Rich's review of Animal House in Time takes a very fun and light tone towards the comedy. After a brief synopsis of the movie, Rich delves into his analysis of the film. He proclaims, "Before National Lampoon's Animal House, no one has ever had the guts to make an honest movie about college life." Rich argues that before Animal House, Hollywood chose to depict the college campus in an unrealistic way; it was portrayed as a "haven for earnest young lovers, gung-ho jocks, inspirational professors, and tortured class losers." However, the characters of Animal House are real; they represent the "true spirit" of college life. Rich believes the movie perfectly captures the "darkest secret" of American higher education: sex is one of the "noblest" reasons to attend. In addition to the realistic portrayal of college students, the film at times easily expresses the angst and hates of students coming of age in the 60s. The review is not free of criticism, however. Rich states that at times, the movie "revels in abject silliness." Yet, the highs of the film outweigh the lows, and the movie is definitely worth seeing.
     Rich's review of the film brings to light a unique part of the turning point: the depiction of the people who inhabit college campuses. According to Rich, films made before Animal House unrealistically portrayed them in positive and admirable stereotypes. However, this film cuts away all of the fat and finds the most basic and honest reason for attending college: sex. This subject is one that Americans can truly identify with because it is real. With sex at the center, the actions, motives, and worries of the characters can truly portray what it was like to grow up in the '60s. Yet as anyone knows, these themes are not specific to the '60s, but are universal in both time and place. This is why almost every college movie made since Animal House has had sex as its central theme.