Wednesday, December 19, 2007

I'mnotmarc inspired this post

Recently i'mnotmarc text messaged me asking, "What's the best comedy of the past 10 years?" Initially a bunch came to mind but I quickly realized that they were all older than 10 years. After discussing the matter with JSP (who noted an excellent film), we concluded that marc's question is a good one given that there haven't been many memorable comedies of late. Sure, there have been a few funny movies here and there, but what I'm talking about are those movies where you laugh like a hyena. My pick? Stephen Chow's "Shaolin Soccer" (the original 2001 version, not the American edit, which removed many scenes, dubbed in English, and generally ruined Chow's film).




Granted I haven't seen this film in quite some time, however I recall having difficulty catching my breath when I first checked it out. Of course, I felt the same way when I watched Back to the Beach (1987) with Octo and, sadly, it's not funny at all. It's amazing what doesn't hold up. Have you tried to watch Austin Powers lately? Wayne's World? Bill and Ted (okay, that was never funny)?

AC's excellent pick is "Best in Show" (2000)




Jordan and Octopunk pick, "There's Something About Mary" (1998)




JSP's top choice is "Office Space" (1999)





Julie picks "Superbad" (2007)





I'mnotmarc chooses, Super Troopers (2001)





Anas Demens Purpurea likes Kung Pow - Enter the Fist (2002)



22 comments:

AC said...

never heard of it, but thanks for the tip!

one of my picks for top comedies in the past ten years has to be Best in Show, the Christopher Guest mockumentary. totally stands up to re-watching, and maybe even improves with multiple viewings.

JPX said...

My second favorite of the past 10 years is probably A Mighty Wind!

Jordan said...

There's Something About Mary.

Definitely passes the "made me laugh like a hyena" test!

JPX said...

Just makes the 10 year mark!

Johnny Sweatpants said...

It's frightening how few truly funny movies were released in the past 10 years. It's kind of pathetic when you think about it. I vote for Office Space though. It rewards multiple viewings and almost every scene makes me laugh out loud.

I love Mighty Wind & Best in Show but I don't think they're on the level of Spinal Tap brilliance. In any case, I find that making lists is one of my favorite ways to waste time (second only to Pacman Plus these days). So here goes:

THE FUNNIEST MOVIES OF THE PAST 10 YEARS IN MY HUMBLE OPINION:

1) Office Space
2) Shaolin Soccer
3) Best in Show
4) Orgazmo
5) Team America
6) There's Something About Mary
7) A Mighty Wind
8) The Aristocrats (based on Bob Sagat's bit alone)
9) Old School
10) South Park: Bigger Stronger Louder

Also noteworthy: 40 Year Old Virgin, Jesus is Magic

Johnny Sweatpants said...

Anything else? Any funny Kevin Smith movies to add?

JPX said...

The problem with Smith's movies is that the acting is so bad at times that it's distracting. I enjoyed Clerk's 2, however, I thought it was kind of sweet. Woody Allen still makes good movies from time to time, but he hasn't made anything truly funny in years.

Julie said...

Superbad ranks, IMHO. Maybe that means there's hope for the future.

Julie said...

Oh, and I also really liked Little Miss Sunshine, for funny moments, although it's not a comedy in the strictest sense, I guess. 40 Year Old Virgin was good.

I guess I'm showing my Apatow / Correll bias here. But I think there has some good stuff pretty recently.

JPX said...

I haven't seen Superbad yet due to Netflix taunting me with the dreaded "very long wait, sucker", which means it will be available in 2020. Whirlygirl recently caught and loved it.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

I don't know anything about Superbad but that's good enough for me!

I can't wait to see what Gobaers picks!

50PageMcGee said...

this entire discussion was sparked by my claim that super troopers was the funniest movie to come out in the last 10 years. to my own list, i'd add 40 year old virgin. i have no disagreements with anyone else's choices. it's been a good 10 years.

other respondants mentioned the following:
-bad santa
-ali g
-borat
-orange county
-kiss kiss bang bang
-wet hot american summer
-napoleon dynamite
-harold and kumar
-don't be a menace to south central (which sucked and the person who sent it in is obviously stupid
-big liebowski

DKC said...

I don't have much to input yet as I've been off-blog for a couple of days...

Except to say that last picture of Cameron Diaz is from Charlie's Angels, certainly not one of the funniest movies in the last 10 years. Although I liked it anyway!

Whirlygirl said...

I did enjoy Superbad. I also agree with There's Something About Mary, Bad Santa, Little Miss Sunshine, and Best in Show, to name a few.

No one has mentioned this one, and many people have thought I was crazy, but I unexpectedly laughed my ass off watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

DKC said...

I second the 40 Yr Old Virgin votes and Best in Show. Also i'mnotmarcs list that includes kiss kiss bang bang. I thought that movie was a lot of fun.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

For what it's worth, after careful consideration Running Freak also votes for Best in Show.

Octopunk said...

Wow, I missed this whole conversation. I never even responded to Marc's original post. Even the first joke answer I thought of was too old (Schindler's List).

I'll have to agree with There's Something About Mary as a standout laugh-out-loud movie. I haven't seen everything mentioned here, but I would only disagree with a few, Big Liebowski being one of them. Never understood the rabid appeal of that movie.

JPX said...

My biggest disagreement is napoleon dynamite. Somehow I just never "got it" and I was left wondering what all the fuss was about.

Julie said...

JPX, I'm on your side about Napolean Dynamite. But I do think it's great when he dances at the end.

But how could I have forgotten Harold and Kumar and Bad Santa???

Those movies redefined comedy, in a way. Harold and Kumar is just effin' absurd, and Bad Santa is just so damn bad. I love those movies.

I don't think comedy is dead, looking at our lists, but it's just coming from off beat places. I have to eat breakfast now, so I cannot elaborate further, but I have this theory that the big people don't know what's funny, as maybe evidenced by network sitcoms. It's not a very original theory. I think you need to be pretty disrespectful to actually be funny.

So fuck all of you.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

I don't think you need to be mean spirited to be funny (although its usually the easiest way to get laughs these days.) I actually though Bad Santa was more depressing than funny.

DKC said...

I didn't see Bad Santa, and never really wanted to. Black comedy is just too, well, dark for me.

Har Har.

Sarah said...

Kung Pow -Enter the Fist (2002)

This movie probably made me laugh the most of all the movies this year. And I like to laugh. There are some really bad parts in the movie, but you forgive the directors because there are some hilarious moments too. A partically crafty montage of old movie with newer actors is another reason to watch it. Just to wonder, how did they do it?

Think MXC meets MST3K meets you and your buddies commenting on a really bad Kung-Fu movie.

Inebriation is somewhat helpful, or lack of sleep works too :)

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