Doug Kenney is a comedic icon that I knew absolutely nothing about prior to watching A Futile and Stupid Gesture. After watching the dramatized version of his life story, that hasn't really changed. Despite its lack of significant revelations and insight on the man behind National Lampoon magazine, Animal House and Caddyshack, A Futile and Stupid Gesture was still a pretty enjoyable watch. The filmmakers knew they couldn't detail all of the professional triumphs and personal struggles Kenney endured before his untimely death at the age of 33, so they wisely utilized a smartass tone that takes some of the focus away from the relatively bare-bones storytelling. Employing a fourth-wall breaking technique that pokes fun at the various creative liberties the film took allows it to sidestep a lot of the "rise and fall" biopic clichés that it easily could've embraced while also bolstering the entertainment value.
As well-executed as its self-aware vibe is, A Futile and Stupid Gesture's strongest asset is its actors. This cast is predominantly made up of comedians in their mid-to-late 40's who were undoubtedly inspired by the work Kenney did with National Lampoon and it shows with the palpable enthusiasm they pour into their performances. The always hilarious Will Forte looks like he's truly honored to bring Kenney's unique eccentricity to the big screen and all of the recognizable faces (Joel McHale, Thomas Lennon, Seth Green, Max Greenfield, Natasha Lyonne) that show up along the way to portray the comedy legends Kenney collaborated with bring the essence of their heroes to the screen beautifully. A Futile and Stupid Gesture eventually succumbs to the dull "promising career gets derailed by drugs, booze and ego" shit that prevents most serviceable biopics from achieving greatness, but there's enough laughs, wit and spirted performances here to forgive its unfortunate late detour into generic territory.
Grade: B
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