Road to 2000 (My Ten Favorite Comedies)
As I approach movie #2000 on my list of every movie I’ve seen ranked from favorite to least favorite, I’ve taken a look back at some of my favorites from various genres. In this post, I’ve called out my top ten favorite comedies that can still make me laugh every time I watch them.
I’ll be focusing on movies that lean more comedy than drama, so check out the full list if there’s anything that blurs the line you think I might have missed.
[#10] This Is the End (2013)
This Is the End doesn’t work only as a spoof on apocalypse movies; it works as a spoof on Hollywood culture all together. In this joke-a-minute comedy, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson and so many more of today’s best comedians get to play satirical versions of themselves. With most of the jokes improvised on set, it’s clear to see the love these actors have for each other even through the insults.
When an apocalyptic event happens in Hollywood you never know who you’ll run into, proven all the more by cameos popping in and out of This Is the End. Of course having prior knowledge of these actors and their work will help the humor, but I believe you could still go in without knowing a single one and still have a great time laughing at their expense.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime
[#9] What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
What would vampires do in the present day if they shared a flat in New Zealand? What We Do in the Shadows seeks to answer that question in the only way Taika Waititi knows how, with his signature quirky humor. Waititi (known mostly for his Thor movies) stars in and directs this fake documentary about three centuries-old friends who take a recently turned vampire under their wing.
We follow these vampires in all of their daily routines: finding virgins, drinking the blood of virgins, having orgies with virgins. Why so many virgins you ask? Well as Vladislav puts it, “If you’re going to eat a sandwich, you would just enjoy it more if you knew no one had fucked it…” Better than all of that, the most miraculous thing about What We Do in the Shadows is that it somehow lead to an even funnier TV show.
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.)
[#8] Superbad (2007)
We are all McLovin. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s coming-of-age screenplay has plenty of timeless memorable jokes. In their quest to get booze for a party, in the hopes that it will finally help them get a girl, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse deliver some of the best performances of any young comedians.
The secret to Superbad’s success, however, has always been in its surprising amount of heart. In their senior year, these friends all have doubts about what the future is going to hold for their friendships. Seeing their dynamic and how close they’ve been for years gets you to truly root for them and hope that they’ll be able to make it all work out.
Now streaming on Hulu
[#7] Jackass Forever (2022)
The Jackass franchise began in 2000 with a group of idiots doing stupid stunts, hurting themselves for our entertainment. 22 years later, that same group of idiots are still going strong with their best entrance into the franchise yet. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and the gang up the ante on their stunts for Jackass Forever even just due to the nature of them now being in their early-50s.
The introduction to younger members of the group worked well, and I’d be happy to see Poopies (yes that’s his name) take on the lead role in the future. But even with all of these new additions, it’s veteran Ehren McGhehey who takes it the worst in Forever. Being trapped in a room with a bear covered in honey is probably the tamest thing he goes through. If you’ve never seen a Jackass movie before, start at the beginning and work your way here; there’s not a boring movie in the bunch.
Now streaming on Paramount+
[#6] The Great Dictator (1940)
Almost a decade ago, one of the first ways I began to have a deeper appreciation for film was to explore the early works of Charlie Chaplin. There is no finer example of his genius in front of or behind the camera than his satirical masterpiece, The Great Dictator. In his first “talkie”, Chaplin takes dual roles: a caricature of Adolf Hitler and a simple Jewish man who is mistaken for the dictator.
Chaplin’s usual slapstick comedy is abundant, but the politically charged call for kindness and peace is what elevated this film to new heights. To drive home that plea, Chaplin delivers a monologue at the climax of The Great Dictator worthy of competing with any real politician’s best speeches.
Now streaming on Max
[#5] Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Following a San Diego news crew as they do whatever it takes to climb up the ratings, Anchorman is arguably the most quotable movie ever released. You have to respect the degree to which all actors involved, but especially Will Ferrell and Steve Carell, commit to their bits. When they come together on the screen, magic happens.
The early 2000s are filled with comedies using the same style of humor and now-iconic actors, but Anchorman stands above the rest. My family and I burned out our Anchorman DVD for the amount of times my sister and I would watch it on road trips. Still, to this day, it’s one of the easiest comedies to recommend, because its humor is universal.
Now streaming on Apple TV+
[#4] The Nice Guys (2016)
If you enjoyed Ryan Gosling’s performance in Barbie, then let me be the first to tell you it pales in comparison to what he does in The Nice Guys. Gosling, as a bumbling detective, and Russell Crowe, the strong man, form a not-so-dynamic detective duo in this smart comedy. Set in the 70s, when the lead actress of a porno goes missing, these two are somehow the only ones who are able to get to the bottom of the case.
The performances are really the draw with this comedy, but having one of the funniest writers alive helming the script, Shane Black, never hurts. The situations that the screenplay puts this oddball couple into always leads to hilarious results. I’m never one for unnecessary sequels, but it’s a great tragedy that this comedy never found the audience it deserved. So, help get a sequel made and watch this one ASAP!
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.)
[#3] Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
The movie that launched a thousand impressions. Borat has become a classic because of the singular vision and unashamed humor Sacha Baron Cohen brings to the character. Throwing this vulgar lovable oaf into throws with Americans ripe for making fun of is one of the most ingenious moves any comedian has made.
The use of non-actors under the guise that Borat is a real character spawns incredible comedic moments at the expense of those who fall for the act. You can debate the ethics of what Cohen pulls off here all day, but the quality humor of the results is irrefutable. The sequel, Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, also lived up to the hype, placing Borat in the middle of an election and the COVID pandemic in America.
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.)
[#2] Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is the teenage comedy that will best stand the test of time. John Hughes (also director of The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles) has a respect for the balance of maturity and immaturity in his young characters that’s rarely found in other films.
Maybe it’s the Chicago in me, but I feel a deeper connection to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off more than any other comedy. Watching this movie over and over again is an escape to youthful days of exploration, when you don’t have a plan and are on the hunt for something to do. Ferris Bueller represents the kind of person we all strive to be, care free without a worry in the world, and somehow making it all work for himself.
Now streaming on Apple TV+
[#1] Game Night (2018)
When a group of friends are told they’re going to participate in a murder mystery for their game night, the last thing they expect is to get involved with a real crime. Game Night is a brilliant concept for a comedy executed to perfection by directors John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams lead an unstoppable cast in what I consider to be my favorite comedy movie.
I could gush about this movie for pages and pages, so I think it’s best if I let this scene do the talking: “How can that be profitable for Frito Lay?”
Available to rent on VOD (Itunes, Amazon, etc.)
