A Futile and Stupid Gesture (film)

A Futile and Stupid Gesture is a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by David Wain and written by Michael Colton and John Aboud, based on Josh Karp's 2006 book of the same name. The film follows the life and career of Douglas Kenney, one of the co-founders of the humor magazine National Lampoon.

Will Forte stars as Kenney, with Domhnall Gleeson as Henry Beard, Kenney's partner in the National Lampoon venture. The supporting cast includes Martin Mull as an older Kenney narrating the story, Joel McHale as Chevy Chase, Thomas Lennon as Michael O'Donoghue, and Emmy Rossum as Kathryn Walker, Kenney's girlfriend.

The film chronicles Kenney's early life, his time at Harvard University where he met Beard, the founding and rise of National Lampoon, its subsequent success and influence on American comedy, and Kenney's struggles with fame, substance abuse, and mental health. It explores the creation of iconic National Lampoon projects, including the magazine, the radio show, stage shows, and the landmark comedy film Animal House.

A Futile and Stupid Gesture employs a self-aware and meta-humorous narrative style, breaking the fourth wall and commenting directly on the storytelling process. It also includes parodies and tributes to classic National Lampoon sketches and characters. The film aims to capture the anarchic and irreverent spirit of National Lampoon while also addressing the more serious aspects of Kenney's life and eventual death. It was released on Netflix on January 26, 2018.