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Animal House (1978) Starring: John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Bruce McGill, Karen Allen, Kevin Bacon, James Widdoes, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst, James Daughton, Mark Metcalf, John Vernon, Donald Sutherland Director: John Landis Rating: R Category: Comedy

I've probably seen the legendary comedy "Animal House" at least two dozen times now, and I imagine I'll see it another two dozen times before I die. My college buddies and I used to watch it religiously in our dorm rooms and then later in our rundown house, cracking up every time John Belushi impersonated a zit in the Faber College cafeteria. We memorized virtually the entire script and repeatedly recited classic lines like, "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son," and "Do you mind if we dance with your dates?" We despised Doug Neidermeyer and admired Eric Stratton. We even had a guy in our fraternity named David Day, who naturally went by the nickname D-Day.

None of this may seem all that extraordinary considering the popularity "Animal House" enjoyed when it first hit theaters in 1978. But the fact that I graduated from Ohio University in 1999, more than two decades after its original release, demonstrates the cultural prominence this frat film has achieved.

We're first introduced to freshman roommates Larry Kroger (Tom Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst) as they're walking through the picturesque Faber campus during fall rush in 1962. After getting shunned by the sanctimonious Omega fraternity, led by president Greg Marmalard (James Daughton) and Neidermeyer (Mark Metcalf), the chapter's membership chairman, Larry and Kent wander next door to the Delta house and meet Bluto (Belushi), who's taking a leak in the front yard.

Once inside the unruly fraternity house, the two first-years meet some of Delta's most notorious brothers, including Eric "Otter" Stratton (Tim Matheson), Donald "Boon" Schoenstein (Peter Riegert), Robert Hoover (James Widdoes) and "D-Day," Daniel Simpson Day (Bruce McGill). A few days later, Larry and Kent are given their own nicknames, "Pinto" and "Flounder," and officially sworn in as two of Delta's new pledges.

Much of the enduring appeal surrounding "Animal House" no doubt stems from its blatantly rebellious cast of heroes, whose raucous lifestyle directly contradicts the stringent values imposed by Dean Vernon Wormer (John Vernon) and upheld by the members of the Omega house. Whether they're throwing a wild toga party after discovering the entire chapter's been put on "double secret probation" or seducing Dean Wormer's drunken wife, Otter, Boon, Bluto and the rest of the Deltas have been earning our respect for 25 years by conquering the system and remaining loyal to their own indulgent ideals.

 While Belushi delivers some of the most memorable moments of the film as the outrageous Bluto, "Animal House" served as a launching pad for several other notable actors, including Matheson, Kevin Bacon (as arrogant Omega pledge Chip Diller), Riegert, McGill and Karen Allen, while also igniting the careers of director John Landis ("The Blues Brothers," "An American Werewolf in London," "Trading Places," "Coming to America") and writer Harold Ramis ("Caddyshack," "Stripes," "Ghostbusters," "Analyze This"). The comedy classic undeniably also stands as the blueprint for other popular college films like "PCU," "Road Trip" and, most recently, "Old School."

After more than two decades, it would be an understatement to say that "Animal House" simply has withstood the test of time. With a script that still rings true 25 years later and a steady stream of priceless gags and timeless one-liners, Ramis, Landis and their colleagues created a party film that's deeply rooted in the soil of popular culture. I'm willing to bet 25 years from now, "Animal House" will be inspiring a whole new generation of rowdy college students and filmmakers.

DVD Review: Double Secret Probation Edition
There aren't a ton of extras on this special edition DVD, but "The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion" is a goldmine for any fan of this classic film. Writer Harold Ramis, director John Landis and stars Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Bruce McGill and Kevin Bacon are just a few of the personalities who talk about everything from the early roots of National Lampoon and the origins of the movie itself to on-set memories of John Belushi, making this featurette a highlight of the DVD release. The "Where Are They Now" mockumentary has its moments, and some of the animated anecdotes are amusing as well, but neither is as memorable as the reunion extra. Yet despite the skimpy selection of bonus material, this Double Secret Probation Edition DVD is a fantastic buy. If you don't already have "Animal House" in your DVD collection, what are you waiting for?