# National Lampoon Goes to the Movies (1981)

### reviewed by
Brian L. Johnson

                         NATIONAL LAMPOON'S MOVIE MADNESS
                           A film review by Ken Johnson
                            Copyright 1993 Ken Johnson

1:29, R, Comedy, 1982 Directors: Bob Giraldi, Henry Jaglom Cast: Robby Benson, Richard Widmark, Diane Lane, Candy Clark, Christopher Lloyd, Peter Reigart, Ann Dusenberry, Barry Diamond, Elisah Cook, Robert Culp, Bobby Di Cicco, Teresa Ganzel, Julie Kavner, Joe Spinell, Titos Vandis, Margaret Whitton, Fred Willard, Henny Youngman, Trinidad Silva, Tommy Koenig, Olympia Dukakis, Dick Miller

This film is actually three spoofs of films/television. The first segment, "Grow Yourself," is a spoof of personal growth films. Peter Reigart kicks his wife out of the house so that the two of them can grow. The second segment, "Success Wanters," is a spoof of soap operas. Ann Dusenberry, a stripper, uses what she can to climb the success ladder. The last segment, "Municipalians," is a spoof of cop films. Young policeman Robby Benson is after woman killer Christopher Lloyd and can't seem to get the knack of things.

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S MOVIE MADNESS has just been re-released on MGM/UA Home video under the title NATIONAL LAMPOON GOES TO THE MOVIES. Supposedly this film originally had a fourth segment making fun of disaster films, but that is not on the MGM/UA cassette. This film is funny and worth seeing. On a scale of zero to five, I give NATIONAL LAMPOON'S MOVIE MADNESS a four. MOVIE MADNESS is rated R for adult situations, female nudity, adult humor, explicit language, and violence.

Henry Jaglom was the director of the "Municipalians" segment and Bob Giraldi was the director of the "Grow Yourself" and "Success Wanters" segments. Olympia Dukakis (LOOK WHO'S TALKING, MOONSTRUCK), Trinidad Silva (UHF), Dick Miller (MATINEE, AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON) and Tommy Koenig (NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CLASS OF '86) all have brief cameos in this film. I liked the drawn pictures that were shown between the segments. I think that they make a good segue between the sketches.

I feel that "Municipalians" is the best segment in the film. I think that it has the best cast and is written better than the others. It is also the funniest segment. MOVIE MADNESS is worth seeing just for this segment. Robby Benson (WHITE HOT, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) makes a great innocent cop. Christopher Lloyd (BACK TO THE FUTURE - PART 3, THE ADDAMS FAMILY) makes a great criminal.

"Success Wanters," which is the next best segment, gets stretched out too long. The material can't quite hold up throughout the entire segment. Ann Dusenberry (THE MEN'S CLUB) gives a reasonably good performance, however, I think she could have done a little better. Robert Culp (HICKEY AND BOGGS, "I Spy") does a great job as the head of a margarine company.

"Grow Yourself" is definitely the worst segment. The script wasn't written too well and it has many slow spots. There are some very funny parts though, so it is still worth watching. I don't think Peter Reigert (NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE) gives his best performance in this film. Diane Lane (KNIGHT MOVES, CHAPLIN), even though her name is third on the beginning credits, only has a cameo. She does a good job though.

    -------
    Ken Johnson
    blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu

    .

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