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Ten Barrels of LaughsApr 22 '05 (Updated Apr 29 '05) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line 10 of my favourite comedies Having read bangj’s recent review of his favourite ten comedies inspired me to do some research to the forsaken parts of my brain, filled with cob-webs, the long abandoned left forlorn portions where the neurological chemistry processes of my mind has stored the comedy section of my internal filmotheque. Namely, I was once an exclusive connoisseur of comedies as action movies had become pointless and derogatory to my intelligence and no matter how good the suspense movies were, the bad guy was always someone who if you didn’t guess it throughout the movie was either painfully obvious or the movie creators went to great lengths to justify the reasoning for the perpetrator’s actions. The third option is of course someone introduced 10 minutes before the movie’s end. Due to the reasons given above and the effort to keep my spirits up at all time I found a sanctuary in comedies, which is a pity really because the high volume consumption has deteriorated the memories of the better movies of the genre. The following ten are some of the movies that impressed me. 10. Spaceballs Classic line: I see your Schwartz is as big as mine This is a Mel Brooks spoof of the Star Wars saga. It features zany characters - a dog man, the helmet guy (a send up of Darth Vader) to mention but a few and putting them in completely zany situations. As with all parodies expect an unexpected gag or a series of gags in the middle of any situation. Extra points to this movie as features “Good Enough” from Van Halen in the space bar before the ending. 9. Snatch Classic situation: Dog swallowing squeaky ball. A dark comedy directed by Guy Richie, this movie makes you feel bad for laughing at certain situations. But, you can’t help yourself you simply have to laugh. Personally not an angle in comedy that I like but this film just is simply funny. You’ll feel bad afterwards but it’d be too late by then, wouldn’t it? Making a memorable performance is Brad Pitt as a Gypsie boxer, whose speech is slurred, accented and unintelligible but his acting superb. 8. Austin Powers in Goldmember Classic line: OK Everybody leave the room. Not you. Not you. Not you Mini Me, not you guard, not you evil henchman randomly pushing buttons Admittedly, I’ve only seen the first Austin Powers movie at a glance and missed its sequel. This wasn’t enough to make it memorable but left a seed of interest in me that would make me rent this movie. Right from the word go I was on the floor laughing as Mike Myers delivers one punch after another. Having not seen the previous two movies helped I guess but this movie is a laugh fest on its own. 7. Zoolander Classic line: I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to life than being really, really good looking...And I plan on finding out what that is. Ben Stiller stars as the male top model at the zenith of his career about to be overtaken by his biggest rival played by Owen Wilson. As many have pointed out, the fashion business is an easy target to ridicule, especially the world of male modeling. There are many, many humorous situations but the highlight of the movie has to be the walk off. 6. Meet the Parents Classic situation: Robert De Niro putting Ben Stiller on a lie detector test Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro meet to make an outstanding comedy. I guess Stiller’s character who is sort of shy, introvert, lacking self confidence and wanting to make a good impression on his fiancée to be’s parents is a brilliant complement to De Niro’s threatening, self assured, stark, dry and menacing character. A formula that could not be repeated in Meet the Fokkers as I have been made to understand. Nevertheless, this is a hilarious film that is sure to be appealing even to the strictest comedy critic. 5. The Life of Brian Classic line: Too many to mention but my favourite would have to be simple I’m Brian… and so’s my wife.” Where would a top comedy list be without a Monty Python movie? If you are religious and easily offended then stay clear from this movie. It leaves nothing sacred but it does so with a sensuality and sensibility augmented by wacky speeches and wackier characters. Brian is recognized as a Messiah by the gullible masses but he desperately does not want to be followed nor revered as Saviour. 4. Naked Gun (I, II ½, III 1/3) Classic lines and situations: Too numerous to mention here. All three Naked Gun movies should be watched in succession. They are very funny and Leslie Nielsen has become one of my favourite comedians of all time. I simply love the expressions on his face every time he makes a mistake. These movies were so successful in my book that one cannot imagine a police parody matching or even coming close to it. I actually feel bad about putting it so low on my list but the first three movies have precedence over any other. 3. Top Secret Classic line: I know a little German! There he is! You probably have noticed by now I am a parody or spoof fan. I love them all from Airoplane (or Flying High) which started it all, through to Hotheads, the various Leslie Nielsen films including the Naked Gun saga and most of Mel Blanks’ movies, but this is the king of them all. Featuring visual gags and tricks, zany dialogue and comic action defying logic and gravity. Starring Val Kilmer as the American Elvis-like rock star who is invited to visit East Germany in the 1980’s which is ruled by a Nazi like regime and seems to be stuck back in the -40’ies. In order to quantify the number of witty gags and reference in dialogue one needs to watch the movie several times and each new movie you find something that you have missed. 2. Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail Classic scene: The Knights of niiii, the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, the French Guard In order to appreciate this low budget flick you can surely find the script online and read it out. Perhaps less well-known than the Life of Brian this movie fares much better in my opinion because it relies more on the comic dialogue and low budget effects. King Arthur’s army of knights travels through the lands on horseback, but rather than having real horses they have people hoping alongside banging coconut cups together making galloping sounds. This gimmick alone makes the movie amusing throughout. The very first scene in fact deals with King Arthur engaged in a polemicising argument with a guard about where they had obtained the coconuts from as they were in mediaeval Europe and the Southern Hemisphere had not yet been explored. This is just one of the wacky dialogues that feature in the film. 1. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Classic line: Wow, wow, all I can say is wow Steve Martin and Michael Caine give memorable performances in this extraordinary comedy. A movie about the rivalry between two conmen competing who would be more successful in sussing out $50,000 from an unsuspecting rich naïve (lady) victim. The classy master conman Caine feels that the common approach of Martin would garner him easy victory, yet the latter has a few tricks up his sleeves that manages to surprise even the old wolf. This movie is basically a remake of the 1964 release of “Bedtime Story” starring David Niven and Marlon Brando, but Cain and Martin simply outclass the two established actors and even put them to shame. This is a wonderful movie to watch with the whole family as it is good, clean, clever, smart and intelligent humour at its best. Some of the scenes will surely have you laughing with tears.  |
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