A conventionally raucous biopic that knows it's conventional and hopes to get away with said convention by occasionally breaking the fourth wall to goof on its deployment of these hoary tropes.
It serves as a useful explainer to viewers who aren't comedy nerds as to why the most sought after job by Harvard grads, after doctor or lawyer, is a writing gig on "The Simpsons."
An impishly meta cartoon that manages to squeeze in some serious themes - although I'm not sure it leaves you with more than a desire to read (or reread) Kenney's most famous Lampoon works.
There's a musicality to Wain's direction that's addicting, and the emotional punch in the final five minutes proves there's a future for the filmmaker that goes way beyond the yucks. In that respect, A Futile and Stupid Gesture is anything but that.
It's to A Futile and Stupid Gesture's credit that it manages to have a widespread appeal, and will likely be an enjoyable viewing experience for both those already interested in the history of comedy and those who may know next-to-nothing about Lampoon.
Kenney and Beard are friends and business partners who experience the ups and downs of their creative partnership, but like many things in "A Futile and Stupid Gesture," their relationship feels like a glossy version of the truth.
