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A Futile and Stupid Gesture

In the 1970s and '80s, National Lampoon's success and influence creates a new media empire overseen in part by the brilliant and troubled Douglas Kenney.

Director

David Wain

Year

Genre

biography, comedy

Box Office

N/A

Production

Abominable Pictures,Principato-Young Entertainment

Awards

2 nominations

Homepage

https://www.netflix.com/title/80107084

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Doug - Age 12

Frank Gingerich

Doug - Age 12

Morgan Gingerich

Stephanie Kenney

Annette O'Toole

Harry Kenney

Modern Doug

Interviewer

Henry Beard

Domhnall Gleeson

Douglas Kenney

Harvard Jester

Ben F. Campbell

Preppy Student

Alex Garcia-Mata

Peter Ivers

Lucy Fisher

Umpire

First Publisher

Second Publisher

Time-Life Publisher

David Krumholtz

Time-Life Publisher

Mitchell Hurwitz

Matty Simmons

Art Director

Art Director

Michael O'Donoghue

Ed Sullivan

Michael Sherman

Tony Hendra

Sullivan Producer

Anne Beatts

Construction Worker

Brian McConnachie

Waitress

Skeptical Black Woman

Skeptical Black Man

Michael Gross

Krister Johnson

Advertiser

Advertiser

Mike Nojun Park

Advertiser

Gregg Turkington

Tom Snyder

Gilda Radner

Bill Murray

Christopher Guest

John Belushi

John Gemberling

Harold Ramis

Chevy Chase

Radio Hour Pianist

Michael Kevin Farrell

Radio Hour Drummer

Elaine

Meera Rohit Kumbhani

Lemmings Bass Player

Jherek Bischoff

Lemmings Piano Player

P.J. O'Rourke

Nelson Franklin

Kathryn Walker

Street Musician

Lorne Michaels

Chris Miller

Ivan Reitman

Brad

Tim Matheson

Stephen Furst

John Landis

Premiere Party Guitar Player

Premiere Party Guitar Player

Harry Crane

Party Guest

Missy

Michael O'Keefe

Andrew Gray McDonnell

Rodney Dangerfield

Paul Shaffer

Studio Tour Guide 'Babs'

Studio Tour Kid

Eugene 'Hutch' Barbeau

Dr. Rumack

Ted Striker

Randy

Lorna Patterson

Bartender

Room Service Waitress

Gwyneth Cravens

National Lampoon Staffer

Christopher Arminio

Taxi Driver

Bambadjan Bamba

Doug Niedermeyer

Young Omega Chip Diller

Rick Meyerowitz

Dan Aykroyd

Brian Doyle-Murray

Dancer

Stoned College Kid

Harvard Student

Bikini Girl

Ted Knight

Student

Allyson Nicole Jones

Pool Girl

Daniel Keeney

Boy Scout

Funeral Guest

Christina Miller

Cheerleader Captain

Additional Voices

Heidi Brook Myers

Teen in Cadillac

Kid Talking in Library

Sketchy Party Guest

Stoner College Kid

Sound Guy

Caddyshack Film Crew

Kroger

National Lampoon Staffer

Mary Marshmallow

View All Cast

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Explore 380 Clips

Tom Snyder Douglas Kenney Ed Sullivan Kathryn Walker Henry Beard Time-life Publisher

You really want to start there? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

You really want to start there?

My name is Doug Kenney,
and you probably have never heard of me. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

My name is Doug Kenney, and you probably have never heard of...

Maybe say something like, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Maybe say something like,

Yeah, I started The National Lampoon. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Yeah, I started The National Lampoon.

What if you say, "I was the man
who changed comedy forever, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

What if you say, "I was the man who changed comedy fore...

I was the man
who changed comedy forever... - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I was the man who changed comedy forever...

- We can start at whatever point you want.
- Let's start this film at Harvard - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- We can start at whatever point you want. - Let's star...

It was the fall of 1964
when I first met Henry Beard. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

It was the fall of 1964 when I first met Henry Beard.

They're double majoring
in white collar crime and applied hubris. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

They're double majoring in white collar crime and appli...

Fucking Lampoon. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Fucking Lampoon.

It's a humor magazine,
but mostly an excuse to party. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

It's a humor magazine, but mostly an excuse to party.

It's where I learned that being funny
is how I could fit in and meet girls. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

It's where I learned that being funny is how I could fi...

