A Futile and Stupid Gesture is a fine tribute to the co-founder of the National Lampoon franchise, Douglas Kenney. As someone else said Doug Kenney is unknown enough for there to be an ending you won't expect for this biopic film. After having watched that I appreciate the film for bringing this creative and talented individual to light, who may have escaped most of our notice even though we love and admire his works, like the National Lampoon magazine, National Lampoon Animal House and Caddyshack.
As a film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture is highly creative in its use of transitions, and its use of comic strips or radio plays to frame important scenes or internal dialogues. It also uses one key narrative device that takes a turn at the end of the film when the twist is revealed. A Futile and Stupid Gesture exhibits a lot of play for what is, as you find, a rather dramatic and poignant end.
While A Futile and Stupid Gesture is commendable in its spirit and in its creativity, a number of technicalities regarding the story, it's focus, and the pacing of it keeps A Futile and Stupid Gesture from a more excellent score. There is a lot that is brought into the story that doesn't really lead anywhere, a lot of stops and starts, and a finale that isn't greatly supported by what has come before. A Futile and Stupid Gesture has a lot of heart, and some creative gusto, but the film feels more episodic and less complete than it really should.
That being said, I enjoyed learning about the co-creator of Doug Kenney of National Lampoon, and hope that Netflix can make more biopics of this type.
As a film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture is highly creative in its use of transitions, and its use of comic strips or radio plays to frame important scenes or internal dialogues. It also uses one key narrative device that takes a turn at the end of the film when the twist is revealed. A Futile and Stupid Gesture exhibits a lot of play for what is, as you find, a rather dramatic and poignant end.
While A Futile and Stupid Gesture is commendable in its spirit and in its creativity, a number of technicalities regarding the story, it's focus, and the pacing of it keeps A Futile and Stupid Gesture from a more excellent score. There is a lot that is brought into the story that doesn't really lead anywhere, a lot of stops and starts, and a finale that isn't greatly supported by what has come before. A Futile and Stupid Gesture has a lot of heart, and some creative gusto, but the film feels more episodic and less complete than it really should.
That being said, I enjoyed learning about the co-creator of Doug Kenney of National Lampoon, and hope that Netflix can make more biopics of this type.