I recently rewatched “Animal House,” a movie I absolutely adore, and was talking to a friend about it and how The Young People don’t get that movie. “It’s stupid and offensive!” they say, and I respond, “Yes! And it was stupid and offensive then too! And it was great!”
My friend said, “Yes, back then we liked being offended.” And I said, “Yes! That’s exactly right!”
I never really thought of it that way before. Being offended can be hilarious, if you’re of the right mindset. Many of us love offensive comedy the way many love horror movies — nobody actually loves being chased around by a guy in a leather mask in a chainsaw but make a movie out of that and it becomes a cult classic.
And speaking of offensive: I rewatched “Animal House” in 5- and 10-minute bursts on my iPhone over the course of a week or two, which will be highly offensive to cinephiles.