Review of National Lampoon’s Animal House – Starring John Belushi, Tim Matheson, and John Vernon

“National Lampoon’s Animal House” is one of my favorite comedies. The story and acting is a riot, especially John Belushi’s performance as Bluto Blutarsky, a reckless die-hard partier whose only life ambition is to have as much fun as possible. John Vernon also delivers an excellent performance as Dean Wormer, the heartless Faber College dean who is out to get the Delta fraternity at all costs.

“National Lampoon’s Animal House”, or “Animal House” as it is more commonly known, takes place in 1962 at Faber College, a stuffy fictitious American college whose motto is “Knowledge is good”. A spirit of elitism pervades the campus, especially among the Omega fraternity. Two freshmen, described as “a wimp and a blimp”, pledge to join a fraternity. After being turned down cold by the Omegas, they go next door to try their luck with the Delta fraternity, described as the worst fraternity on campus. They get in without any trouble. Meanwhile, Dean Wormer is determined to get the Deltas expelled.

The Deltas enjoy plenty of hilarious mischief throughout the film. One night, they sneak ROTC cadet Neidermeyer’s horse into the dean’s office and end up accidentally killing it. Bluto instigates a food fight in the cafeteria after doing an impersonation of a zit with a piece of cake. After being threatened by Dean Wormer with double secret probation, the Delta crew decides to throw a wild toga party, in which they end up inviting the dean’s wife.

The movie culminates with a riot instigated by the Deltas at the Faber homecoming parade after Dean Wormer tries to expel them. They convert a car into the “death mobile” and drive it through the parade, ramming it into the bandstand where the dean is seated. More pandemonium ensues throughout the parade. Finally, with no other choice, the dean decides to give them one more chance.

write by Joyce