Posted on 10/10/2008 7:07:10 AM PDT by Toadman
Hi fellow Freepers. I did a search and did not find this topic. If you know of a previous post, please redirect.
I've been hogging our Netflix (history, documentary, military genres) and realize the wife and kids need some levity.
Would you all take the time and give me an opinion of what you consider to be the best funny movies you've seen. I'm talking from the silent era of Charlie Chaplin up to the most present ala American Carol.
It doesn't matter if it's dark humor to vulgar humor to Walt Disney. Thanks for your input!
“JFK” by Oliver Stone
So glad to see “Slapshot.” Finally!
Vulgar, raunchy, profane, but in a nice way! Also about failure and redemption — true love and existential misery. Not for kids (although certain kiddies would find it hilarious).
May be the best sports movie ever made. Utterly foulmouthed. Completely un-pc. Definitely does not take itself too seriously. A hoot. Interesting snapshot of the 70’s, which is topical since economic malaise is coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Also:
“The Cheap Detective”
“Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid”
“Uncle Buck”
“Easy Money”
“The Great Race” — Jack Lemmon as Professor Fate, Tony Curtis as the Great Leslie, plus Natalie Wood looking fabulous as Maggie Dubois, making trouble and causing it — this was one of my favorites as a kid. “I’d like to see the Great Leslie try that!” Great musical theme for Professor Fate as well.
I watched “Night Shift” recently and laughed out loud. A fun trip back to the 80’s. Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton doing the Abbot and Costello thing. Henry Winkler was pitch perfect. More 80’s fun: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (though I hesitate to mention it since everyone has seen it).
However, you would not believe the number of teenagers who have never seen “Back to the Future.” Shocking. That’s a fun watch with your kids.
I could probably hold to that assessment, the films had become formula by that point (just as the Bowery Boys movies became formula).
Imagine if Hollywood had just numbered those films “Bowery Boys XXII, The Boyz R 8ack!”
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
When a highly skilled martial artist known as “the chosen one” sets out to avenge his family’s death, he faces his greatest challenges yet: a cow with a deadly udder and a warlord who insists everyone call him “Betty.” Writer-director-actor Steve Oderkirk inserts himself into old chop-socky film footage and redubs the result into a parody of those 1970s Hong Kong classics, where everybody was kung fu fightin’!
“STOP SAYING THAT!”
It was on again tonight!
Correct. Its amazing that when I lived in Boca (1991-1994) and Miami (1999-2002) I never once heard a southern accent, nor saw any rednecks until I drove north and got into St. Lucie County. Even in the latter county, they were way outnumbered by transplants (which is why they stood out).
Wasn’t Mother Night the WWII drama with Nick Nolte? It was great, but it wasn’t a comedy.
When a black nazi comes knocking on his door with some feeble octogenarian neo-nazis and proclaiming “who ever told you a china man was colored”, that's politically incorrect but it's still comedy.
“Nothing Sacred” with Carole Lombard and Frederic March. I always end up giggling myself silly over it. The only beef I have with it is it’s too short - only 1 hour 15 minutes. “Yumpin’ Yiminy!”
Another great Carole Lombard film is “My Man Godfrey”, where she co-starred with her ex-husband, William Powell. Because of that, I admit a to bit of a “cringe” factor the first time I watched it, but they were both consummate professionals and did an outstanding job.
I saw that episode; I drove a Reliant Robin when I visited England in 1978, and I thought I'd die laughing. Clarkson rules!
I forgot:
“Saving Silverman” — Amanda Peet as the evil Judith, plus Jack Black, Steve Zahn, R. Lee Ermey, and Neil Diamond as himself. Uneven, you’ve got to give this one time. Halfway through and you’ll be rolling. Quite jolly and profane. Builds to a wedding slugfest. Must see.
“The Whole Nine Yards” — Bruce Willis as Jimmy “the Tulip” Tudeski, Matthew Perry as a Canadian dentist, and Amanda Peet as a wanna-be hit woman.
“Broadway Danny Rose” — the best movie Mia Farrow ever made (she kills with her characterization of a hard-boiled gangster’s moll), and a great parody of NYC gangsters, gangster movies, and show business.
I know, I know, it's a little "mature" for someone that age, but we lived out in the boonies at the time and we had to settle for what the local theatre put on!
I still remember the scene with Al Green (Grandpa Munster in another incarnation), and the girls convincing them that their mother had been kidnapped... hilarious!
Murray was funny in Tootsie - One of my favorite funniest movies.
The Out of Towners - with Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. Not the remake.
Clueless - just something about that movie that cracks me up.
Drop Dead Gorgeous is a hoot too.
POLICE ACADEMY!!!
Especially the scene where the Academy Captain makes his little speech at the podium.
Speaking of Michael Keaton - One of my favorite funniest is Dream Team.
Laurel and Hardy, Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Three Stooges with Curly—great stuff from the late ‘20s-early ‘40s (some films better than others, of course). I get a kick out of the Our Gang comedies, too. I also like the Blondie series (mostly from the ‘40s), with Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton.
Very good. A favorite in our house. Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas all know how to deliver a line.
Very funny. It came out when I was a kid.
Cats and Dogs
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