Geezz I forgot about most of the movies so thanks for the list! Caddyshack - how many times can you watch that? For me, several and still laugh every time. You bring up a good point about laughter and the fun. Its so needed, especially right now (IMO). I feel you have to make sure you find time for laughter, joy, and fun as this helps to offset the other things going on in the world. That's why the short IG memes and reels make all the difference to me as I watch (and of course send!) a few each day to family/spouse because those few moments of watching create some really great laughs that I need!
Comedy films in the cinema reflecting the historic "laugh out loud" type that you list are I find rare in the cinema currently, given I am a regular cinema goer.
One of the funniest feature films I have seen recently is the third "Knives Out" film, "Wake Up Dead Man" which spoofs admirably the classic Agatha Christie English vicarage murder plot. I think this is now available on Netflix.
And after that the funniest thing I have seen recently in a comedy series for some time on TV is again on Netflix. This is "The Residence" which ironically seems to be itself a spoof of the Knives Out franchise, and is all about a murder in the White House in Washington D.C..
Most recent funny discoveries for me: Shrinking on Apple TV; and while not primarily a Comedy, Landman has some great zingers. A couple years ago, Apple also released Spirited, a Christmas movie with Will Farrell and Ryan Reynolds - which instantly became my favorite Christmas movie.
I would have added Super Troopers to the original list. I don’t watch a lot of movies these days but for shows we recently finished The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Ted Lasso, both great. But maybe those are older than I think. I remember thinking years ago there are not good sitcoms on tv anymore. The Connors is saved on our direct tv storage but the first few episodes weren’t that great so we never finished it. I do miss the funny.
I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as it’s made out to be, after attending a couple Q&A’s it seems like comedy movies just aren’t safe bets for movie studios, so they don’t get green lit or funded. Most actual/funny comedy movies are indie for that reason I think. So they don’t get much marketing. It’s why there’s a lot of franchise movies, or reboots and remakes, studios think there safe bets. Unless you’re a big name director/writer, it’s harder to get original films greenlit by a lot of big studios.
Not film, but same thing is/was said about standup but there’s still a lot of politically incorrect comedians still going strong or up and coming.
I think you're both right. I agree with Laura that PC has affected comedy and while it may not seem to be "a big deal", the studios are afraid of offending people and I suspect it is a big deal for them. Just watch any comedy from the '80s or '90s and think about the backlash that would happen if similar movies were released now.
If my husband and I watch something that leaves me feeling dark, I am always one to say we need to watch something happy before we go to bed. To your point, it’s always something old. Back in the day, Cary Grant movies always made me laugh, even if they had a serious plot. To be clear, I am only 58 but do love older movies.
Political correctness and fear of offending some group and being cancelled has ruined comedy. Comedians mostly are no longer funny. Colbert is an idiot. Kimmel is an idiot. They just aren’t funny. Go to a comedy club and all you hear are jokes about sex and drugs. It’s just not funny. The puritanical culture warriors who have no sense of humor yet claim they are the most open and tolerant people have killed all that is truly funny. It’s amazing how those who claim they are the most tolerant and inclusive are actually the most exclusive.
I disagree. Colbert and Kimmel are great and much of their material has an intellectual bent. To each his own.
I’ve been going to comedy clubs since I was 25 (now 69) and the vast majority of standup was about sex, drugs and relationship (primarily gender and sex) and racism. I sure miss George Carlin…he was a good friend.
Okay so I love movies and see a lot of them, and I don’t care much about award shows because of similar reasons you mentioned. There’s movies I saw claimed to be hilarious but I saw them in packed theatres and not a single person laughed or chuckled. Comedies that aren’t funny, horrors that aren’t scary.
Funniest movie of last year in my opinion was “splitsville”. I’d say “oh hi” also got a lot of laughs.
I do agree, catastrophe is a funny show, I loved it.
“Atropia” is kinda funny and that came out like last week.
