Animal House (1978)

Well, they don't make comedies like this one anymore.

I guess that makes sense, the times they have indeed a-changed, but something in me still feels a little saddened that very often nowadays, comedies just focus on bodily functions and nothing else. No more quips, no more comedy of errors, no more just plain darn goofy fun.

'Animal House' is a pretty funny film and though it might not be the ultimate classic you would want it to be, this is one of those pictures that will leave you with a fuzzy warm feeling afterwards. John Landis was once again in his better form when he directed this and with a script by (among others) Harold Ramis, you can't really go wrong.

The setup seems as clichéd as you can get: at Faber college there is one fraternity that consists of all the losers and slobs and they are the thorn in dean Wormer's eye. He is focused on another fraternity, the one with the clean cut, disciplined boys, who also happen to be stuck-up twats and are pretty much awful. Three guesses where the sympathies of the makers lie. Because Wormer wants the Delta frat (the slobs) out, he enlists the help of the others to make it so, but lots of shenanigans ensue, culminating in massive payback at the end of the film's parade through the town. Before we get there, there have been parties, drinking, food fights, a hilarious piece with a horse (trust me) and more quickwitted dialogue than you can shake a stick at.

Also occasional boobs. It was the 70s, after all.

You see, the storyline isn't necessarily what makes this one work. Sure, it set the groundwork for a host of comedies all revolving around roughly the same idea, but that is not the point. What does make this one work is the cast, who are all spot on. Sure, you can easily see the appeal of people like John Belushi, Karen Allen or Tim Matheson, but this hodgepodge of personalities works because they are all so clearly defined and work well off each other. Belushi is the loose cannon, Tom Hulce is the new kid, Kevin Bacon is a snooty snitch, Matheson is the smooth talking ladies' man, Karen Allen is the strong girl... I could keep going, but it just clicks. Are all the gags great? No. But you get plenty of laughs, both out loud as the sniggering variety.

I would like to have a special mention for the ever wonderful John Vernon as dean Wormer. He relishes the role with gusto and his presence and voice will set the standard for strict authority figures ten times over. Also, he's just plain funny and maybe he doesn't always get the credit he deserves.

In the end, 'Animal House' is a very enjoyable comedy and a fun way to pass the time. It's not massively groundbreaking or the ultimate comedy, but it is a lot of plain, old-fashioned fun and thàt goes a long way.