A Futile and Stupid Gesture

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A Futile and Stupid Gesture

2018,

1h 41m,

Biography/

Comedy

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A Futile and Stupid Gesture: Featurette - Doug Kenney

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67%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Writer Doug Kenney co-founds National Lampoon magazine in 1970.

Critics Consensus

A Futile and Stupid Gesture entertainingly recreates the birth of an influential comedic movement, even if it struggles to cover its creative ground.

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Todd Gilchrist

TheWrap

Feb 6, 2018

A Futile And Stupid Gesture is, ultimately, anything but pointless, exploring an important moment in pop culture through the life of a man who captured its essence as well as the people who made him an institution.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Feb 5, 2018

3/5

For those unfamiliar with the details, there's a neat narrative curve ball in the final act. Stupid: For sure. But futile? Hardly.

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Leslie Felperin

The Hollywood Reporter

Feb 1, 2018

A move that, if nothing else, shockingly abandons the traditional rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-redemption four-part trajectory to which nearly every biopic slavishly adheres.

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Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

Jan 5, 2023

The film is strongest in its first third, where all the jokes are.

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Mikel Zorrilla

Espinof

Jul 31, 2019

It is a very interesting proposal to understand a little better the whole process that may be behind the comedy genre. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Richard Trenholm

CNET

Apr 16, 2019

There's more to this Futile and Stupid Gesture than a line-up of celebrity impressions.

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George S

Mar 26, 2019

A clever meta-comedy. An awful lot to try and cram into a movie, and it can often leave the viewer wanting, but just appreciating the meta-ness of it was enough to enchant me. YMMV.

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Leia L

Jan 23, 2019

David Wain doing a biopic? Like an actual biopic? Yes please!

Hagrid S

Aug 17, 2018

While it probably isn't as funny as the material it's cover, the period and self parody work well and there's something fascinating about watching these modern comedians portraying their idols.

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Harry R

Aug 14, 2018

1) A futile attempt to recreate the magic of Man On The Moon but David Wain is no Milo Forman 2) Too many characters, too little time. 3) This biopic follows the same rise and fall formula as used in Goodfellas, Scarface and The Wolf Of Wall Street.

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George L

Aug 14, 2018

I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did, but it was extremely entertaining and educational in filling in the blanks regarding the origins of National Lampoon. Sad ending, but still a poignant story. Definitely take the time to see it.

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Hermione S

Jul 8, 2018

Cool for killing time

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David Wain

Director

Will Forte

Douglas Kenney

Emmy Rossum

Kathryn Walker

Domhnall Gleeson

Henry Beard

Seth Green

Christopher Guest

Natasha Lyonne

Ann Beatts

A Futile and Stupid Gesture: Clip - Performers

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A Futile and Stupid Gesture: Featurette - Doug Kenney

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A Futile and Stupid Gesture: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Writer Doug Kenney co-founds National Lampoon magazine in 1970.

Director: David Wain
Producer: Peter Principato, Ted Sarandos, Jonathan Stern
Screenwriter: John Aboud, Michael Colton
Production Co: Principato-Young Entertainment, Abominable Pictures
Genre: Biography, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 26, 2018
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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