An unusual and quirky biopic of Doug Kenney (Will Forte) who was the founder of National Lampoon and the creative mind behind Animal House and Caddyshack. 

At the very opening of the movie an older Doug Kenney tells us that we won’t know who he is and for my part he was absolutely correct. For the uninitiated this film gives a high level overview of how Kenney and his Lampoon partner Henry Beard (Domhnall Gleeson) changed the comedy landscape of the 1970’s. Taking us from their time on the Harvard Lampoon through the creation of their national magazine, books, radio show, albums and films.

The film elects to try to match the anarchic comedy tone of its subject matter. Using inventive narrative devices, breaking the fourth wall and generally being as scattershot in tone as National Lampoons debut films. It also features an array of young comedy stars playing an array of famous comedy stars of the time. Oddly though it’s never laugh out loud funny and gets by on being quietly amusing. 

Overall though I could only describe it as an interesting oddity. It certainly led me to doing more research on it’s subject only to find that it was probably engaging more in hero worship than a realistic view of his demons. The most interesting aspect is probably Gleeson’s performance which as ever is assured and holds your attention.