National Lampoon Presents Cattle Call (1/5)
Posted on 10 Jan 2011
The National Lampoon brand has limped on, post Chevy Chase; the lot of them are low budget, dung. This film, starring Nicole Eggert of Charles In Charge fame, and American Pie leftovers is no different. This film though, is truly bizarre in that it seems they hired three different directors to mash up a reality show, a slapstick comedy, and an after school special. There is a semi-serious courtroom drama scene, truly evil male chauvinism painted up cheerfully, surreal confessional testimonials, and even spots of fine acting. And the most meta of all, this film is about a bunch of schlubs who put together a fake casting agency in order to meet women–as it turns out, this film features a lot of women, so the filmmakers accomplished their own narrative feat. Make sense?
The cherry on top was a personal revelation that came at the film’s end: As much as I enjoy mocking bad films and the idiots who create them–or dim politicians, or tasteless reality shows, or people who don’t use their blinkers, a thought passed my mind… what if the director of Cattle Call was my brother? I doubt my opinion of the film’s quality would change, but I would hardly have such hostility or animus towards it. I think another small bit of my intimidating anxiety has eroded away. Thank you National Lampoon. Of note: I believe the title is referring to women as cattle–classy.
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