A Futile and Stupid Gesture

"Being the King of Comedy is no joke."

Jan 26 2018 TV-MA 1h 41m
Biography, Comedy

In a life full of triumph and failure, "National Lampoon" co-founder Doug Kenney built a comedy empire, molding pop culture in the 1970s.

Plot

An old version of humorist Douglas Kenney tells the story of how he and Henry Beard parleyed their success in their campus magazine, Harvard Lampoon, into the commercial magazine, National Lampoon. Drawing upon their checkered lives and an aggressively puckish sense of humor, the pair created a publication that would redefine American comedy with outrageous drollery that grabbed the zeitgeist of the decade that expanded across various media. Unfortunately, for all his success, Doug Kenney with his overhanging insecurities, ego and irresponsible appetites began to consume him until he alienates everyone who ever cared and supported him even as they imitated him. In the end, this iconoclastic funnyman would come to a tragedy that comes when your comedy doesn't have enough distance.

Written by

Michael Colton, John Aboud, Josh Karp

Directed by

David Wain

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Principato-Young Entertainment, Abominable Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

2 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
18,815
Average Rating
6.7 out of 10
Metascore
55
Popularity
NA