Today’s category: Comedy. The genre that easy to fill and hard to limit. There’s so much comedy, and so many different types of comedy, it’s hard to narrow it down. Are there a ton that I like that could easy be in this list? Of course (I’m looking at you, What We Do In the Shadows).
My comedy taste ranges from clever and satirical to deeply dumb and immature. I like wordplay, absurdity, physical comedy, and jokes that are ridiculous beyond reason.
As always, these are not ranked. Prepare for chaos.
- Dodgeball
- Zoolander
- Movie 43
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- Spy
- History of the World, Part I
- A Million Ways to Die in the West
- Anchorman
- Borat
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Here are some brief bits of rationale:
Dodgeball
This movie is endlessly quotable. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top, and perfectly aware of what it is. Just the other day I heard a student say “Dodge, dip, duck dive, dodge,” as they navigated the hallway. So funny on so many levels.
Zoolander
There are so many lines from this movie that live in my brain permanently. It’s a masterclass in absurdity. From limited mobility to nut-wrenching dance offs to too small schools, this movie has all the laughs.
Movie 43
I know. I know. Most people hate this movie. Most people are dumb. I’m joking, I’m joking. But for serious, I don’t think a neck scrotum will ever not be funny. Or those messed-up home schooling parents. Or the supermarket conversation. Some of it is dumb. But then it goes so far dumb and comes back to amazing.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
A comedy classic. Absurd, clever, and endlessly quotable. Also, this movie is proves not everything that comes out of Britain is bland (read: their food). If you grew up loving fantasy and comedy, this was almost a rite of passage. It was also the first DVD I ever purchased.
Spy
Melissa McCarthy is fantastic in this. The balance between action and comedy works so well, and the supporting cast is incredible. Jason Statham being aggressively over-the-top is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Sometimes I’ll just put this on to watch that one scene of his. Classic.
History of the World, Part I
Mel Brooks at his most chaotic. It’s satire, it’s musical, it’s ridiculous. Some of the jokes land even harder now because they’re still painfully relevant. I probably think about that Oedipus joke once a week. Perfect delivery. FYI, you can skip the sequel show.
A Million Ways to Die in the West
This movie if way funnier than I thought it would be. It’s crude, silly, and surprisingly heartfelt at times. The scene with Neil Patrick Harris and the hat? I don’t think I’ve laughed/cried more at anything in my life.
Anchorman
This movie is pure nonsense in the best way. The escalation, the randomness, the commitment to the bit—it all works. Lamps, bears, diversity. And the cherry on top is the ridiculous music video at the end.
Borat
Uncomfortable humor is a hard thing to nail. Even The Office has moments that are just too much to watch. This movie blends scripted comedy with real-world reactions is incredible in such a perfect and balance way that it’s never too much and yet still shocking the whole way through.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
This one balances humor and heart better than most. It’s crude, yes, but also sincere. The characters feel real, and the emotional payoff lands. And Ohhhhh Kelly Clarkson!
What comedies would you add? Which ones do you hate? And which ones have you watched so many times that your family begs you to pick something else? Let me know. I’m always ready to defend my comedy choices, even the questionable ones.
Eric Taveren 