National Lampoons Animal House: Special Edition - DVD Review

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Review

In August of 2003 Hollywood Boulevard was closed down for a parade. It featured a live elephant, a giant float shaped like a cake and had Otis Day and the Knights providing the music. Just as they were getting a little bit louder now, there was a screech of tyres, the throaty roar of a BIG engine as 'The Deathmobile' scattered all and sundry with a cry of "Ramming Speeeed!" The 25th Anniversary party for National Lampoon's Animal House was well underway.

An offshoot of The Harvard Lampoon, National Lampoon magazine started in 1970. In a few years time its popularity was such that it had a spin-off off-Broadway show, numerous comedy LP's and a line of movies, the most famous being Animal House in 1978 (and perhaps Vacation in 1983.) In fact, Animal House gained so much fame that, in 2001, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Put very simply, Animal House is the story of a bunch of college Frat boys, struggling for the survival in the face of expulsion, and yet don't stop drinking, screwing and partying. Looking a bit closer however, it becomes the first of a genre, a true cult movie that influenced every comedy film that followed.

So, how do you review a classic? It may not have the pedigree of Citizen Kane, or the brilliant storytelling of The Shawshank Redemption, but it's got more nipples and beer than the two of them put together, and it managed to introduce the toga to a generation where I, Claudius failed. It's a movie you know, a movie you could quote. Even if you haven't seen it, you'll befamiliar with the movies that it influenced, from Porky's to American Pie and back to Porky's again. (Yes, they're remaking it!) It's one of those movies that you know so well that you buy it on DVD more for the extra features rather than the film itself. So is it worth shelling out for a movie you've already got on VHS?

Well, at first glance it doesn't look like they've added much, but I can assure you they've gone for quality over quantity with two newly created features, a documentary and new short drama with the original characters. The documentary lasts for about 45 minutes (45.17 if you must know) and covers every aspect of production from idea, to writing, to casting, to filming, to premiere, to aftermath. It's certainly in-depth, and can drag on a bit in places, but it's worth it for stories such as the cast getting the shot kicked out of them two days before the start of filming or what it was like working with the late great John Belushi.

The second feature, the drama, catches up with the characters from the film and finds out what they're up to now. They vary from the short and snappy, to the long and a bit boring, but there are a few stand out moments. D-Day's quick exit is good, but it's Kevin Bacon's recorded message that steals the show. In an inspired speech he talks about the moment he started seeing Jesus in his food, and how he tried to capture him in a mousetrap!

Disappointingly there's no commentary, but there's a, 'Did You Know That?' feature that uses the subtitles to offer up facts on the movie, much like the Data track on the new Star Trek releases. Surprisingly it doesn't repeat information already given in the documentary, but it's no substitute for a voice track by the cast or the makers. The original 1978 theatrical trailer and a music video by MXPX, covering the song Shout, completes the package.

The movie is presented in Anamorphic widescreen with a reasonable transfer from the original filmstock and comes with a new 5.1 audio track that, to be honest, wasn't needed nor noticed.

Overall, this is almost the DVD that Animal House deserves. Most of the people involved in the production 25 years ago have returned to comment on a film that they have an obvious affection for, a film that jump started many of their careers. Compared to lots of current releases, a lot of work has gone into it, and you call tell a lot of fun was had in the making. This makes the absence of a commentary not just a disappointment but a real missed opportunity ... and it's the only thing stopping this disc getting a perfect 5! Let's hope they make up for it on the 30th Anniversary.

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About Robert Kirkwood

Born on 9/11, thirty years before it got famous, I'm a Scotsman who said he'd give London a try for a year. Two and a half years later I'm still here, making audio books at a recording studio in Camden Town ... basically sitting with my feet up getting read to every day. I got into DVD after I bought a DVDRom drive for my PC. It's still there, but now the video signal is sent to a TV and the audio is sent through a 5.1 speaker set up. It's a bit fiddly at times but with PowerDVD 4 and DVD Genie I have a DTS/multi region/macro free/bells and whistles set up. Or I can use the cheapo player in the kitchen. Whatever. I don't favour any particular genre (if it's a good movie, I'm happy) ... but left on my own I'd stick to good sci-fi or action that makes over use of the sub. My other half however keeps up a steady flow of world cinema and independant productions that keeps up the balance. Right now we're making our way through the Star Trek DVD box sets as I'm a bit of a Trekker and slowly but surely turning her into one too.