The other day, a friend on Facebook asked for suggestions for laugh-out-loud movies.
And I had trouble coming up with any--at least, none that weren't overtly familiar. I can still recall the pleasures of my first sightings of "Airplane," "Young Frankenstein" and "This is Spinal Tap," but subsequent viewings are more about remembering those pleasures rather than actually experiencing them new.
If seen after a gap of a few years, the Marx Brothers still make me laugh. And thanks to programs by the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, I've been reminded of just how laugh-out-loud funny Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd are. It's tough, however, to recommend them for my friend's small screen now that I've seen them in their full, musically-accompanied glory. (FYI: The ICO will be doing a Charlie Chaplin program as part of its upcoming season. Be there.)
Consulting the in theory-experts brought up lots of usual suspects. Bravo created a list a few years back, putting "Animal House," "Caddyshack," "Shrek" (huh?) and "There's Something About Mary" as numbers one through four. The American Film Institute, with a little more historical perspective, named "Some Like It Hot," "Tootsie," "Dr. Strangelove" and "Annie Hall." In 2008, Entertainment Weekly narrowed its field to just the previous 25 years and came up with "Ghostbusters," "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Beverly Hills Cop," and "This is Spinal Tap."
It seems that, while every film fan has a few lesser-known favorites in other genres, comedies are fairly universal. It's tough to keep a good one hidden.
I find myself going back to the black and whites--Preston Sturges' "Miracle at Morgan's Creek" and Cary Grant comedies ("My Favorite Wife" and "Holiday" over the better-known "Philadelphia Story" and "Bringing Up Baby," plus, of course, "His Girl Friday).
Then there's Albert Brooks, whose "Modern Romance" isn't on many people's comedy radars, but I think holds up better than much fo the Woody Allen stuff from the same period.
More recently, "Shaun of the Dead" has a large enough following that I don't think it qualifies as a find.
So what's going on? Is the best comedy these days being written for TV? When it comes to laughs, is it better to go to "30 Rock," "How I Met Your Mother" and "Family Guy" rather than feature films?
More importantly: What's funny on film that my friend (and I) might now have already seen five times?
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If said person does not find any humor in the first 5-minutes, pre-credits sequence of "Raising Arizona," you should end your friendship on the spot.
I think if there is some great comedy that is "little known," it must not be so great of a comedy if it didn't find an audience.
The final "reveal" in "Tootsie" makes me laugh every time. "The Lady Eve" makes me laugh every time. So does "Young Frankenstein." I love "Dick." And very recently, "City Island" and "Zombieland" had the audience laughing.
Almost Heroes starring Matthew Perry and Chris Farley (Farley's last film and directed by Christopher Guest)
Death at a Funeral (the original British version) direct by Frank Oz
The Muppet Movie (cuz who doesn't like Muppets?)
Foul Play...a Chevy Chase/Goldie Hawn flick from the late 70s
Intolerable Cruetly--Clooney and Zeta Jones directed by the Coen Bro's...say no more...wonderful verbal banter.
More recently, "Shaun of the Dead" has a large enough following that I don't think it qualifies as a FIND. > do you mean "fad" ?
More importantly: What's funny on film that my friend (and I) might NOW have already seen five times? > do you mean "not" ?
Animal House, Vacation, Christmas Vacation, Young Frankenstein, and Airplane. In the past 10 - 15 years, I really like Tommy Boy, Austin Powers 1, and Big Lebowski, Clerks, and Swingers. In the past decade, I'm a fan of Wedding Crashers, Old School, Dodgeball, American Pie. And then the least of the time-tested (past year or two): Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Zombieland.
Some of the following probably are on a few people's lists but certainly not for all, Dumb and Dumber always cracks me up, as does Blazing Saddles, Caddy Shack, Grosse Pointe Blank and most of the Monty Python offerings.
Cousin, Cousine
Pardon Mon Affaire
Noirs et Blancs Couleur
There are many more from that time period equally compelling and laugh-out-loud every time I see them
I also laugh every time I see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Paula Prentiss. Still makes me howl after all of these years.You Tube a couple of scenes, you will see what I mean.
High Fidelity, John Cusack
Liar,Liar, Jim Carrey
'pardon my spelling!
And for lesser known films, "Seducing Dr. Lewis" is very funny if you don't mind subtitles. Here's a short description "A much-needed boost, in the form of a new factory, is promised to the residents of the tiny fishing village St. Marie-La-Mauderne, provided they can lure a doctor to take up full-time residency on the island. Inspired, the villagers devise a scheme to make Dr. Christopher Lewis a local".
And I have to agree on The Hangover. I watched it with very low expectations because it isn't really my type of movie, but it proved to be very funny...although not one you would want to watch with the family.
But I'll add another one to favored list: "A Fish Called Wanda." Perfect cast, story, and tightly directed by a 78-year old director! Saw it in the theater 3 times, and upteen times on video. And don't call Otto "stupid"...
The same team has since produced a few more films, including Trail of the Screaming Forehead and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again. I still can't find either of those on DVD, but I'm desperately searching.