# Is "Animal House" overrated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 9, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858 "2010-03-09T15:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/61 "2010-03-10T05:43:10Z")
**Senator and Mrs Blutarsky** is a deep and meaningful metaphor for the entire American politcal system. and just for fun, let’s note that the Storck was played by AH and Caddyshack writer Douglas kenney, and you thought he was brain damaged ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/62 "2010-03-10T16:06:05Z")
The culture has shifted dramatically in the last few decades, which may affect people’s perceptions. If you have never been required to take an ROTC class, and have never heard of the phrase _in loco parentis_, some of the jokes may not be as funny. But it holds up better than a lot of comedies from its time period. I notice that the older I get, the more sympathy I have for Dean Wermer. “Fat, drunk, and stupid, is no way to go through life.” Yes, I know, he was an Evil Authority Figure, but he had a point. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/63 "2010-03-10T16:20:23Z")
Toga Toga TOGA TOGA TOGA TOGA TOGA TOGA!!! ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/64 "2010-03-10T17:40:09Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Dan Aykroyd was offered the role of D-Day in Animal House, (which was filmed right when Saturday Night Live was just taking the nation by storm) but turned it down, because he wanted his friend John Belushi to get a chance to do something on his own, without being seen as always tied together with Aykroyd. And tomorrow, the [second choice](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569226/) will be inducted into the [Texas Film Hall of Fame.](http://www.persistenceofvision.org/2009/12/21/2010-texas-film-hall-of-fame-awards-to-honor-tarantino-nesmith-mcgill/) (Thanks, MPB, I didn’t know that.) Not sure D-Day would approve, though. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/65 "2010-03-10T17:46:51Z")
_Too verbose for edit mode_: I actually blame AH for reviving the corpse of Greek life as a zombie caricature of itself. In 1977, the few fratboys on the average campus were objects of disdain to the hippie students. A couple of years later, those hippies were lucky to get a gig covering “Shout” at their parties. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/66 "2010-03-10T17:47:54Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Again… any other 32 year old movies that can get this many responses with trivial quotes… other than the other classics of the era like Caddyshack, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and the **Holly Grail** Lauren’s or Buddy’s? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/67 "2010-03-10T18:05:08Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > A couple of years later, those hippies were lucky to get a gig covering “Shout” at their parties. Some bands weren’t able to get those gigs because they had trouble playing a little bit softer (now). ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/68 "2010-03-10T18:30:57Z")
It’s one of the few comedies that I still laugh at on multiple viewings, despite having seen it in the theater on first run and probably half a dozen times since. Certainly not overrated for me. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/69 "2010-03-10T18:57:11Z")
I wouldn’t say it’s overrated but I always thought John Landis’ direction was too sluggishly paced for a broad comedy. Being able to effectively direct comedy is a special skill in and of itself and Landis doesn’t have it. That doesn’t mean \*\*Animal House \*\*isn’t funny but it’s almost entirely due to the cast and script. Anyway, here’s some interesting casting trivia: The role of Otter was written for and offered to Chevy Chase but he turned it down because he thought he was too old to convincingly play a college student. Early on, Jack Webb was envisioned as playing Dean Wormer. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/70 "2010-03-10T19:01:54Z")
Otis! My man! ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/71 "2010-03-11T04:23:27Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Lauren’s or Buddy’s? Laugh it up, smart guy, but this thread has been on doubler secret probation since the start, that means one more screw up and you’re finished at the straight dope. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/72 "2010-03-11T06:00:12Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > Otis! My man! Does you mind if we dance wif yo’ dates? Why, no … we were just _leaving_! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/73 "2010-03-11T13:15:43Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > Not overrated, but it is outdated. Animal House used to be the movie that all the kids watched and quoted endlessly. Then it was the movie the younger kids watched because their older brother liked it and said it was cool. Then it was the movie everybody loved because it was on TBS every other day. I think enough time has past and the original audience has aged to the point where it doesn’t have the same impact it once did. I’m old enough to be your mother. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/74 "2010-03-11T14:25:56Z")
Did anyone catch the Animal House reference on “Modern Family” last night? If it’s still getting quoted in sitcoms 32 years after its release, it can hardly be overrated. ---
**Author:** ![Nathan\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/47e85d/32.png) [@Nathan\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nathan_S)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/75 "2010-03-11T14:27:53Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > _Too verbose for edit mode_: I actually blame AH for reviving the corpse of Greek life as a zombie caricature of itself. In 1977, the few fratboys on the average campus were objects of disdain to the hippie students. A couple of years later, those hippies were lucky to get a gig covering “Shout” at their parties. Not where I went to college (I graduated in 1979); fraternities ruled the collegiate roost and hippies (though they were hard to find) were objects of campus disdain. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/76 "2010-03-11T14:42:37Z")
Whether or not it is overrated as a comedy is one thing. What cannot be underestimated is its cultural influence. Same with Fast Times at Ridgemont High. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/77 "2010-03-11T14:50:03Z")
Agree with others, don’t see how it copuld be over-rated. It was a stupid hijinks type comedy that laid the foundation of frat movies to come. As a bit of a hijack, my brother once did a paper for a film course where he said that M.A.S.H was basically a frat movie with blood. That one might have been a little over-rated. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/78 "2010-03-11T18:25:50Z")
True story. My restaurant/nightclub once highed Otis Day and the Knights for our anniversary celebration, as the theme was “Toga party” They kicked ass. This was about 1986. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/79 "2010-03-11T18:30:37Z")
This movie gets alot of its attention and glory because it was an “edgy movie” for baby boomers, though it’s nothing special at all anymore and really wasn’t once the 80’s kicked in. It’s kind of like Blues Brothers in that regard. They SEEM enduring when in reality it’s just the fact that there are so many baby boomers around still talking them up as great, funny movies when they really aren’t. Once the BB’s die off we won’t hear about these over-rated movies any more. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858/80 "2010-03-11T18:35:59Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > As a bit of a hijack, my brother once did a paper for a film course where he said that M.A.S.H was basically a frat movie with blood. Your brother’s not the only one. Even though **MASH** was eight years before and seemingly a world away from **Animal House** , I can’t help noticing how much the doctors of the 4077 act like the denizens of Delta House. Also, both movies feature Donald Sutherland. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-animal-house-overrated/531858.md?page=5)