Animal House

"Toga!"

review of Animal House (1978)- Harold Ramis

Animal House has gone down in history as the greatest college comedy on the planet. While some find it to be outdated, I still can't get enough of this hilarious laugh-fest. Harold Ramis sets the precedent with a film that redefines the comedy genre as a whole. While his other films such as Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, and Stripes are also extremely entertaining, Animal House still remains one of the best.

Faber College is a high society college that prides itself on the devotion of it's students. Dean Wormer's (John Vernon) tenure has quite the list of accolades, including extortion. Most of the fraternities on campus are well-behaved and organized, with one exception: The Delta House. We get our first taste of the Delta fraternity when Larry Kroger (Tom Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst), visit them while browsing the campus' frat houses as freshman in 1962. Delta's long list of comedic members include: 'Boon' (Peter Reigert), D-Day (Bruce McGill), Robert Hoover; the chapter President (James Widdoes), 'Otter' (Tim Matheson), and last, but not least: 'Bluto' (John Belushi).

The Delta House is placed on "Double Secret Probation" after pushing Dean Wormer over the edge with their disgusting antics on campus. After receiving this warning, the Deltas continue to throw parties, torture the arch-nemesis fraternity headed by Douglas C. Neidermeyer (Mark Metcalf), and play pranks on the college. The end result? Expulsion from the college.

Just when the Delta's are down and out, we get to witness one of the most hilarious and entertaining revenge plots in cinema history!

Animal House is simply the most entertaining comedy in existence, and is a trademark film from the late 70's. Before the success of National Lampoon's Vacation, Animal House set the bar for the film franchise which remains one of the highest grossing film companies to this day.

Toga! Toga! Toga!