An old version of humorist Douglas Kenney tells the story of how he and Henry Beard parleyed their success in their campus magazine, Harvard Lampoon, into the commercial magazine, National Lampoon. Drawing upon their checkered lives and an aggressively puckish sense of humor, the pair created a publication that would redefine American comedy with outrageous drollery that grabbed the zeitgeist of the decade that expanded across various media. Unfortunately, for all his success... (Full plot summary below)
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An old version of humorist Douglas Kenney tells the story of how he and Henry Beard parleyed their success in their campus magazine, Harvard Lampoon, into the commercial magazine, National Lampoon. Drawing upon their checkered lives and an aggressively puckish sense of humor, the pair created a publication that would redefine American comedy with outrageous drollery that grabbed the zeitgeist of the decade that expanded across various media. Unfortunately, for all his success, Doug Kenney with his overhanging insecurities, ego and irresponsible appetites began to consume him until he alienates everyone who ever cared and supported him even as they imitated him. In the end, this iconoclastic funnyman would come to a tragedy that comes when your comedy doesn't have enough distance.
Leave your thoughts about A Futile and Stupid Gesture.
| Las Vegas Review-JournalChristopher LawrenceIt serves as a useful explainer to viewers who aren't comedy nerds as to why the most sought after job by Harvard grads, after doctor or lawyer, is a writing gig on "The Simpsons." |
| Birth.Movies.Death.Jeremy SmithA conventionally raucous biopic that knows it's conventional and hopes to get away with said convention by occasionally breaking the fourth wall to goof on its deployment of these hoary tropes. |
| Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperThis is quite possibly the most self-referential, inside-jokey, look-at-how-clever-we-are, off-the-charts Meta Movie I’ve ever seen. Sometimes that’s pretty great. At other times, it detracts from the core story at hand. |
| Consequence of SoundMichael RoffmanAlthough the film lacks his absurdism, there’s a musicality to Wain’s direction that’s addicting, and the emotional punch in the final five minutes proves there’s a future for the filmmaker that goes way beyond the yucks. |
| TheWrapTodd GilchristEven if the casting choices in portraying some of iconic talents in Kenney’s orbit are occasionally questionable — a detail the film gleefully acknowledges — there’s something delightful about watching actors known for comedy now try to capture the sound or energy of the performers who inspired them. |
| AwardsCircuit.comAlan FrenchForte, Wain, and the rest of the cast do their best to honor the icon, and the result is an extremely fun meta-comedy. |
| Splice TodayStephen SilverAn alternately funny and poignant rampage through National Lampoon history |
| IGNAlex WelchEven though the use of one particular plot device ends up feeling unnecessary and Will Forte can often appear miscast in the lead role, A Futile and Stupid Gesture still conjures up enough real emotions and inventive moments to feel like a worthwhile addition to Hollywood’s often tired biopic subgenre. |
| New York Magazine (Vulture)David EdelsteinIt’s not particularly illuminating, but it’s far from futile. |
| Flickering MythShaun MunroA celebration of comedy and creativity, and especially the singular brand of both that Kenney's publication became renowned for. |
