So while I was not aware of the guy depicted here (and how he changed the comedy industry in America and therefor around the world too) and was more aware of ZAZ connection, I found out I am not alone with my lack of knowledge. And the movie is here to rectify this, although you could also call it an almost documentary. One that breaks the 4th wall quite a lot.

We get introduced to the character right off the bat and because I had no idea what he looks like I couldn't tell if he played himself in older age (though that is something that will be clear towards the end, if you didn't know already yourself). The we get quite a few comedy talents of our recent times, playing quite a few of comedy legends of that time the movie depicting. It is funny, but it is also weird and therefor not really for everyone. I like the fact this dares to be different, I can't say if that rings true for you

Based on A Futile and Stupid Gesture: How Doug Kenney and National Lampoon Changed Comedy Forever, Kenney basically assembled the cast of Saturday Night Live before the show even aired. From John Hughes, Anne Beatts and P.J. O'Rourke to Tony Hendra (Spinal Tap's manager Ian Faith) and Chris Miller (who co-wrote Animal House) on the writing side to Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner (and more) on the performance side, you can see how nearly every comedy in the 1980's had the Lampoon stamp - and stink - all over it.

As for the film, it's pretty much made for comedy geeks who have the hardback of Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead and have watched the documentary that ensured ad nauseam, that have read and re-read every book on SNL, that can breathlessly tell you of the relevance of 1970's comedy. Yes, I am looking at the man in the mirror.

If you knew nothing about Kenney, I'm not sure you'll come out of this film loving him. In my reading of him, I've always seen him as this mysterious force that would write and write and write and then disappear, only to come back and prove himself all over again until he fell into a whirlwind of drugs and depression and faded away from this reality. I've always found myself more drawn to the pure menace and in your face nature of Michael O'Donoghue, who is portrayed in the film by The State's Thomas Lennon. His intro scene, where he goes into a manic rant that sounds life and death and is really only directed to a record club operator is perfect. So if you're looking for a memoir of his greatest hits, this film is for you (indeed, the movie ending food fight has Beatts and O'Donoghue locked in a romantic embrace, making him near heroic).

This is almost a game to spot the comedian and who they are playing, kind of like The Greatest Story Ever Told, but for comedy. That's Will Forte and Martin Mull as Kenney (I hoped against hope that I had been Mandala Effected into a world where Kenney survived, but no dice). Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux!) as Henry Beard. Pittsburgh's own Jon Daly as Bill Murray. John Gemberling (Bevers from Broad City) as Belushi. Ed Helms as a picture perfect Tom Snyder. Natasha Lyonne as Anne Beatts. Even Joel McHale, portraying his old Community castmate Chevy Chase, who comes off as much an enabler as a friend. Tony Hendra is the only person who really gets a hatchet job here, coming off as a joke and girlfriend thief (and his daughter's allegations of sexual abuse make him a troubling figure to enjoy these days). Paul Scheer even shows up as Paul Schaffer! Seriously, this film is just about a laundry list.

I really liked some of David Wain (The State, Wet Hot American Summer) transitions in the film, such as how he uses the Lampoon Foto Funny style to explain Kenney's divorce and then how he decides to escape to Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Kathryn Walker. There's also plenty of explanation for why no one really looks like the people they're playing, an attempted explanation for the Lampoon's lack of minorities and a laundry list of the way the movie plays fast and loose with what really happened ("some other things we changed from real life for pacing, dramatic impact, or just cause we felt like it.").

Obviously, this is a movie basically made for me to enjoy. And I did, but it's difficult for me to recommend it to anyone who doesn't really care about where comedy comes from.

It's weird watching this immediately after Drunk Stoned Stupid Dead (Im also reading the Making of Caddyshack, which is basically about the making of National Lampoon) and....

Joel McHale as Chevy is inspired casting. A lot of the casting is - Will Forte and Domnhall Gleeson at the top and their scenes in the first half of the film making up the real heart of the thing (like Social Network but totally wiseass, which is fun).

But that framing device is just pure WTF, and it ends on a note that maybe Kenney would have appreciated if he were alive, but he's not and we are and it feels so... I dunno. It's also strange to be living in 2018 and (as David Erhlich pointed out, im sure he wasnt alone) have a straight-faced take on the "wrong kid died" cliche that was mocked ten years ago in Walk Hard. Sure it did happen here, but Wain's treatment doesnt skirt the cliche, it just is one.

There are enough fun bits here to make it watchable (grading sort of on a Netflix curve),and the actors are all trying their best. And... It's fine. Which is not the kind of praise Kenney would've wanted.