Critic Richard Roeper on Animal House
“Animal House was groundbreaking because it was one of the first, if not the first, feature film to reflect the comedic sensibilities of the National Lampoon/Saturday Night Live generation,” says film critic Richard Roeper, “It was edgier, sexier and much more offensive (in a good way) than simple slapstick or the joke-driven comedy of someone like Neil Simon. The script is vastly underrated. Animal House produced about a dozen memorable characters, many of whom appeared in one or two scenes. That’s a testimony to the strength of the screenplay and the talent of the actors.”
“As for the film’s cultural impact – yes, there was the anti-establishment theme, but of course we’d experienced that in dozens of films from the 60s and 70s, from Bonnie and Clyde to Easy Rider to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” But, this was an anti-establishment comedy, and that was something new. Also, it was one of the first comedies aimed squarely at the teen and twenty something audience. I was 18 when it came out and I remember waiting in line to see it in Chicago on Friday – and coming back to see it again two days later.”
