Overrated - National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) Discussion

[–] SilentJay76 17 years ago

The first time I watched it, I didn't think too much of it, either. But watching it again the other day, I thought it was great. Might be a case of false expectations the first time around. If you expect a 'Dumb and Dumber', laugh out loud non-stop kinda movie, you're gonna be disappointed.

I made the same discovery with 'Dazed and Confused'. I didn't like it much at all at first. But for some reason I absolutely loved it the 2nd time around, and now it's my favourite movie, having watched it about 80 times!

There's usually a good reason why cult movies are cult movies. And sometimes it's worth watching something again after a while, if you couldn't get into it the first time...

"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

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[–] Wuchakk 8 years ago

sometimes it's worth watching something again after a while, if you couldn't get into it the first time

Very true.

My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

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[–] rwsmith29456 17 years ago

Sorry, but you missed out on a really good time!

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[–] rsblaker 17 years ago

I think that most people who do like the movie just dont find it laugh out loud funny anymore because we have all seen it so many times over the last 30 years. When it first came out it WAS laugh out loud funny. Now its just that we've seen it so many times. I personally rank it in my all time top 10. It is also a case of new generation vs old generation I guess.

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

ANIMAL HOUSE (1978) was very funny when it first came out. So was YOUNG FRANKESTEIN (1974) and BLAZING SADDLES (1974) when they first came out. They still have humorous parts today. It just that we have changed and also the People today seeing them for the first time are viewing them with different experiences and perspectives or lack of. We used to think the THREE STOOGES were the final word in screen comedy, of course we were a Child of six (6) when we first saw them. Now they are barely watchable and only the ones made in the 1930s. ABBOTT & COSTELLO, the early service comedies and A&C MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) are enjoyable almost Classic, but the rest, wake us when they are over. Comedy films that emphasize broad or physical humor just do not seem to have the staying power for Classic Comedy. What CHARLES CHAPLIN (1889-1977) does in a film is enduring what JOHN BELUSHI (1949-1982) does is just gross.

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[–] sgtslahter 16 years ago

"what JOHN BELUSHI (1949-1982) does is just gross."

OK Babs.

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

The complete comment was..."What CHARLES CHAPLIN (1889-1977) does in a film is enduring what JOHN BELUSHI (1949-1982) does is just gross."

Now do not understand what your position is because who is "Babs" and how is your post to be interpeted? It is a void without meaning. More detail is required to articulate a appropriate response.

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[–] joe_538 11 years ago

It's a reference, take off the high hat.

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[–] xerses13 11 years ago

joe_538: Now 'High Hat', most people would not get your reference at all. Unless they were born after the turn of the LAST century (20th). Well at least you did not throw a tantrum.

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[–] joe_538 11 years ago

There's a difference between a movie reference and an established expression (not a reference). I know which century was the last century, it's just about impossible to find a person who wasn't born AFTER the turn of it. Do you have a fetish for pretentiousness and putting numbers in parentheses? Is there some reason you want to remind everyone of the year the movie came out and when Chaplin and Belushi were born and died?

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[–] Thor777 16 years ago

"What CHARLES CHAPLIN (1889-1977) does in a film is enduring what JOHN BELUSHI (1949-1982) does is just gross." Chaplin was great. Groucho was great. Belushi had the same trait that made these two titans great. They could make you laugh with just a look. John Belushi could make you laugh out loud by simply lifting one eyebrow. You have to admit that Belushi had an incredibly expressive face and equally impressive body motions. In AH, he used this gift to wonderful effect with the guitar playing folk-singer on the stairs, when he bounced up the stairs as look-out for the horse scene, smashing the Jack bottle against his head. Need I go on. Not to mention his SNL work like the Samuari or his spot on Joe Cocker. The man was a genius. Bluuto was supposed to be gross. I'd say Belushi nailed it. As for the movie being over-rated, I disagree, but I was 18 when it came out.

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

Thor777; I saw ANIMAL HOUSE (1978) when we were twenty-seven (27) and thought highly of it then. It still has 'some' funny moments today, but things change in retrospect (consult previous entries). As for JOHN BELUSHI he does not have a sufficient body of work to be compared with CHAPLIN, KEATON or LLYOD. Greats of the 'Silent Era'. Nor GOUCHO MARX, JACK BENNY or W. C. FIELDS during the 'Golden Age' of film. BELUSHI was a fine physical comic, so were the THREE STOOGES and that type of comedy has its place. Just not with me anymore, nor is it very enduring. As for his work on SNL, well it was a OK show, we preferred SCTV. It did not depend upon pratfalls.

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[–] csweetleaf2 16 years ago

I thought it was a really good movie but I don't really consider it being a comedy classic like many people do, I personally prefer Blues Brothers over Animal House (Blues Brothers is my favorite John Belushi movie), overall I consider Animal House to be slightly overrated.

