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Friday, June 22 2012 - 02:47 AM
A New List
When things get a bit grim on this website, it’s usually time to lighten up with a new “list”.
But when it comes to movie comedies, the list poses something of a dilemma. There is a real difference between “best” and “funniest”.
Do you look for the big laughs or for the best films? Some very funny movies you would not consider “great” films; some great film comedies are not always laugh-out-loud funny.
For example, “The Graduate” is a great film but not among the funniest. “The Apartment” was a comedy but hardly a laugh riot. And where does “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” belong?
As I started putting my own favorites list together, I was really looking for a combination of both great and funny but my list was already over one hundred titles. So I’ll start with my top twenty…
Airplane! (1980)
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
Dr Strangelove… (1964)
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
M*A*S*H (1970)
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
My Favorite Year (1982)
Ghostbusters (1984)
The Producers (1968)
Life of Brian (1979)
A Shot In The Dark (1964)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Animal House (1978)
Dogma (1999)
Beetlejuice (1988)
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
Sleeper (1973)
A Thousand Clowns (1965)
Ray Cunneff says...
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Local Hero (1983)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Annie Hall (1977)
Caddyshack (1980)
Pineapple Express (2008)
Shampoo (1975)
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Bridesmaids (2011)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Water (1985)
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
Borat (2006)
The Mouse That Roared (1959)
Arthur (1981)
Bedazzled (1967)
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avbornbred says...
Glag you mentioned Ferris Bueller. Classic music and lines.
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leonardpflemkin says...
Great list Ray, and my kind of movies. In addition ot all the great ones listed:
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Hangover
Bruno (sorry, wrong on so many levels, funny on so many others)
Spaceballs
Back to School
Strange Brew (ok, not the best but the scene where he drinks the vat dry is great)
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avbornbred says...
Ah! STRANGE BREW. That is a classic, ehhh!
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AV Town Crier says...
W.C. Fields:
It’s A Gift; You’re Telling Me; The Bank Dick; You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man
Mae West:
She Done Him Wrong; I’m No Angel
Marx Brothers:
The Coconuts; Duck Soup, Monkey Business; Night At the Opera, Big Store; Room Service
Olsen & Johnson:
Country Gentleman; Hellzapoppin’; See My Lawyer
Abbott & Costello:
Meet Frankenstein; Who Did It
Burns & Allen:
Cookie, Six of a Kind
Jack Benny:
Buck Benny Rides Again, Man About Town
Also:
Something About Mary
Little Murders
Dr. Strangelove
Shot in the Dark
Pink Panther
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Ray Cunneff says...
I omitted some of my older (classic) favorites:
Arsenic And Old Lace (1944)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
The Ladykillers (1955)
The Man in the White Suit (1951)
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
Adam’s Rib (1949)
Duck Soup (1933)
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AV Town Crier says...
I forgot the Thin Man series with William Powell and Myrna Loy.
Charlie Chaplin:
City Lights; Modern Times; The Great Dictator; Monsieur Ver Deux
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Cagy Wolf says...
Used Cars is one of my all time favorite movies cause of the 57 chevy when the stuntman takes it for a test ride to give the owner a heart attack.
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avbornbred says...
ZOOLANDER. A MODERN CLASSIC COMEDY. I WILL SAY I HAD MANY HARD LAUGHS DURING MY SECOND VIEWING OF THAT MOVIE. BEN STILLER PROVED HE CAN ACT IN THIS ONE. VERY FUNNY
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avbornbred says...
BEDAZZLED WAS BROUGHT UP. VERY FUNNY. WORTH WATCHING FOR ELIZABETH HURLEY. POW, SHE ROCKS!!!!
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Ray Cunneff says...
re: “Bedazzled”
I was referring to the 1967 Peter Cook-Dudley Moore-Raquel Welsh version. The re-make of “Bedazzled” was about as funny as the re-make of “Arthur” – as in NOT.
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Martel says...
Cagy the 57 chev is my all time dream car, remember the scene where the dog pissed on the mechanic,one of the funny parts of the move.
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Cagy Wolf says...
Martel wished I had known that about the 57 chevy my brother got rid of one last year cheap.
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AV Town Crier says...
Used Cars was a great movie. The late great Jack Warden stared as twin brothers with ken Russel. Great movie.
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Ray Cunneff says...
I’m very pleased you singled out Jack Warden, one of the greatest, most versatile character actors in both film and television history. I’m immediately reminded of his performance in one of my top twenty comedies, Max Corkle in “Heaven Can Wait”. But his filmography goes much deeper.
He was one of the “Twelve Angry Men”. He learned his craft, as so many others of his generation, in live television, shows like “Kraft Television Theatre”, “Philco Playhouse”, “Lux Video Theater” and “Playhouse 90” just to name a few. He appeared in “Bonanza”, “The Untouchables”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Wagon Train” and almost countless others.
His film credits include “All the President’s Men”, Shampoo", “The White Buffalo”, “Used Cars”, “The Verdict” and “Death on the Nile” (again to name just a few).
Jack Warden was a solid, working actor for more than fifty years. One of the greats.
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AV Town Crier says...
Ray
Not only a great actor, but he became a great comedian. His TV Show Crazy Like a Fox is a classic. But his performance in Used Cars stands out as an all-time classic.
Peter Sellers (several rolls) in Dr. Strangelove should also be noted.
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Ray Cunneff says...
As should Alec Guinness playing multiple roles in “Kind Hearts and Coronets”.
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avbornbred says...
Whats up doc. Has some very funny scenes.
The Return of the Pink Panther.
Lancelot Link Secret Chimp
The Meaning of Life- The fat guy in the restaurant skit is very gross and funny
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