Ten subtle pleasures (and three major flaws) in 'Animal House'

Some of the movie's best moments are there and gone in an instant

Over the weekend, I watched Animal House for something like the 50th time in my life. I don’t think I’m exaggerating.

When the movie came out before my 11th birthday in the summer of 1978, I saw the movie three times in theaters. I loved it so much that when it was on ON TV about a year later, soon after our family got its first VCR, I recorded it — and watched it nearly every afternoon for about a month.

I’m not as addicted to Animal House now as I was then, but I check in every few years or so, and it’s still crude magic for all the reasons you’d remember.

This time around, I was inspired to collect 10 moments from Animal House that speak to my longtime love affair — moments you might easily miss if you’re not paying attention.

After that, I acknowledge my three biggest problems with the movie. Let’s start with the good before we get to the bad.