MOVIE REVIEW
“Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of National Lampoon”
Grade: B
Starring Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Judd Apatow. Directed by Douglas Tirola.
Unrated. Check listings for theaters. 1 hour, 38 minutes.
Bottom line: An in-your-face documentary about the cultural mag
If you were around for the 1970s peak of success for the “National Lampoon,” that point when fans died over the satirical monthly’s latest issues like new LPs from the Who, you’ll love the good-old-days vibe of “Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead.” If you weren’t, grab a seat to understand what was allowed to be funny before the age of political correctness. The Lampoon mocked JFK for getting assassinated, made fun of Stevie Wonder for being blind and ridiculed women in general because it was made by guys mostly. Douglas Triola’s documentary is an in-your-face ramble through the raunchy launch and eventual downfall of a cultural milestone now all but forgotten.
Pushing beyond its early publishing success, the Lampoon produced amusing music albums, off-Broadway stage shows and a weekly radio broadcast that gave the first nationwide exposure to John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray. It filled “Animal House” and the original “Vacation,” now considered beloved family films, with unspeakable taboos. It made tons of money and laughs until a group of crabby appletons who didn’t like their religious dogmas chased away all the advertising. Still, the Lampoon introduced some of the best comedic writers and performers of their generation.
New interviews with alumni, famous subscribers and cleverly animated illustrations drawn from the magazine’s pages keep the laughs coming, even after it honors the title by chronicling the loss of some self-destructive members. If you think there is nothing funnier than putting a sacred cow in a blender and hitting the purée button, this is the movie for you.
