When it came out way back in 1978, John Landis’ comedy film National Lampoon’s Animal House was instantly recognized as a game-changer. It was an enormous hit, and its dialogue creeped its way into the vernacular of all college students at the time. The notion of the toga party is still in effect today. Indeed, the release of Animal House was such a watershed moment, that almost all college comedies made since can be seen as a distant echo of it. Alongside Alien, Rocky, and Emmanuelle, Animal House is perhaps one of the single most imitated films of all time. One might even go one step further, and indicate that Animal House has influenced and altered the behavior of all college-bound teens for the past 36 years.
What’s more, Animal House has reached a definite classic status in the eyes of the film-going community. Critics often cite it as one of the funniest films of all time, and it regularly appears on Top 10 lists. The late John Belushi’s brief cinematic fulcrum seems to pivot directly on Bluto.
Who could possibly attack Animal House? As it turns out, CraveOnline‘s Trolling could. If we see something that is beloved, we are duty bound to take it down a peg or three. And, with something like Animal House, we will have an easy time of it because, well, Animal House SUCKS. It sucks deep and hard. It’s our job to fling mud at the squeaky clean, and our fists are full this week. Sit back, relax, and let us explain to you why this beloved comedy film is one of the most unpleasant movies of all time. Starting with the most obvious reason….
Many people connect with Animal House‘s cut-loose anarchy, and I have heard people often use the phrase “youthful energy” to describe it. Many of the film’s fans also see it as a whiff of nostalgia; an exaggerated version of the dirtier sides of college life in the 1960s. But I look at it, and see a caustic, mean, filthy pack of drunks. The kind you wish would leave the bar when you’re conversing peacefully with friends. It’s an unattractive movie.
Until next week, let the hate mail flow.
Witney Seibold is the head film critic for Nerdist, and a contributor on the CraveOnline Film Channel, and co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. You can read his weekly articles Trolling here on Crave, and follow him on “Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.
Animal House SUCKS!
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The Heroes Are Awful
Animal House has two sets of characters. The fun-loving, alcoholic, fat, stupid, crass, destructive failures are the “good” guys. These guys are supposed to represent youthful anarchy, I suppose, but they are messy and disgusting people. They are no better than the “bad” guys they are often pitted against, and they are completely devoid of charm. They're like whirling Tasmanian Devils of booze, vomit, clutter, and underarm odor. And they have no regard for anyone, too lost in their semi-conscious party haze to give a damn. Are we to sympathize with them? Laugh with them? Long to be them? No thank you. Bad grads are not something to be proud of. Gluttonous, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.
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The Villains Are Also Awful
Standing opposite the “heroes,” are the prim, bullying, self-righteous, alcoholic vengeful assholes. The “bad” guys. The notion of fun overwhelming good manners has long been a trope of slapstick comedy (I love me some Marx Bros.), and may even be its central underlying ethos, but when you have such awful villains squared off against such awful heroes, the fun begins to wither in the face of their mutual awfulness. There doesn't seem to be anything at stake for either side. We're merely watching, after a while, two teams of terrible people competing to see who can destroy their own campus first. Seriously, I'm kind of surprised no one was outright murdered in this film.
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It's Really Mean-Spirited
There is something awfully sour underneath Animal House, and I've been spending years trying to suss out exactly what it is. I think the ultimate conclusion is that the filmmakers hate college and everything it stands for. This is a film that sneers at all things intellectual or even remotely refined. I don't mind when films are crass in the name of comedy, of course, but often crassness is employed in the name of good fun. They're satirizing something. Poking good-natured fun at it. Animal House is not a satire. It's a hate latter. To colleges, to status, to kindness. I sense no tenderness or fun in this film.
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Mess is Not Funny
This is a more general complaint, but I rarely laugh when something gets smashed up in a comedy film. Oh sure, the car chase from The Blues Brothers was one of the most spectacular ever, and I laughed heartily when Frank Drebin wrecked The Blue Boy in The Naked Gun, but for the most part, seeing people living in filth doesn't make me smile. Watching people make a big mess at an Animal House party turns me into a doting mom with paper towels and a set of coasters. I only ever relate to the panicky sober teens who freak out when the party gets too big, and their parents are on their way home. But that's not comedy. That's stress and panic.
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This is College, Right?
Animal House started a distressing trend in the way colleges were depicted in movies. If movies are to be trusted, college is little more than a string of adult-free frat houses that throw wild, drunken keggers every night of the week. There are no books in this universe, no classes, no classrooms, and no professors. There may be a disapproving dean, but otherwise college doesn't even seem to be a learning institution at all. The only scene in Animal House that reminded me of an actual school was the cafeteria scene, and even that could have taken place in a hospital. For all it resembles the actual college experience, the word “college” could easily be shorthand for “failed post-apocalypse drinking cult.”
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“Shout” is Annoying
I have to be in a certain mood to tolerate The Isley Brothers' “Shout.” Expansive, droning, and obnoxiously upbeat, “Shout” has become a party standard. Hey, this just occurred to me: What's the difference between a toga party and a regular party? As far as I can tell, it's the spelling.