What most people don't realize - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

What most people don't realize

So, this is the super-secret castle
I've heard so much about? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

So, this is the super-secret castle I've heard so much ...

I think what you are is a kid
from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I think what you are is a kid from Chagrin Falls, Ohio,

I hate to interrupt your mating ritual,
but we're about to be adulated upstairs. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I hate to interrupt your mating ritual, but we're about...

- And I know how you feel about adulation.
- Oh, remind me how I feel? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- And I know how you feel about adulation. - Oh, remind me h...

As you know, the parodies that Doug
and Henry have been churning out - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

As you know, the parodies that Doug and Henry have been chur...

So it is my honor to unveil their latest, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

So it is my honor to unveil their latest,

So, I'm guessing like a speech
would be in order at this point. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

So, I'm guessing like a speech would be in order at thi...

- Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech!
- That's enough. That's enough. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech! - That's enough. That...

What is it about filling 200 pages
with atrocious Lord of the Rings puns - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

What is it about filling 200 pages with atrocious Lord of th...

I'm sorry, once I start punning
about these little guys, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I'm sorry, once I start punning about these little guys...

That was bad,
but we only have our elves to blame. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

That was bad, but we only have our elves to blame.

Okay. Okay, always leave them
wanting more... dor. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Okay. Okay, always leave them wanting more... dor.

- If the book is How to Ruin a Castle.
- No, it's not. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- If the book is How to Ruin a Castle. - No, it's not.

So I guess the comedy train
is rolling to a halt. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

So I guess the comedy train is rolling to a halt.

I said I just need to find a pen, Mom. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I said I just need to find a pen, Mom.

- She didn't read it.
- The book? Yes, it's very nice. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- She didn't read it. - The book? Yes, it's very n...

- He's going to law school, that's how.
- Henry's okay. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- He's going to law school, that's how. - Henry�...

- What?
- I have to bail him out. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- What? - I have to bail him out.

You got a month till graduation,
and we're still waiting to hear. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

You got a month till graduation, and we're still waitin...

What's your plan, Doug? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

What's your plan, Doug?

There's a war going on. You want
to wait to get picked in the draft? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

There's a war going on. You want to wait to get picked ...

What do you want? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

What do you want?

- Hello, Doug?
- I'll just keep doing The Lampoon. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- Hello, Doug? - I'll just keep doing The Lampoon.

- I'm not doing that.
- I don't have all the details, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- I'm not doing that. - I don't have all the detai...

Come on. He needs help with the topspin. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Come on. He needs help with the topspin.

Oh, this scheme is full-assed.
Why settle for real jobs? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Oh, this scheme is full-assed. Why settle for real jobs?

The world doesn't need more lawyers
or insurance executives or doctors. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

The world doesn't need more lawyers or insurance execut...

I mean, yeah, okay, it needs doctors.
Thousands. But it also needs us. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I mean, yeah, okay, it needs doctors. Thousands. But it also...

Seriously? You assholes are gonna have
kids play for you the whole game? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Seriously? You assholes are gonna have kids play for you the...

You want to be a writer,
write a novel on the side, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

You want to be a writer, write a novel on the side,

What you want to do
is keep on doing The Lampoon. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

What you want to do is keep on doing The Lampoon.

You want me to give up a career
in law to rely on you - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

You want me to give up a career in law to rely on you

- But this will be big. I can feel it.
- How big? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- But this will be big. I can feel it. - How big?

If we're running our own magazine,
we can do anything we want. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

If we're running our own magazine, we can do anything w...

- That can go in issue one.
- Let me ask you this: - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- That can go in issue one. - Let me ask you this:

- No.
- I challenge you, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- No. - I challenge you,

Look, I know it's risky, okay,
but why let it end here? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Look, I know it's risky, okay, but why let it end here?

The truth is
I can't do this without you, man. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

The truth is I can't do this without you, man.

And the day that it stops being fun,
we'll walk away. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

And the day that it stops being fun, we'll walk away.

I looked at your proposal
for Harvard Lampoon. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I looked at your proposal for Harvard Lampoon.

Oh, and you think that's what
this country needs is a comedy magazine. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Oh, and you think that's what this country needs is a c...

Shouldn't Harvard boys like you
be working on Wall Street - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Shouldn't Harvard boys like you be working on Wall Stre...

There's a vast gap between Mad magazine
and the New Yorker... - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

There's a vast gap between Mad magazine and the New Yor...

