bagboy Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Could it be that we might actually see a film with the National Lampoon name on it that doesn't have to do with pledging a fraternity and/or sleeping with every girl on campus? No offense to Van Wilder and Paris Hilton, but now that National Lampoon is on their own (buying, releasing and producing films in-house), I'd love it if the quality was taken up a notch. Variety tells us that NL has popped its cherry and officially purchased their first film, Electric Apricot, with intentions to release it later this year under the name National Lampoon Presents Electric Apricot -- Quest for Festeroo. And, after reading the plot description, I'm all kinds of stoked.

Pic, which marks the directorial debut of singer/bassist Les Claypool (Primus), is a comedy set in the world of jam bands, and is said to be in the vein of This is Spinal Tap. For anyone that's ever attended a Grateful Dead or Phish concert (and still remembers the experience), then this film is for you. Running down the cast list, there aren't many recognizable names. Seth Green and Matt Stone (South Park co-creator) apparently play tapers (these guys show up to tape each live performance, and most of them can recall set lists going back 10 years). I assume the film will be told in a mockumentary sort of style, while we follow the band around on tour. Having attended some of these shows myself, I know for a fact that there's a ton of room for comedy ... in the parking lot alone.

Aside from Apricot, National Lampoon is also planning to release its first inhouse feature production, National Lampoon's Bagboy, later this year. That film chronicles the trials and tribulations of a teenager who enters the world of competitive grocery store bagging, and stars Brooke Shields, Dennis Farina and Larry Miller.

For its first inhouse feature production, Bagboy, National Lampoon has put together an interesting cast, one that will be headed up by Dennis Farina (who -- get this -- will not be playing a detective or a mobster!). Farina will be joined by Brooke Shields, Richard Kind, Paul Campbell, Marika Dominczyk, Robert Hoffman, Josh Dean, Nick Lashaway, Wesley Jonathan, Larry Miller and Jennifer Summers (who, perhaps, is playing what sounds like the best character of them all -- Serious Looking Girl). Yes, I'm serious.

If you don't recognize a lot of those names, fear not -- neither do I. Some folks, like Kind and Miller, have been around awhile and are great character actors (trust me, you might not know their names, but you know their faces.) On the other hand, Brooke Shields hasn't appeared in a successful feature film since, um ... geez, I have no idea. It's been awhile. As far as Farina goes, he's always good for a laugh (if you don't believe me, do yourself a favor and rent Midnight Run); in Bagboy, he'll be playing an ex-bagging champ who mentors our hero and shows him how to ... bag groceries really fast? Mort Nathan (Boat Trip, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj) is directing, while the Farrelly Brothers are producing through their Conundrum Entertainment.

Now that National Lampoon is developing and producing films inhouse, I was hoping we might see some quality product leak out. After watching Christmas Vacation last night, I was reminded how long it's been since that's happened. However, I just don't feel good about this film and its lame premise -- one that was already unsuccessfully used in Employee of the Month. What do you think?