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IMDbPro

A Futile and Stupid Gesture

  • 20182018
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
17K
YOUR RATING
Will Forte in A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
BiographyComedy
In the 1970s and '80s, National Lampoon's success and influence creates a new media empire overseen in part by the brilliant and troubled Douglas Kenney.In the 1970s and '80s, National Lampoon's success and influence creates a new media empire overseen in part by the brilliant and troubled Douglas Kenney.In the 1970s and '80s, National Lampoon's success and influence creates a new media empire overseen in part by the brilliant and troubled Douglas Kenney.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Wain
  • Writers
    • Michael Colton
    • John Aboud
    • Josh Karp(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Frank Gingerich
    • Morgan Gingerich
    • Annette O'Toole
  • Director
    • David Wain
  • Writers
    • Michael Colton
    • John Aboud
    • Josh Karp(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • Frank Gingerich
    • Morgan Gingerich
    • Annette O'Toole
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 67User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:38
    Watch Official Trailer
    BUILD: Joel McHale Discusses A Futile and Stupid Gesture
    Interview 2:30
    Watch BUILD: Joel McHale Discusses A Futile and Stupid Gesture
    David Wain's Long Road to Telling 'A Futile and Stupid Gesture'
    Video 3:43
    Watch David Wain's Long Road to Telling 'A Futile and Stupid Gesture'
    Domhnall Gleeson Takes Credit for Memorable 'Last Jedi' Scene
    Video 1:12
    Watch Domhnall Gleeson Takes Credit for Memorable 'Last Jedi' Scene

    Photos70

    Will Forte and Domhnall Gleeson in A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Emmy Rossum, Kevin Smith, Thomas Lennon, David Wain, and Domhnall Gleeson at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Domhnall Gleeson at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Emmy Rossum at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Emmy Rossum, Thomas Lennon, Jonathan Stern, David Wain, Peter Principato, and Domhnall Gleeson at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Emmy Rossum at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Emmy Rossum, Thomas Lennon, David Wain, and Domhnall Gleeson at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Thomas Lennon at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Domhnall Gleeson at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Emmy Rossum at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Domhnall Gleeson at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
    Emmy Rossum at an event for A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Frank Gingerich
    • Doug - Age 12
    Morgan Gingerich
    • Doug - Age 12
    Annette O'Toole
    Annette O'Toole
    • Stephanie Kenney
    Harry Groener
    Harry Groener
    • Harry Kenney
    Martin Mull
    Martin Mull
    • Modern Doug
    David Wain
    David Wain
    • Interviewer
    Domhnall Gleeson
    Domhnall Gleeson
    • Henry Beard
    Will Forte
    Will Forte
    • Douglas Kenney
    Ben F. Campbell
    Ben F. Campbell
    • Harvard Jester
    • (as Ben Campbell)
    Jon Klaft
    Jon Klaft
    • Preppy Student
    Camille Guaty
    Camille Guaty
    • Alex Garcia-Mata
    Brad Morris
    Brad Morris
    • Peter Ivers
    Carla Gallo
    Carla Gallo
    • Lucy Fisher
    Beau Bassewitz
    • Umpire
    Rick Overton
    Rick Overton
    • First Publisher
    Mark Metcalf
    Mark Metcalf
    • Second Publisher
    David Krumholtz
    David Krumholtz
    • Time-Life Publisher
    Mitchell Hurwitz
    Mitchell Hurwitz
    • Time-Life Publisher
    • (as Mitch Hurwitz)
    • Director
      • David Wain
    • Writers
      • Michael Colton
      • John Aboud
      • Josh Karp(based on the book by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Martha Smith, who played Babs in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), has a brief cameo as a bus tour guide at Universal Studios. This is a reference to the ending of Animal House, where Babs was said to have become a tour guide at Universal Studios. It's also referenced after the credits of several movies at the time in an advertisement for the studio tour ("Ask for Babs").
    • Goofs
      When the names of National Lampoon staff omitted from the movie are flashed on the screen, renowned cartoonist and NatLamp editor Shary Flenniken's name is misspelled (as "Sherry").
    • Quotes

      Tom Snyder: Mr. Kenney, it's a fine line between being clever and offensive, isn't it?

      Douglas Kenney: Look, if I could just say something in defense of National Lampoon for one moment...

      Tom Snyder: Please.

      Douglas Kenney: We come from a tradition of truth-tellers. A long time ago, there was someone else society found offensive. They thought that what he did was radical - dangerous. They persecuted him... and eventually killed him. Of course, I'm referring to Dracula.

    • Crazy credits
      After the end credits have rolled, Martin Mull is shown singing the song "Time of My Life" with members of the cast.
    • Connections
      Features Airplane! (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Chapel of Dreams
      Written by Billy Myles

      Performed by The Dubs

      Courtesy of Rhino Entertainment Company

      By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews67

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Netflix's' Best In a Looong While
    Rarely do movies make me laugh out loud anymore. This movie not only made me do it repeatedly, but had me laughing hours later remembering some of the bits. Extremely clever, well told story of a brilliantly hilarious guy who I, and I would guess most of my generation (I'm 31), am not familiar with. This was truly a 10/10 and I hope Netflix makes more like it down the road.
    helpful•39
    11
    • bigbadbassface
    • Jan 28, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 26, 2018 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cử Chỉ Vô Nghĩa và Ngốc Nghếch
    • Filming locations
      • Boston, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Artists First
      • Abominable Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.90 : 1

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