There’s “Fackham Hall” which is great if you enjoy like Jimmy carry/british sorta humor.
“31 candles” even though it’s a little almost hallmark movie vibes but it was a pleasant surprise. Might be better if you’re Jewish and can relate to it.
“The plague” had some funny moments but it’s more of a psychological character study movie, still funnier than OBAA.
This is something weird and mostly my kind of movie, but I loved the French film “ Humanist vampire seeking consenting suicidal person”. Subtle humor.
There’s also “friendship”, got laughs.
“Bugonia” I think I remember laughing?
“Doin it” is very amateurish, but given the chance, that’s got some jokes in it, the premise is trying to explain sex to uptight Indian immigrant parents.
Personally don’t think it’s funny, just more of a film bro’s wet dream; but when I saw “no other choice” it got a shit tonne of laughs in theatre. I saw “Hollywood grit” which I thought sucked, but the one other dude in the theatre was laughing his butt off. Don’t recommend them but could be your cup of tea.
The movies I mentioned are the ones I personally found funny, and every screening I went to got good laughs from the audience.
Some special mentions; the “Baltimorons“, “shrinking(tv show)”, “twins”, the new “the naked gun”. I absolutely loved “Anora” and “Didi”. I also recommend anyone who’s in their late 20’s to check out Didi, I loved it because most nostalgia movies are to the 90’s or 70’s, but this was nostalgia to the late 2000’s, when I was in primary school. Anyone who was like 10 in 2010 or so.
Also I stopped watching trailers for this reason, but I found “wolfs(2024)” funny, however everyone who saw the trailer disagreed because they spoiled all the best jokes by putting them in there.
I also think the upcoming “the breadwinner” movie later this year is gonna be funny.
I don’t post as much since school got hectic but @1300.hrs on instagram for more movie stuff in general.
On Netflix, we laugh out loud at Fisk, Man on the Inside, Grace & Frankie, Nate Bargatze, Jim Gaffigan. On Prime, I watch Frazier and Schitt’s Creek and find myself much more cheerful afterwards.
How about “The Odd Couple” and “Some Like It Hot”? “In and Out” is another one I rewatch and crack up over. “Bringing Up Baby”, “MASH”(yes, it was a movie first), “Private Benjamin”, “Grumpy Old Men” to name a few more. There were a lot from the Dark Ages that could be seen by new eyes. Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe to name a few, all made great comedies.
Nice flurry ~2011...The Hangover series...Horrible Bosses; JBateman is funny in this era. And The Campaign (Will Ferrell) was all too funny political satire.
I am a huge movie fan especially comedy. I love a good laugh. I believe the migration away from funny started with the computer game industry. Let's face it, these games are not made for laughs. They have mainstreamed violent, aberrant behavior. Look how many movies over the last few years involve alien creatures or the living dead. Violence for the sake of violence has become every day in Hollywood. But truthfully, what can be done today in comedy that hasn't been done thousands of times? The Rom-Com is now cliche despite how great When Harry Met Sally or As Good as It Gets might be. So, we turn to the lowest common denominator to show us how many different ways the innocent schoolteacher can be beheaded. It's sad. I guess we have to learn to laugh while crying.....or screaming.
I find a LOT more humor in my daily life just hanging with folks and yeah, occasionally watching them and yeah, sometimes it's me rethinking the humor folks got from watching me!
So, I guess I don't miss the lack of humor in shows so much...though Airplane! WAS hilarious
Geezz I forgot about most of the movies so thanks for the list! Caddyshack - how many times can you watch that? For me, several and still laugh every time. You bring up a good point about laughter and the fun. Its so needed, especially right now (IMO). I feel you have to make sure you find time for laughter, joy, and fun as this helps to offset the other things going on in the world. That's why the short IG memes and reels make all the difference to me as I watch (and of course send!) a few each day to family/spouse because those few moments of watching create some really great laughs that I need!
