Do you remember when National Lampoon movies were funny, readers? Animal House. Vacation. European Vacation. Christmas Vacation. Even Class Reunion. Fine comedies, all.
But lately, the Lampoon – that fine and venerable institution of American comedy – has been reduced to the likes of Pledge This and Dorm Daze. Unoriginal, puerile crap, all.
And things aren’t going to get any better, with the news that the company is set to make a spoof of the likes of 300, Troy and Gladiator entitled – and get this – National Lampoon’s The Legend Of Awesomest Maximus.
Now, say for a second that Meet The Spartans was a bad fever dream (please God tell us that it was a bad fever dream)… even if that movie didn’t exist, is there really enough scope in the epic movies of the past decade to fuel a feature-length spoof? Really?
No, didn’t think so. But that’s not going to stop Jason Burinescu (script) and director Jeff Kanew (who directed Revenge Of The Nerds) from giving it a damn good go.
And dear God, they’ve assembled a cast filled with people we’ve actually heard of. Kristanna Loken is in this. So’s Rip Torn, bless him. And Tony Cox, so funny in Bad Santa, will also show up, no doubt to be on the receiving end of some mean-spirited midget gags. (We'd make a gag about the poster boasting the legend, 'Torn Cox' but we're taking the piss out of National Lampoon, not giving them ideas.)
It’s all too depressing for words. And the really bad news is that National Lampoon now produces its own movies – and The Legend Of Awesomest Maximus will be one of four they hope to churn out in the next year. If anyone needs us, we'll be in the nuclear bunker, stocking up on supplies.