In Defense of “Animal House”

This week on GLoP, it’s the 40th anniversary of the release of Animal House, one of the most important movies in the GLoP Character Universe (The GLoPCU, if you will). But lately, this great American movie is under attack for well, not being “woke” enough, like some sort of cinematic Confederate statue. But don’t worry, the Men of GLoP® are here to save the day and defend the movie from a societal fatal kiln explosion . Also, is collusion a crime? And on the occasion of Mission Impossible: Fallout‘s giant opening, we list our favorite Tim Cruise movies. Or try to.

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There are 88 comments.

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  1. kylez Member
    kylez
    @kylez

    That movie isn’t funny. 

    • #1
  2. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    • #2
  3. kylez Member
    kylez
    @kylez

    Tim Cruise is so underrated. 

    • #3
  4. Dorrk Inactive
    Dorrk
    @Dorrk

    I’m a bit behind in podcasts, so it might be a few weeks before I get to this one, but I wrote my own defense of Animal House a few months ago.

    It was especially interesting to reconsider that movie shortly after watching the Netflix movie A Futile and Stupid Gesture, about the early days of National Lampoon. Understanding the Lampoon culture, which is out of step with today’s new puritanism, might be key to younger viewers grappling with how real subversive comedy operates.

    • #4
  5. Jeffery Shepherd Inactive
    Jeffery Shepherd
    @JefferyShepherd

    I am unmoved by Goldberg’s argument that a campaign using a cut-out to collude is not as bad as direct collusion.  Regardless of the actual facts.

    • #5
  6. JuliaBlaschke Lincoln
    JuliaBlaschke
    @JuliaBlaschke

    Now I am determined to re-watch Animal House … just to own the libs ;) 

    • #6
  7. JuliaBlaschke Lincoln
    JuliaBlaschke
    @JuliaBlaschke

    Jeffery Shepherd (View Comment):

    I am unmoved by Goldberg’s argument that a campaign using a cut-out to collude is not as bad as direct collusion. Regardless of the actual facts.

    I still don’t understand why Hillary’s obvious conspiracy with Loretta Lynch is just dismissed or glossed over. That meeting is evidence of corruption at the highest levels. It doesn’t even matter what was said. The fact that the meeting took place is more than enough. 

    But I gave up long ago trying to compare Trump and Hillary. They both stink.

    • #7
  8. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Good job, Rob. About time someone gave JPod a run for his money.

    • #8
  9. Shawn Buell (Majestyk) Member
    Shawn Buell (Majestyk)
    @Majestyk

    I’ve watched Animal House, but never found it to be ingenious or funny.  But that’s OK: I hated Vacation as well.

    Making people feel awkward (Ben Stiller’s only capability) is not a substitute for comedy.

    • #9
  10. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    People born after Animal House was made may not find it entertaining.  But it is.  Knowledge is good.

    • #10
  11. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    JuliaBlaschke (View Comment):

    Jeffery Shepherd (View Comment):

    I am unmoved by Goldberg’s argument that a campaign using a cut-out to collude is not as bad as direct collusion. Regardless of the actual facts.

    I still don’t understand why Hillary’s obvious conspiracy with Loretta Lynch is just dismissed or glossed over. That meeting is evidence of corruption at the highest levels. It doesn’t even matter what was said. The fact that the meeting took place is more than enough.

    Come on. It was just a couple of people who bumped into each other at the airport and swapped stories about their grandchildren. Nothing to see there. </s>

    • #11
  12. Umbra of Nex Inactive
    Umbra of Nex
    @UmbraFractus

    Shawn Buell (Majestyk) (View Comment):
    I’ve watched Animal House, but never found it to be ingenious or funny.

    I don’t know that I’d call it “ingenious,” but it made me laugh out loud twice, which is not an easy thing to do. (I’m the kind of person where, even when I find something funny, it takes a lot to get me to lose composure.)

    • #12
  13. Shawn Buell (Majestyk) Member
    Shawn Buell (Majestyk)
    @Majestyk

    Umbra of Nex (View Comment):
    I don’t know that I’d call it “ingenious,” but it made me laugh out loud twice, which is not an easy thing to do. (I’m the kind of person where, even when I find something funny, it takes a lot to get me to lose composure.)

    Movies that I find to be funny, but not necessarily ranked:

    Caddyshack

    Ghostbusters

    Stripes (Yes, there’s a pattern developing here)

    There’s Something About Mary

    Spaceballs

    The Silence of the Lambs (just kidding.)

    • #13
  14. Joseph Eagar Member
    Joseph Eagar
    @JosephEagar

    So, my recollection is that NR and Commentary came up with the “collusion is not a crime” line more than a year ago. Heh.

    • #14
  15. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Shawn Buell (Majestyk) (View Comment):
    Movies that I find to be funny, but not necessarily ranked:

    That reminds me of Rob’s line about Animal House‘s being his first R-rated movie. Mine was Blazing Saddles.

    • #15
  16. Umbra of Nex Inactive
    Umbra of Nex
    @UmbraFractus

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Shawn Buell (Majestyk) (View Comment):
    Movies that I find to be funny, but not necessarily ranked:

    That reminds me of Rob’s line about Animal House‘s being his first R-rated movie. Mine was Blazing Saddles.

    I’m not sure what mine was, but I think it might have been Robocop.

    • #16
  17. DonG Coolidge
    DonG
    @DonG

    I find the dismissing of Fusion GPS talk annoying.  Are the hosts so anti-Trump that they really don’t care about the head of the CIA and top people in the DOJ and FBI conspiring to spy on Trump campaign using NSA omnipotent sig-int vacuum?  Not just FISA warrants, there is also the unmasking, the backchannel data access through State dept, and the national security letters.   We have built this jaw-droppingly power spy apparatus and it was so easily corrupted for partisan purposes.  People used to freak out about 2 guys with a flashlight rummaging though the opponents campaign office.  Spygate is a million times worse and crickets.