We publish Life, Fortune,
Sports Illustrated. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

We publish Life, Fortune, Sports Illustrated.

You'll never sell a magazine.
No one will ever go to a newsstand. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

You'll never sell a magazine. No one will ever go to a ...

Our Time parody, right there,
sold over half a million copies. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Our Time parody, right there, sold over half a million copie...

- I'm sorry?
- Modern Sandwich. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- I'm sorry? - Modern Sandwich.

Hey, we are a country divided
in so many ways: - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Hey, we are a country divided in so many ways:

But two slices of bread,
some meat, a condiment or two? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

But two slices of bread, some meat, a condiment or two?

But two slices of bread some meat a condiment or two - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

But two slices of bread some meat a condiment or two

There is a huge under-served audience
for investigative sandwich journalism. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

There is a huge under-served audience for investigative sand...

Modern Sandwich! - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Modern Sandwich!

Show pictures of pickles
and things that look like pickles, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Show pictures of pickles and things that look like pickles,

The point is,
you don't have a fucking clue. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

The point is, you don't have a fucking clue.

You're the kind of people who commute back
and forth from Westport, Connecticut. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

You're the kind of people who commute back and forth fr...

And we have nothing to do with you.
Fucking pieces of shit. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

And we have nothing to do with you. Fucking pieces of shit.

Fuck those guys you know They're just like my dad - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Fuck those guys you know They're just like my dad

So can we please just pretend for a second
that they and we are on the same side - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

So can we please just pretend for a second that they and we ...

We've come to you first - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

We've come to you first

Most magazines fail within the first year.
And a laugh rag? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Most magazines fail within the first year. And a laugh rag?

But you're our choice
to publish a National Lampoon. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

But you're our choice to publish a National Lampoon.

And we checked around, they said, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

And we checked around, they said,

You know, I used to write one-liners
for Walter Winchell. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

You know, I used to write one-liners for Walter Winchell.

We wuv Winchell. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

We wuv Winchell.

We were in business,
with contracts and everything, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

We were in business, with contracts and everything,

There's no jockeys' quarters
or chocolate covered chandeliers... - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

There's no jockeys' quarters or chocolate covered ...

Look, it's not ideal right now, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Look, it's not ideal right now,

And don't worry, Henry and I
will wave to you from across the park. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

And don't worry, Henry and I will wave to you from acro...

But can the two of us
at least try to have fun now, - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

But can the two of us at least try to have fun now,

Of course. First few months will be
crazy busy, but I'll pencil you in. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Of course. First few months will be crazy busy, but I'l...

Two pencils and a pad of paper.
That's all Matty said we could afford. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Two pencils and a pad of paper. That's all Matty said w...

- No, I think I thanked you first and...
- Well, I think I'm a little more thankful. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- No, I think I thanked you first and... - Well, I think I&#...

Can you blame me?
We called her Mary Marshmallow - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Can you blame me? We called her Mary Marshmallow

What! So he's a charming stud,
and I'm a dirty old man? That's ageism! - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

What! So he's a charming stud, and I'm a dirty old...

- Humorous. Humorous magazine.
- Preferably funny. Preferably funny. - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

- Humorous. Humorous magazine. - Preferably funny. Preferabl...

I'm gonna write down "comedy." - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I'm gonna write down "comedy."

I'm sorry, I don't quite understand.
You mean like a Yalie? - A Futile and Stupid Gesture

I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. You mean like...

A Futile and Stupid Gesture poster

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

In the 1970s and '80s, National Lampoon's success and influence creates a new media empire overseen in part by the brilliant and troubled Douglas Kenney.

User Rating: 0.0 (0 ratings)

Director: David Wain

Writer: Michael Colton, John Aboud, Josh Karp

Production: Abominable Pictures,Principato-Young Entertainment

Genre: biography, comedy

Year: 2018

MetaScore: 55/100

ImdbRating: 6.7

BoxOffice: N/A

Released: 26 Jan 2018

Awards: 2 nominations

Homepage: https://www.netflix.com/title/80107084

Also watch: The Student, Bob Lazar: Area 51 and Flying Saucers, The Clapper, Extraction, Can't Hardly Wait, Private Life, Tully, Now and Then, The Bookshop, Loro 1, Fullmetal Alchemist, Funny People, A Bigger Splash, The Client, Honey Boy, The Mountain Between Us