Drunk, Stoned, Brilliant, Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon

There is nothing really wrong about this documentary. It simply applies fairly standard History Channel style in presenting a classic and truly brilliant moment in subversive counter-culture satire in a painfully dry and predictable way. This documentary does chronicle the story of the great magazine and it’s founders as well as the many artists who helped to create a great pop culture chapter. But it often feels a bit sanitized. Doug Kenny’s tragic death is audibly treated seriously, but visually we see the way in which Lampoon “grieved” utilizing some truly sick humor. It would have been interesting to hear an articulation of those infamously perverse bits of eulogy. This documentary should have been more creative and irreverent. In the end it is all just too “appropriate” for the subject matter is attempts to explore.

There are a multitude of reasons to really like this film. It is a bastion of information on one of the most important and influential magazines in comedy. The main problem with the documentary, and this may not be the fault of the film or filmmakers, is that there are many voices from the period who are still alive that are not included. No Harold Ramis, no Bill Murray or Brian Doyle Murray. No Christopher Guest. Concentration on the sad death of Doug Kenny it drops the sad story lines of Michael O’Donoghue. It glosses over some of the more important elements of the magazines as the photoplays and never mentions the comics such as Bonnie and Trotts. Doesn’t even mention some of the more ground breaking and controversial content such as “My Penis” which was not only disturbing but satirically explored gender rolls and social norms. It neglects the overall influence the magazine and it’s endeavors had on other publications at the time. (Such as MAD trying to do their own movie Up The Academy.) No OC and Stiggs or other films influenced by the magazine.. Anyway, OK film in a feel good nostalgia sort of way but lacks the depth that fans of the magazine are looking for.

Fascinating, funny, smart, juvenile, tragic, and likely to offend just about everyone. It’s a must-see for anyone who cares about comedy.

Don't miss this! One of the best docs I've seen in a long time