“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.”
These few insightful words, spoken by Dean Vernon Wormer to Kent ‘Flounder’ Dorfman in the college-classic Animal House have spoken to years of college students since the landmark movie debuted in 1978.
Animal House, a movie focusing on the fictional Delta fraternity in 1962 at the equally fictional Faber College has truly become an American comedy classic. On Tuesday, August 26, Universal Studios re-released the film as part of a new DVD package set.
The DVD set, subtitled “Double Secret Probation Edition” after the punishment covertly given to Delta house by Dean Wormer, celebrates the film’s 25th anniversary.
In addition to the digitally remastered movie, the DVD offers a “Where are they now?” mockumentary of the Delta Alumni, animated anecdotes about the original production of the film, and a remade version of “Shout” by MxPx.
To some, Animal House was simply another movie, but to many it was so much more. The low-budget film went on to gross $141.6 million in the box office. According to the Associated Press, many cast members said this success was “because people could see part of themselves in its array of lovers, losers, jocks, preppies and wannabees.”
“The movie came out and complemented the culture, which was in a very anti-authoritarian state of mind,” said Peter Reigert, who played Donald ‘Boon’ Schoenstein, in an AP interview. “It’s about the rejection of uniformed foolish authority.”
To those seeing Animal House for the first time, its message is the same as it was to those in 1978. Seeing John Belushi as the drunk-yet-lovable Bluto chug a full bottle of Jack Daniels in his infamous COLLEGE sweatshirt still makes college students laugh.
“Animal House is one of those movie you could watch a million times and not get tired of,”said Lauren Fedechena ’05. “It’s not even from my time, it’s from my parents’, and I still feel that I can relate to it.”
Maureen Hession, ’06, agrees: “It’s a cult classic. Even though it came out in 1978 it still reflects college life today better than current movies do.”
As stated in the DVD extras by many of those involved with the film, one of the main draws to the movie was that people felt that they knew the characters. Looking around any college campus there is a Bluto, a womanizing Otter, an all too innocent Pinto and a way too uptight and authoritarian Greg Marmalard. These archetypes never change, and neither does the appeal of their situations.
Many movies have followed in the successful footsteps of the snobs vs. slobs format of Animal House. Some of these successes include Caddyshack and Porky’s in the 1980’s and most recently the new college staple of Old School. As Old School star Will Ferrell to the AP, “We aspired to try to be that [Animal House].”
The legacy of Animal House can be best summed up by Bluto in his famous drunken speech, “Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!”
Just as it wasn’t over after Pearl Harbor, the legacy of Animal House was not over after it closed at the box offices. Twenty-five years later audiences are still viewing the movie and quoting its memorable lines. The spirit of Animal House will endure because, as said by John Vernon who played Dean Wormer in an AP interview, “Whether they actually went through something like that or not, they wish they had.”
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