Watch National Lampoon's Class Reunion
- R
- 1982
- 1 hr 24 min
-
4.6 (2,396)
National Lampoon's Class Reunion, released in 1982, is a comedy film that traces the events of a high school reunion for the class of 1972. The film follows the story of Lizzie Borden High School's graduating class, who are returning to their alma mater after ten long years to celebrate their reunion. The film's protagonist is Gerrit Graham, who plays the role of Hubert Downs, the class clown who has been incarcerated for ten years for a practical joke gone awry. Upon his release, he decides to attend the reunion and get revenge on his old classmates. His antics include impersonating a dictator from a fake country, setting off bombs, and sabotaging the event in various ways. His goal is to get back at his former classmates for not standing up for him and helping him when he needed them the most.
However, his old classmates are not the only ones attending the event. Hubert has to confront his jilted lover, Bunny Packard (Miriam Flynn) and his arch-nemesis, Dr. Robert Young (Michael Lerner). Bunny was never accepted by the popular crowd and had to suffer through the high school years humiliated and ridiculed. Robert, on the other hand, was the kind of student who always had his nose in a book and was more interested in pursuing academic excellence than popularity.
The two have come back to the reunion with very different agendas. Bunny wants to take revenge on the people who hurt her in high school, while Robert is trying to atone for his past mistakes by making amends with his old classmates. There are also the jocks, including the former football team captain, Bob Spinnaker (Fred McCarren), who has become overweight and bald, and is still attempting to relive his glory days. The film is full of quirky and memorable characters like this, each with their own unique backstory and motivation for attending the reunion.
The plot of the movie unfolds in a typical National Lampoon's fashion, from absurd pranks to over-the-top gags, with plenty of laughs to be had along the way. There are also several music numbers in the film, which not only add to the comedic value but also serve as a throwback to the era. The songs are all parodies of popular hits of the time, with lyrics that are hilarious as they are catchy.
The film is directed by Michael Miller, who effectively captures the essence of the National Lampoon brand. It successfully portrays the funny, raunchy, and engaging style that National Lampoon is known for, bringing back memories of other titles like National Lampoon's Animal House, and National Lampoon's Vacation.
The movie is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys bizarre humour and wants to relive the era of the late 70s and early 80s. The acting is stellar, with Gerrit Graham stealing the show with his performance as the mischievous Hubert. He is charismatic and entertaining, but also manages to bring depth and nuance to his character. The supporting cast is equally good, with each character contributing to the overall fun and madness of the story.
National Lampoon's Class Reunion is a great trip down memory lane, providing a nostalgic glimpse into high school life in the early 1970s. The film manages to capture the essence of that era perfectly, from the music to the fashion and the overall atmosphere. It offers a different perspective on the high school reunion genre, with pranks and jokes aplenty. The film is a must-watch for fans of National Lampoon and for anyone looking for a hilarious and entertaining comedy film.