THE College Movie

For all of those who think of college as a never ending party of fun and carefree spirits, Animal House will do nothing but support this view on the collegiate experience. Animal House, starring John Belushi as John Blutarsky, Karen Allen as Katy, and Tom Hulce as Larry Kroger, is fantastic and grotesquely hilarious and will remind the older generations of the good old times and the younger generations of the great times to come. It reminds everyone that, in addition to classwork and getting involved in activities, college is a time to just have fun.

Directed by John Landis and written by Harold Ramis and Douglas Kenney is a movie about a rowdy fraternity in a 1960s college that played by their own rules and existed to have fun. When the dean of the college decides he’s just about had enough, he makes it his mission to expel all of them. But the members of this fraternity don’t intend to go away without a fight. This movie set a precedent not yet exceeded and is the cornerstone for all great college movies to be compared to. A great college movie has to be accurate, relatable, and entertaining. Animal House just about excels in all these areas.

Accuracy and relating are necessary in just about any film. It is vital for all elements of the film to be credible and easy to believe. In the case of a college movie, it is very important that the characters are of appropriate age and have realistic problems. In Animal House, all of the college students could easily be anywhere from eighteen to twenty-two, with the exception of John Belushi who looked to be in his thirties. However, I do not think anyone seemed to mind given the hilarious job he did in the movie. Also, the problem of the movie must be possible for a college student to face.  Animal House, although slightly exaggerated, explores problems that just about all college students face. In the film, the main characters are struggling with grades and putting real work ahead of having fun. Just about every college student has problems with time management and understanding priorities. It is very possible for anybody to put extracurriculars ahead of schoolwork and suffer the consequences.

In the end, a college movie should be meant to entertain the audience and bring back memories of the best times of most people’s lives. Animal House hands-down delivers in this department. I don’t care how old you are or what entertains you, but I can just about guarantee that there will be something in Animal House that will make you laugh until it hurts. Whether it be the classic food fight scene or students hitting golf balls at the other fraternities, not laughing isn’t an option when this movie is on.