A Futile and Stupid Gesture

2018

1 hr. 41 min.

Biography

Comedy

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List

68%

44 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Writer Doug Kenney co-founds National Lampoon magazine in 1970.

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Critics Consensus

A Futile and Stupid Gesture entertainingly recreates the birth of an influential comedic movement, even if it struggles to cover its creative ground.

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Augustine J

This movie was a nice creative interpretation of the ups and downs of Doug Kenney's interesting life. It had some neat narrative devices. It was alright, It was fun to see the start of that SNL sort of era in this movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

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Gareth v

A funny and twisted comedy that does a decent job of trying too stay true to the National Lampoons stylings.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

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David L

It took awhile to become invested, but I was charmed all the way thru. I recommend it strongly.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Chuck People P

A true piece of art from the comedy world. An attempt to show the darker side of an already dark side of entertainment and does a great job from my perspective.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/22

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Audience Member

Best documentary I have have ever seen

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/29/22

Full Review

Tony S

As someone who's never even heard of National Lampoon magazine, the movie presents and explains almost its entire history very succinctly, even if it's borderline cartoonish in a few aspects. It is fitting for a humor magazine in some ways. Since it's also a biography of Douglas Kenney, whom I'd never heard of either, the very tragic and dramatic third act actually got me, and I fully fell for the misdirection. And almost partially due to this, and the movie's bittersweet ending, the whole movie elevates above what it first appears to be. By the numbers, the story of creative comedians burgeoning their way through the stale industry of entertainment, while establishing new conventions, all the while being over their heads as to what they can actually deal with. The movie looks good despite the fact that it was made for streaming. Although Forte's frustration is often overplayed and presents Doug as an unhinged individual, that, despite probably being the case, is a great disservice to his memory. It's obvious the man had his flaws, but showing him wallowing in his insecurities for an hour is not very effective.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/22

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David Wain

Director

Will Forte

Douglas Kenney

Emmy Rossum

Kathryn Walker

Domhnall Gleeson

Henry Beard

Seth Green

Christopher Guest

Natasha Lyonne

Ann Beatts

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A Futile and Stupid Gesture: Clip - Performers

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Old Goats

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Aline

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Private Parts

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Todd Gilchrist

TheWrap

A Futile And Stupid Gesture is, ultimately, anything but pointless, exploring an important moment in pop culture through the life of a man who captured its essence as well as the people who made him an institution.

Feb 6, 2018

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

For those unfamiliar with the details, there's a neat narrative curve ball in the final act. Stupid: For sure. But futile? Hardly.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 5, 2018

Full Review

Leslie Felperin

Hollywood Reporter

A move that, if nothing else, shockingly abandons the traditional rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-redemption four-part trajectory to which nearly every biopic slavishly adheres.

Feb 1, 2018

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Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

The film is strongest in its first third, where all the jokes are.

Jan 5, 2023

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Mikel Zorrilla

Espinof

It is a very interesting proposal to understand a little better the whole process that may be behind the comedy genre. [Full Review in Spanish]

Jul 31, 2019

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Richard Trenholm

CNET

There's more to this Futile and Stupid Gesture than a line-up of celebrity impressions.

Apr 16, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Writer Doug Kenney co-founds National Lampoon magazine in 1970.

Director: David Wain
Executive Producer: John Aboud, Michael Colton, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Ed Helms, Sean McKittrick, Ben Ormand, David Wain
Screenwriter: John Aboud, Michael Colton
Production Co: Principato-Young Entertainment, Abominable Pictures
Genre: Biography, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 26, 2018
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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