sight gags are smart and the script has enough hilarious one-liners to keep you chuckling.
The acting is very good, while Kevin Bacon, Tom Hulce, Peter Reigert and Donald Sutherland give great performances, it is John Belushi's film all the way as he gives one of his best ever performances in this film.
Got it?This has it all: getting drunk every night is the goal; vandalizing is fun; being totally obnoxious and a slob is the only way to act and be cool; make fun of any kind of authority, especially anyone connected to the (ugh) military; make fun of anyone who is religious and party til you puke!!!This is what life is all about and who better to show this than John Belushi....the ultimate party slob (until he overdosed on drugs and killed himself but, hey, at least he wasn't a phony actor just playing a role).Animal House - ah, the benefits of higher education!.
A much talked-about movie, not just because of the stars like John Belushi, but also because of the insanity and taboos broken (lecturers smoking pot, promiscuous sex et al), Animal House is easily one of the best wild comedies ever made.Merely watching the movie makes one relish for days of skipping classes and wreaking havoc everywhere.
Not a word is said, it only takes seconds on screen, by a nameless actor, yet it is one of the funniest bits ever filmed.If nothing else, how many other comedies 30+ years old are still watched repeatedly by millions of people.I will echo another's comment: You need to see this on a DVD or VHS, not on TV, where half the humor is bleeped or cut..
The late, great John Belushi is absolutely outstanding, Donald Sutherland makes an appearance, and Kevin Bacon's "Thank you sir may I have another?" line is an instant classic.
Animal House set the standard for college/drinking/women chasing/bad behavior movies of the last 20 years.
With an Oscar worthy preformance by John Belushi it is a movie that continues to be interesting and simply hilarious every time you watch it.
slobs movie, every pitiful 'slacker' comedy ever made in the past owes a great debt to 'Animal House'.
My favorite comedy and one of the all-time greats.Perhaps more memorable one-liners than any other movie.My fave lines were by Dean Wormer concerning "double secret probation" and his verbal chastisement of John "Bluto" Blutarski....
Animal House(1978) was done during a excellent time in movie making for John Landis in which he came up with films like Kentucky Fried Movie(1977), The Blues Brothers(1980), An American Werewolf in London(1981), and Into the Night(1985).
One such line to look for...it's toward the end of the movie and Bluto(played in such an incredible manner by the late great John Belushi) stands up to rally the Delta's.
The Delta House, led by Otter, Boone, D-Day, and Bluto, show the pledge class of 1962 that "fat, drunk, and stupid," is the way to live it up during you college years.
He directs this movie with such energy and comic zest that it is no wonder he went on to make other great movies like "The Blues Brothers.""Animal House" is a better movie than people may have first realized.
Jon Landis' "Animal House" is one of the best-directed comedies in American film history -- and one of the funniest.
It's in my tope ten favorite comedies.The genius of "Animal House" is that it intended to a b-movie type of film.
It's amusing to see then unknown Kevin Bacon so young; Peter Riegert and Karen Allen make a very appealing couple (but their dramatic back story is dull); John Vernon is excellent, and very funny, as Dean Wormer; Tim Matheson is also very good--he nicely underplays his role (and flashes his butt briefly); this made John Belushi a star (he IS funny--sometimes); there's great direction by John Landis (especially during the "Shout" number); there's a bombastic Elmer Bernstein score that helps and seeing Tom Hulce and Stephen Furst so young is incredible.BUT that doesn't excuse the lousy script; horrible jokes; the sexism; the racism; Donald Sutherland's pointless and lousy performance and the fact that this film is DULL!!!!!!I'm giving it a 4...and I'm BEING generous!.
After hearing all the hype about the "classic" comedy Animal House I figured it was time to watch this movie and see for myself.
Belushi's John "Bluto" Blutarsky is in a class all by himself, Eric "Otter" Stratton (Tim Matheson) is a new kind of pervert, Donald "Boone" Schoenstein (Peter Riegert) toes too many lines for his own good, Larry "Pinto" Kroger (Tom Hulce) tries but fails to play it straight, and Kent "Flounder" Dorfman (Stephen Furst) is a dork.Then, there's the vicious Omega house.
