New Film Tells Story of Comedic Genius from the 1970s
By Kellie Ellison

Doug Kenney. Have you heard of him? While he may not be a household name, it’s likely you’re familiar with his work. As cofounder of National Lampoon Magazine and cowriter of smash hits Animal House and Caddyshack, Kenney has been regarded as a creative and comedic genius. He found success at a very young age, but also lived a wild, tumultuous life - filled with sex and drugs. And a lot of laughs.

A new film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, which recently premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and is now available on Netflix, explores the charismatic, tormented life of Kenney. It transports you back in time and shows how Kenney passionately blazed the trail for a new kind of comedy, which was eagerly embraced by young adults of the 70s. He helped launch the careers of many big names (Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray) and it's quite fun seeing these stars portrayed in the film. Amazingly, Kenney did all of this before he mysteriously died at the age of 33.

With a fun cast and humorous moments, A Futile and Stupid Gesture tells an interesting story that may leave you feeling a bit nostalgic. Below are some reviews to check out.

Review from Forbes

Review from Riverfront Times

Review from Miami Student

 

Photo Credit: Travis Wise (CC BY 2.0)




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