A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)

What makes A Futile and Stupid Gesture special is how it captures the lightning-strike moment when American comedy got louder, sharper, and more reckless—and does it with a wink that keeps the movie feeling alive rather than embalmed in biopic reverence. David Wain brings a playful, meta snap to the storytelling, letting the laughs land while still making room for the real cost of being “the funny one,” and Will Forte gives Doug Kenney a performance that’s as human as it is hilarious. The vibe is a fast, profane, era-soaked ride through ambition, friendship, and creative chaos, buoyed by an affectionate sense of how ideas become institutions and how institutions chew people up. It’s not for everyone—if heavy drug use and TV-MA raunch are dealbreakers, steer clear—but if you’re even slightly interested in where modern satire came from, this one earns your time.

A Futile and Stupid Gesture is clearly trying to be a fast, funny, meta biopic about Doug Kenney and the chaotic birth of National Lampoon, using self-aware narration and inside-baseball comedy to match the era’s irreverent spirit. The problem is that the cleverness often keeps you at arm’s length—big life events and a very real downward spiral can feel like a highlight reel, with repetitive stretches and an overstuffed “and then this happened” structure that blunts the emotional punch. If you’re hoping for a grounded character study or a deeply felt tragedy, this may come off superficial, and some casting choices won’t help you forget you’re watching a performance. Still, if you like David Wain’s wink-at-the-camera style, don’t mind heavy drug use and very strong language, and mainly want a breezy tour through comedy history with a few sharp laughs, it can be an easy enough watch.