    Also, Jews are not nearly as globalist as Catholics.  The word “Catholic” means universal, and the universe is way bigger than the globe.

    • #17
  18. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Umbra of Nex (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Shawn Buell (Majestyk) (View Comment):
    Movies that I find to be funny, but not necessarily ranked:

    That reminds me of Rob’s line about Animal House‘s being his first R-rated movie. Mine was Blazing Saddles.

    I’m not sure what mine was, but I think it might have been Robocop.

    Jack Valenti started the “modern” rating system in ’68, so I’ve been trying to figure out what late ’60s films had an “R.”  I know the French Connection and Straw Dogs in ’71 had R ratings, but I’m wondering about something earlier, like The Wild Bunch in ’69.  Paging @garymcvey.

     

    • #18
  19. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    like The Wild Bunch in ’69.

    According to IMDB, yes. (Rating is in the upper left under the title.)

    • #19
  20. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    I’m about 15 minutes in. When does the culture part start?

    • #20
  21. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    DonG (View Comment):

    I find the dismissing of Fusion GPS talk annoying. Are the hosts so anti-Trump that they really don’t care about the head of the CIA and top people in the DOJ and FBI conspiring to spy on Trump campaign using NSA omnipotent sig-int vacuum? Not just FISA warrants, there is also the unmasking, the backchannel data access through State dept, and the national security letters. We have built this jaw-droppingly power spy apparatus and it was so easily corrupted for partisan purposes. People used to freak out about 2 guys with a flashlight rummaging though the opponents campaign office. Spygate is a million times worse and crickets.

    Also, Jews are not nearly as globalist as Catholics. The word “Catholic” means universal, and the universe is way bigger than the globe.

    DonG (View Comment):

    I find the dismissing of Fusion GPS talk annoying. Are the hosts so anti-Trump that they really don’t care about the head of the CIA and top people in the DOJ and FBI conspiring to spy on Trump campaign using NSA omnipotent sig-int vacuum? Not just FISA warrants, there is also the unmasking, the backchannel data access through State dept, and the national security letters. We have built this jaw-droppingly power spy apparatus and it was so easily corrupted for partisan purposes. People used to freak out about 2 guys with a flashlight rummaging though the opponents campaign office. Spygate is a million times worse and crickets.

    Also, Jews are not nearly as globalist as Catholics. The word “Catholic” means universal, and the universe is way bigger than the globe.

    I’ve been saying for months (more than a year) it is possible that Trump or Trump associates in some way some how “colluded” with the Russians …. although to paraphrase Trey Gowdy if the (D)’s had something real in this regard it would most certainly have been leaked along time ago …. AND ….. the FBI/DOJ/Intel community completely abused their law enforcement/counter espionage authority in their exoneration of HRC and the methods they employed to instigate and proceed with the investigation of Trump for colluding with the Russians.

    Which is to say, even if Trump did know about the Don Jr’s meeting to get “dirt” on HRC(for example), the FBI getting a FISA warrant on Carter Page without probable cause is an enormous abuse of power and those responsible should be held accountable without regard to whether Trump or others actually colluded with the Russians.

    • #21
  22. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Percival (View Comment):

    I’m about 15 minutes in. When does the culture part start?

    It grows on you.

    • #22
  23. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    It’s still just premiere day, and this one already has more comments than the previous one got in TWO WEEKS.

    • #23
  24. Quake Voter Inactive
    Quake Voter
    @QuakeVoter

    Jonah’s an umpire.  Just calling balls and strikes.  When he sees a manager call for a bean ball, he ejects him from the game.  When he sees the manager give the third baseman the sign to visit the mound and tell his pitcher to throw the bean ball … well that’s the way the game’s played.

      

    • #24
  25. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    I’m about 15 minutes in. When does the culture part start?

    It grows on you.

    And then you have to shower with bleach.  or something.  :-)

    • #25
  26. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    I’m about 15 minutes in. When does the culture part start?

    It grows on you.

    Yeah, like a slime mold.

    • #26
  27. Joseph Eagar Member
    Joseph Eagar
    @JosephEagar

    Percival (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    I’m about 15 minutes in. When does the culture part start?

    It grows on you.

    Yeah, like a slime mold.

    Does anyone else get the impression that Jonah is suffering from burnout?  I noticed something similar was happening in 2016; some conservative pundit would get a little bit of burnout, then something would happen and they’d be flooded with anti-semitic emails and the like and they’d get even more burned out.

    Maybe what Jonah needs is a nice long vacation with his family, away from the internet.

    • #27
  28. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    JuliaBlaschke (View Comment):

    Jeffery Shepherd (View Comment):

    I am unmoved by Goldberg’s argument that a campaign using a cut-out to collude is not as bad as direct collusion. Regardless of the actual facts.

    I still don’t understand why Hillary’s obvious conspiracy with Loretta Lynch is just dismissed or glossed over. That meeting is evidence of corruption at the highest levels. It doesn’t even matter what was said. The fact that the meeting took place is more than enough.

    Come on. It was just a couple of people who bumped into each other at the airport and swapped stories about their grandchildren. Nothing to see there. </s>

    The Loretta Lynch airport meeting I heard about was Bill, not Hillary.

    • #28
  29. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Percival (View Comment):

    I’m about 15 minutes in. When does the culture part start?

    Yeah that is my thought.

    Come for Animal House, listen to other.

    To be fair, go Rob for being the voice of reason.

    Update: 18 min of anti Trump rant (not advertised) and then drop into Hello Fresh. Weee!

    • #29
  30. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    This came out on the day that VDH talked at length about the problem being the perceived imbalance. 

    • #30
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