Netflix dropped the trailer for its upcoming film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, which tells the story of Doug Kenney, co-founder of National Lampoon and writer of comedy classics Animal House and Caddyshack. Naturally, it looks like a must-see for any fan of vintage comedy, and features portrayals of legends like Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Chevy Chase (played by his Community co-star Joel McHale).
The film could have been your standard tale of a troubled and brilliant young man, but it sets itself apart using an interesting conceit. Like so many biopics, it’s narrated by a present-day iteration of its hero, who's played as a young man by Will Forte. But the real Doug Kenney died in 1980, and the narrator who purports to be Kenney today is actually actor Martin Mull. It’s deeply weird, but somehow feels like it works.