Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

National Lampoon's Class Reunion Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 12, 2018

We live in a day and age when a hit movie is often met with sequels and knockoffs in a year, with Hollywood speeding up their game to secure audience attention, often fearful that waiting to cash-in on a smash will result in swift disinterest. For National Lampoon, the hunt to follow-up 1978’s “Animal House” resulted in a lengthy delay, creating a four year wait for 1982’s “Class Reunion” (1981’s “Movie Madness” was released in 1983), which is an eternity for any company, giving the faithful a chance to seek ribald pleasures elsewhere. Not helping matters is the actual quality of “Class Reunion,” with the comedy trying very hard to be the most hilarious release of the film year, only to whiff with every punchline and bit of physical humor. It’s an awful effort from director Michael Miller, who doesn’t display awareness of funny business finesse, instead using a sledgehammer on sly jokes and tasty parody, keeping the endeavor as far away as possible from the weirdness it craves.

In 1972, during the graduation party for Lizzie Borden High, Bob (Gerrit Graham) elects to play a prank on Walter (Blackie Dammett), enjoying a chance to humiliate his classmate in front of all his friends. 10 years later, it’s reunion time, with the Borden High kids returning to the school, which is now a deserted building. Arriving to celebrate are commercial star Meredith (Shelly Smith), class mean girl Bunny (Miriam Flynn), perve Hubert (Stephen Furst), Bob and his wife, Jane (Jacklyn Zeman), stoners Chip (Barry Diamond) and Carl (Art Evans), and forgettable Gary (Fred McCarren). While the evening plans offer time for dancing, a performance by Chuck Berry, and a trip down memory lane with a slide show, the festivities are cut short by a masked killer, who’s stalking the former students as they make their way around the school. Once dead bodies are discovered, panic erupts, with the gang trying to find a way to escape the locked building, while clues to the killer’s identity are provided by Dr. Robert (Michael Lerner), who understands just how dangerous the shadowy figure is.

The primary claim to fame for “Class Reunion” is the screenplay credit, with the late, great John Hughes making his solo debut here, trying to get something started in Hollywood after working as a Lampoon writer. Hughes made it a point to distance himself from the final cut of “Class Reunion,” and it’s easy to see why. While the feature was never meant to be a subtle overview of graduating class dynamics and murder mystery satire, Miller visibly struggles to make sense of all the weirdness from the very first scene. Hughes creates a collection of oddballs to unleash once the killer is exposed, but Miller reduces everything to a sitcom level of engagement, encouraging his cast to go as big as possible with all the impulse control issues they’ve been gifted. He creates a very loud film with cartoon performances, and while the set-up should be fun, getting to meet all the wackos and emotional basket cases at Borden High, the execution is painfully leaden, missing a tremendous opportunity to explore the insecurities of the class as it comes together to revive old personal issues.

Hughes isn’t playing it cool with the screenplay. Joining the popular kids and stoner outcasts are some strange people, including Delores (Zane Busby), who sold her soul to Satan, giving her special powers, which end up helping the survivors during the night. There’s Egon (Jim Staahl), an actual vampire, who’s delighted when he makes a connection to another guest, and she’s on her period (one of many cringe-worthy jokes in the film). Time is also spent with Iris (Mews Small), a blind and deaf woman used for many of the physical gags in the movie. Hughes has his low points, but his idea is strong, working to unleash a madcap spirit mixed with a little horror satire, as the evening is ruined by killer with a paper bag over his head. Perhaps the only true laughs in the effort are found with Mrs. Tabazooski (Anne Ramsey), the old Borden High lunch lady, pulled out of retirement for the event. Ramsey knows exactly how to play the part, and Miller gets in some good sight gags concerning the contaminated slop she’s serving to the guests to make them feel like they’re back in school.

National Lampoon's Class Reunion Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There's good news if you happen to be a fan of "Class Reunion." 20th Century Fox has provided Kino Lorber with a 4K scan of the original camera negative, giving the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation an ideal level of quality for the feature's Blu-ray debut. Detail makes a strong impression, capturing the roughness of tweed jackets and the silkiness of cocktail dresses. Facial surfaces are sharp when permitted, preserving personal appearance jokes, and set decoration is textured, maintaining a feel for party particulars and school disrepair. Colors are vibrant, with distinct primaries from costuming, with lively yellows and reds, and Meredith's silver outfit offers some definition in the midst of candied hues. Skintones are natural. Delineation is strong, preserving frame information. Grain is fine and filmic.

National Lampoon's Class Reunion Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does require a sizable boost in volume to help bring it up to cinematic standards. It's a quiet mix otherwise, but with a little finesse, the listening event is adequate. Dialogue exchanges are satisfactory, securing a wide range of performances, from the mumbly antics of the stoners to the louder panic of the classmates. Distortion isn't a problem, and personal comedy choices are secured. Scoring retains proper instrumentation, but soundtrack selections handle with more authority, defining a rock beat with sharp percussion and crisp vocals. Sound effects are acceptable, playing into the chaos of the movie without losing their specificity.

National Lampoon's Class Reunion Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Michael Miller and stunt coordinator Dean Raphael Ferrandini.

• Interview (12:56, HD) with actor Gerri Graham tracks his interest in comedy and his time in the Second City, mingling with some of the best improvisers around, also meeting Michael Miller, who promptly cast the actor in "Class Reunion." Graham discusses the improvisational atmosphere of the shoot and character details concerning voice and costuming. There's a brief mention of Chuck Berry's appearance, which proved to be quite problematic for the singer, dealing with lousy backing musicians and hair loss. Graham also shares thoughts on most of his co-stars and discusses the challenges of the dance sequence.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

National Lampoon's Class Reunion Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Class Reunion" eventually becomes a chase picture, with the students working their way through the building, reuniting with memories and working out old antagonisms and self-doubts while being targeted for murder. There's no mystery here to enjoy, and acting is generally performed at top volume, losing a shot at refinement to best extract character beats. The party mood is certainly set with musical performances and dance scenes, but Miller is trying to live up to the National Lampoon brand, keeping things crude, dated (it's 1982 -- you bet there's a Hare Krishna joke), and fantastically awkward when it comes to actors trying to find the funny.