Comedy films in the cinema reflecting the historic "laugh out loud" type that you list are I find rare in the cinema currently, given I am a regular cinema goer.
One of the funniest feature films I have seen recently is the third "Knives Out" film, "Wake Up Dead Man" which spoofs admirably the classic Agatha Christie English vicarage murder plot. I think this is now available on Netflix.
And after that the funniest thing I have seen recently in a comedy series for some time on TV is again on Netflix. This is "The Residence" which ironically seems to be itself a spoof of the Knives Out franchise, and is all about a murder in the White House in Washington D.C..
We really enjoyed The Residence!
Indeed!!
Shifting Gears. Tim Allen nails it again.
Love Tim. Can't stand the daughter😱
Most recent funny discoveries for me: Shrinking on Apple TV; and while not primarily a Comedy, Landman has some great zingers. A couple years ago, Apple also released Spirited, a Christmas movie with Will Farrell and Ryan Reynolds - which instantly became my favorite Christmas movie.
I would have added Super Troopers to the original list. I don’t watch a lot of movies these days but for shows we recently finished The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Ted Lasso, both great. But maybe those are older than I think. I remember thinking years ago there are not good sitcoms on tv anymore. The Connors is saved on our direct tv storage but the first few episodes weren’t that great so we never finished it. I do miss the funny.
Could the increasing emphasis on “political correctness “ and the deep divides politically be underlying causes of fewer comedy films?
I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as it’s made out to be, after attending a couple Q&A’s it seems like comedy movies just aren’t safe bets for movie studios, so they don’t get green lit or funded. Most actual/funny comedy movies are indie for that reason I think. So they don’t get much marketing. It’s why there’s a lot of franchise movies, or reboots and remakes, studios think there safe bets. Unless you’re a big name director/writer, it’s harder to get original films greenlit by a lot of big studios.
Not film, but same thing is/was said about standup but there’s still a lot of politically incorrect comedians still going strong or up and coming.
I think you're both right. I agree with Laura that PC has affected comedy and while it may not seem to be "a big deal", the studios are afraid of offending people and I suspect it is a big deal for them. Just watch any comedy from the '80s or '90s and think about the backlash that would happen if similar movies were released now.
I have the feeling that TV series are now the place for comedy. I'm thinking of The Office, Superstore or Ted Lasso recently.
If my husband and I watch something that leaves me feeling dark, I am always one to say we need to watch something happy before we go to bed. To your point, it’s always something old. Back in the day, Cary Grant movies always made me laugh, even if they had a serious plot. To be clear, I am only 58 but do love older movies.
Me too. I call them palate cleansers.
You might like my list then. I managed to pull some of those titles out of my brainpan’s backwater.
Bill…you are so right about the lack of comedies. Something happened around 2016 and beyond. Then, covid hit in 2020.
Loved your magnificent list! Here are a few i thought of:
Knives Out
Game Night *2018)
Nice Guys (2016)
Spy (2015)
Central Intelligence (2016)
Bad Moms (2016)
My wife and I often comment about how series seem better than movies these days. Perhaps another list for you?
Political correctness and fear of offending some group and being cancelled has ruined comedy. Comedians mostly are no longer funny. Colbert is an idiot. Kimmel is an idiot. They just aren’t funny. Go to a comedy club and all you hear are jokes about sex and drugs. It’s just not funny. The puritanical culture warriors who have no sense of humor yet claim they are the most open and tolerant people have killed all that is truly funny. It’s amazing how those who claim they are the most tolerant and inclusive are actually the most exclusive.
I disagree. Colbert and Kimmel are great and much of their material has an intellectual bent. To each his own.
I’ve been going to comedy clubs since I was 25 (now 69) and the vast majority of standup was about sex, drugs and relationship (primarily gender and sex) and racism. I sure miss George Carlin…he was a good friend.
George Carlin was ahead of his time. The stuff he talked about then, as comedy, are truth today.