What was considered distasteful, grotesque or disturbing but funny back in those days now seems very cheesy and distinctly unfunny as the comedies of today have raised the bar far beyond Animal House.The problem with this movie is that every scene is either not acted enough or far over-acted by John Belushi.
Admittedly, though that may of helped me find some scenes funny, the acting in this film made lines that should of worked not work and the movie almost screams for a laugh track as it would be appropriate, given the wooden dialogue and sitcom-like over-acting and premises.Time has moved on and good comedies of today are in a far superior league not just because of the acting shown but because they either choose to embrace the cheesiness or wackiness of their story and do things that people in the 70's wouldn't imagine seeing at M and R16 comedies, which Animal House tries to do but fails as the wacky, disturbing stuff was done far more tastefully.Other comedies focus on realism and are funny because you can imagine yourself in a situation not too far away from the one the characters find themselves in and the jokes they make are a lot like the ones you and your friends make.In short, Animal House may have been revolutionary in the 70's but an audience watching it today would expect far more from a movie so highly acclaimed.
Animal House is one of those movies that makes everyone give you a funny look if you haven't seen it.
All right, after about 25 years, I decided to once again watch National Lampoon's Animal House which was the movie that made SNL star John Belushi a bona fide film star.
After sitting through about 1/3 of Animal House (a movie about a college dean trying to expel the trouble-making Delta Tau Chi Fraternity), I switched it off.
1st watched 6/10/2001 - 3 out of 10 (Dir-John Landis): Mostly unfunny supposed classic comedy that really only has a couple of scenes that are actually funny.
Such an easy watch and a must see film for those, who like myself, are big fans of teen movies set within a college backdrop.
Although Tim Matheson, Peter Reigert, Thomas Hulce and all the other more main characters are all funny in their own way and all give good performances this film would have been nothing without John Belushi.
Animal House sort of brought on that kind of comedy, but did it better than almost all of them, even the nude scenes are funny, not just there to bring guys in.
I saw this the year after I saw each episode of Delta House and I was just as Impressed with this even after seeing the TV Series of which was based on this film.Check my review on that site too.Otis Day and The Nights along with John Belushi as Bluto and Stephen Furst as Flounder and all of the rest of the cast of the fraternity and Needermyer really make the movie as they do when they reprise their roles the following year in Delta House.Bluto's Famous"Food Fight!" quote and The Frat Boys having the time of their lives whether up against the administration or the soldiers including when they have the Toga Party right up to messing up the Parade and the films end with the Animal house lyrics along with the "Do the Bluto lyrics." You'll go astray as how I did even the first time of which I saw this movie late on a Sunday night on HBO.But I most especially like how the Playboy Bunny flew into the window of the boy who was looking at his Playboy Magazine & said "Thank You God!" and even though my big brother J.Kevin blew it before I'd heard it it was still funny.
The first time i've seen animal house i could'nt stop laughing.its raunchy and wild.the late john Belushi steals the show as blutarski.
it depicts college and frat house's in 1963.john Vernon as the mean spirited dean wormer adds to the mayhem.this by the way was Kevin Bacon's first film,after that he went to star in;Friday the 13th.
John Belushi can just make you die of laughter, because he is so funny."Animal House" is your basic comedy that works very well.
(the movie, not the watered-down TV show), 'Saturday Night Live', and THE KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE, mix in the youthful, anarchistic humor of writers Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, and Chris Miller, add the energy of director John Landis and an inspired cast, and top it all off with liberal quantities of John Belushi, and you have the recipe of the ULTIMATE college comedy, ANIMAL HOUSE.
For a movie without a message, this one is actually one of the funniest comedies of all time, and, true to form, Belushi steals every scene with his screwball humor.
I'm not comparing John Landis to George Lucas or Hitchcock, but the man has always gone his own way, and together with the funny and talented scriptwriter Harold Ramis, he delivers one of the top ten best comedies ever which shouldn't be missed by no one.Animal house also contains a wonderful soundtrack and some great first time actors; Tim Matheson, Karen Allen, Kevin Bacon, Bruce McGuill, and the talented John Belushi (may he rest in peace) as Bluto.
In 1978, there were only a few things a movie needed to be really funny...sex, beer, drugs, and John Belushi.