The film's timeline stretches from 1964 to 1980 and opens with
Douglas Kenney and his friend
Henry Beard celebrating the release of their book,
Bored of the Rings, with the
Harvard Lampoon staff. Graduating from Harvard, Doug convinces Henry not to go to law school but instead publish a monthly magazine: the
National Lampoon. Though Doug is the magazine's main creative voice, he realizes that there would be no magazine without the guidance of Henry. Doug becomes the comedy writer and Henry the business manager, while the magazine also has a thriving art department. Doug and Henry get financing from
Matty Simmons. All of the writers work hard to be funny and meet deadlines. Work is a party atmosphere and illicit drug use is prevalent. The magazine is not initially a success, until lawsuits are threatened by
Disney,
Volkswagen,
Mormons, and many other established names. The comedy world is changed, and the magazine pushes the acceptance of satire and parody with each edition. Doug, due to
burnout, suddenly leaves for nine months with a one-line note to Henry. The magazine stays successful under Henry. After five years Simmons agrees to a buyout and they each collect $3.5 million, a request demanded by Henry and Doug from the start. Henry, being unhappy and greatly stressed, takes his check and immediately exits the magazine.
National Lampoon expands to an
hour-long radio show, attracting emerging comedians like
Chevy Chase,
Bill Murray, and
Gilda Radner. But
Lorne Michaels buys them all out by signing them over to
Saturday Night Live. Special editions of the magazine are published such as
one mocking high school yearbooks. Doug then moves to movies and writes
Animal House in 1978. With the success of the film,
cocaine takes over Doug's life. As disputes with studio executives continue, Doug writes
Caddyshack. Not liking his work, he embarrasses himself being drunk and high at a press conference for the film. Doug, Henry, and Chris Hoffman all sell
National Lampoon to Simmons' Twenty First Century Communications. Doug's cocaine addiction takes over. Chevy takes Doug to
Hawai‘i to try to help him kick his addiction, but he relapses. In 1980, at age 33, Doug's body is found at the bottom of a Hawaii cliff (with his glasses and shoes neatly stacked at the top edge). As he has narrated his life's story through the movie, Doug is displeased to see everyone sad at his funeral. The movie ends with Henry starting a food fight at the wake (just like at the
Harvard Lampoon years ago). ==Cast==