Okay so I love movies and see a lot of them, and I don’t care much about award shows because of similar reasons you mentioned. There’s movies I saw claimed to be hilarious but I saw them in packed theatres and not a single person laughed or chuckled. Comedies that aren’t funny, horrors that aren’t scary.
Funniest movie of last year in my opinion was “splitsville”. I’d say “oh hi” also got a lot of laughs.
I do agree, catastrophe is a funny show, I loved it.
“Atropia” is kinda funny and that came out like last week.
There’s “Fackham Hall” which is great if you enjoy like Jimmy carry/british sorta humor.
“31 candles” even though it’s a little almost hallmark movie vibes but it was a pleasant surprise. Might be better if you’re Jewish and can relate to it.
“The plague” had some funny moments but it’s more of a psychological character study movie, still funnier than OBAA.
This is something weird and mostly my kind of movie, but I loved the French film “ Humanist vampire seeking consenting suicidal person”. Subtle humor.
There’s also “friendship”, got laughs.
“Bugonia” I think I remember laughing?
“Doin it” is very amateurish, but given the chance, that’s got some jokes in it, the premise is trying to explain sex to uptight Indian immigrant parents.
Personally don’t think it’s funny, just more of a film bro’s wet dream; but when I saw “no other choice” it got a shit tonne of laughs in theatre. I saw “Hollywood grit” which I thought sucked, but the one other dude in the theatre was laughing his butt off. Don’t recommend them but could be your cup of tea.
The movies I mentioned are the ones I personally found funny, and every screening I went to got good laughs from the audience.
Some special mentions; the “Baltimorons“, “shrinking(tv show)”, “twins”, the new “the naked gun”. I absolutely loved “Anora” and “Didi”. I also recommend anyone who’s in their late 20’s to check out Didi, I loved it because most nostalgia movies are to the 90’s or 70’s, but this was nostalgia to the late 2000’s, when I was in primary school. Anyone who was like 10 in 2010 or so.
Also I stopped watching trailers for this reason, but I found “wolfs(2024)” funny, however everyone who saw the trailer disagreed because they spoiled all the best jokes by putting them in there.
I also think the upcoming “the breadwinner” movie later this year is gonna be funny.
I don’t post as much since school got hectic but @1300.hrs on instagram for more movie stuff in general.
On Netflix, we laugh out loud at Fisk, Man on the Inside, Grace & Frankie, Nate Bargatze, Jim Gaffigan. On Prime, I watch Frazier and Schitt’s Creek and find myself much more cheerful afterwards.
How about “The Odd Couple” and “Some Like It Hot”? “In and Out” is another one I rewatch and crack up over. “Bringing Up Baby”, “MASH”(yes, it was a movie first), “Private Benjamin”, “Grumpy Old Men” to name a few more. There were a lot from the Dark Ages that could be seen by new eyes. Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe to name a few, all made great comedies.
Nice flurry ~2011...The Hangover series...Horrible Bosses; JBateman is funny in this era. And The Campaign (Will Ferrell) was all too funny political satire.
Two words- Groundhog Day (1993).
I am a huge movie fan especially comedy. I love a good laugh. I believe the migration away from funny started with the computer game industry. Let's face it, these games are not made for laughs. They have mainstreamed violent, aberrant behavior. Look how many movies over the last few years involve alien creatures or the living dead. Violence for the sake of violence has become every day in Hollywood. But truthfully, what can be done today in comedy that hasn't been done thousands of times? The Rom-Com is now cliche despite how great When Harry Met Sally or As Good as It Gets might be. So, we turn to the lowest common denominator to show us how many different ways the innocent schoolteacher can be beheaded. It's sad. I guess we have to learn to laugh while crying.....or screaming.
I find a LOT more humor in my daily life just hanging with folks and yeah, occasionally watching them and yeah, sometimes it's me rethinking the humor folks got from watching me!
So, I guess I don't miss the lack of humor in shows so much...though Airplane! WAS hilarious