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[–] DasheriM 16 years ago

I think its overrated too. I gave this 6. Porky's much better...

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[–] lakenstein 16 years ago

man i can't believe people are dissin' Stir Crazy, that was hilarious.

as for the original poster, i actaully agree, I don't remember laughing at this movie, more like being bored as hell.

My life couldn't fill up a haiku, much less a book!

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[–] drjay77 16 years ago

When I saw this for the first time, I think I was 12 and thought it was the funniest thing ever. Even as a teenager I liked it. I rewatched it a couple years ago (I am now 30) and found it had lost a little bit of its luster. Still a good movie and funny, but not the funniest movie ever.

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[–] mase44 16 years ago

It's not overrated if you're watching it in 1978. Anytime after that, maybe it is. In fact, Anytime after 1978 it is double secret overrated.

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[–] tenthirtyone 16 years ago

To each person who complains AH is overrated:

Did you watch it uncut, or butchered for television?

And, were any of you actually in a college fraternity?

... I didn't think so.

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

Yes, saw it upon original release at the theater.
Yes, on College.

We Do Think So.

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[–] ILoveWinona-1 16 years ago

For the distractors of "Animal House" I'm laying myself wide open for sick remarks, in stating that I've watched the movie over sixty times in the last thirty years. The movie is a comedy classic, but I can understand how some people might dislike the movie. ----- ----- Rusty

"On screen Winona stands out like a polar bear on black velvet" Timothy Leary about his Goddaughter

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

ILoveWinona-1; If you like it that is all that matters. What I and others think does not. We have just outgrown it. It is still fun for an occasional viewing with Friends. It does have some nostalgic value for us. I have probably watched THE GIANT GILA MONSTER (1959) and THE KILLER SHEWS (1959) sixty (60) times, they are still crap but have similar nostalgic value, for me.

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[–] ILoveWinona-1 16 years ago

Yes xerses we all have our personal favorites when it comes to movies. ----- Did you mean to say "The Killer Shrews" ----- I just saw it on the Turner Classic movie channel a couple of weeks ago. ----- It was so corny but very fun to watch at the same time. ----- ----- Rusty

"On screen Winona stands out like a polar bear on black velvet" Timothy Leary about his Goddaughter

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

ILoveWinona-1; Yes SHREWS not SHOWS, just proves that you need to do more then use spell check, like proofread. We all have personal favorites, which sometimes we inflict on others including Friends. I used to threaten to bring out THE MYSTERIANS (1957) anytime one (1) friend wanted to push a endless stream of JOHN WAYNE films on me and not even his best. Those LONE STAR productions!

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[–] ILoveWinona-1 16 years ago

I love the part of "The Killer Shrews" where James Best cuts eyeholes out of the oil cans so they can escape from the killer shrews and not be bitten by the creatures!!!! ----- ----- Rusty

"On screen Winona stands out like a polar bear on black velvet" Timothy Leary about his Goddaughter

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

ILoveWinona-1; Good thing they had that cutting equipment. Think we will watch all 'cheap horrors' this weekend. That should take at least three (3) bottles to get through.

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[–] lostsouldier 16 years ago

I mean this in the nicest of ways when i say the way you type pisses me off to no end and id'e love to slap "you all" in the face with a raw catfish.(2008)

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[–] xerses13 16 years ago

lostsouldier; Now if you have concluded your temper tantrum and have composed yourself, do you have a comment on the film ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)?

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[–] tank22 16 years ago

I personally have seen it on numerous different occasions and every time i think it's funny. It's a classic, because it started it's own real genre, that is the Frat comedy. All comedies, at least i think, really draw from this movie. Old School, in particular. Plus, as someone else wrote, the way kids 30 years after it came out can still relate to this movie, i being one of them, really show's this movie has stood the testament of it's time

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] cvideo-1 16 years ago

A lot of people forget the AH started it all.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] lyndsey_anderson-1 16 years ago

Sense of humour is subjective. if someone doesn't find it funny there is no way you can change their mind especially by insults.
Personally i think it has stood the test of time quite well, not only that but it has been a huge influence on film comedies.
I find it amusing that people are meantioning films on this thread that they think are funnier than Animal House, that wouldn't have been made had it not been for Animal House.

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[–] hodie 11 years ago

Great point,lyndsey_anderson_1. Animal House was the first big gross-out, adolescent-male-oriented comedy I can think of.
And I agree about the test of time. In another 35 years, a lot of more current comedies will be forgotten, even the popular ones. But Animal House still airs regularly (watching it again on cable now.)

"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

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[–] goochiecoochies 16 years ago

I think it's still funny but definitely outdated, it used to be a lot funnier when it came out I bet.

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