Starring: John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Tom Hulce, Peter Reigert, Stephen Furst
Release Date: July 29, 1978
Running Time: 109 min
Commentary National Lampoon's Animal House is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. It's a laugh a minute. John Belushi plays his best role in this movie as "Bluto" Blutarski, a die-hard partier with no life ambition other than to have fun. The rest of the crew is also very funny, including all the other wild Deltas, the uptight, elitist Omegas, and the dispicable Dean Wormer (John Vernon), who's out to get the Deltas at all costs.
Plot Summary National Lampoon's Animal House takes place at Faber College, a fictitious college back east somewhere, in 1962. Two freshmen, Larry Kroger (Thomas Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst), described respectively as "a wimp and a blimp", are trying to get into a fraternity. They first go to the Omega House, a very elitist fraternity, but are turned down right away. Then they try the Delta's next door, which has a reputation as being the worst fraternity on campus. When they arrive outside, they witness a mannequin being thrown from the window. Then they're introduced to some truly wild characters, including "Bluto" Blutarsky and "D-Day" (Bruce McGill). They get in without any trouble. Meanwhile, Dean Wormer is determined to get the Deltas kicked out this year by placing them on double secret probation. The Deltas enjoy several adventures as well as misadventures throughout the movie, including a misfired prank involving a dead horse in the dean's office, a cafeteria food fight, a wild toga party, a road trip, and culminating in a riot at the homecoming parade instigated by the Deltas in order to persuade Dean Wormer to "give them one more chance".
Funny Scenes Animal House is full of hilarious lines and scenes. Here are some I particularly
enjoyed.
In a misfired prank, Flounder ends up killing the horse of Neidermeyer, his
ruthless cadet commander, in Dean Wormer's
office by firing a gun in the air filled with blanks provided by his frat brothers
Bluto and D-Day. The three of them end up running out
screaming in horror.
I love the cafeteria scene in which Bluto (Belushi) loads his tray with as much
food as possible, sneaking a plateful of Jello, which he inhales in line. Later,
after seating himself at a table with a couple members of the elitist Omega
fraternity, he does a hilarious impression of a zit with a piece of chocolate
cake which he pops out of his mouth with full force.
The toga party scenes are great as well, including the angel and devil which
appear on Pinto's shoulder giving him advice as to what to do with his date,
who'd passed out with her breasts exposed. Another very funny scene at the
party involves Bluto grabbing and smashing the guitar of one of the guests,
annoyed by his singing. Immediately afterwards he says, "Sorry."
There are lots of funny scenes involving the chaos following the homecoming
parade. Flounder manages to trip the guards with 10,000 marbles, which he
lets go on the street as they attempt to go after the Deltas. The marching
band is led into a narrow alleyway with a dead end, smashing their instruments
in the process. Chip, played by Kevin Bacon, one of the Omegas who tries frantically
to assure everyone, "ALL IS WELL!!!!", ends up getting trampled and flattened
into a pancake.
One of the sorority girls gets flung half-naked into the room of a boy of about
10 admiring picutres from a Playboy magazine. Once she ends up on his bed, he
exclaims, "Thank you God!"
Movie Clips
Here's a clip of the scene with Belushi cramming down food and instigating a food fight.
Here's a clip of Bluto (Belushi) smashing a guitar at the toga party.
Here's a clip of Otis Day and the Knights' classic performance of "Shout".
Here's a clip of Otter's speech in defense of the Delta fraternity.
Here's a clip of Bluto's inspirational speech near the end of the film.
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Title: National Lampoon's Animal House 
