The Funniest Comedy Films, Ever

There’s a difference between funny and funny, comedy and comedy. There are so many different types of comedy, the ability to catch lightning in a cinematic bottle, and we won’t go into them here. For the purposes of this blog, the comedy I’m talking about is laugh-a-minute film, not clever. I love clever films, witty dialogue, but for the purposes of this article, we’re talking basic funny: what films had me laughing the most.

This is in no particular order. Feel free to put them in order yourself, or suggest some other undeniably funny movies.

1. Dumb and Dumber. Okay, certainly not highbrow. But arguably one of the best timed, acted and just damn funny movies ever. And there’s no doubt that stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels contributed heavily. Whenever I mention this film to friends, regardless of age they all come back with scenes, different scenes, that made them laugh.


2. Some Like It Hot. Billy Wilder, say no more. This is clever dialogue, witty situations, terrific cross-gender acting. Jack Lemmon is just incredible in the role of a, well, a woman who is just too cute for Joe E. Brown to ignore. Nobody’s perfect.


3. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. The movie is funny before Neil Patrick Harris gets there, but it goes into the stratosphere upon the arrival of NPH. This movie will be become a classic.


4. Blazing Saddles. Don’t forget Mel Brooks, whose films appear on my list twice – and an argument could be made for more. Cleavon Little will be sorely missed. Madeline Kahn found a vehicle worth her talents. “It’s twue! It’s twue!”


5. Young Frankenstein. So many jokes, some hitting you smackdab in the face, others almost flying over your head. Nice knockers. Frau Blucher.


6. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The story isn’t really worth your while, and it’s been done more than once. In this version, Michael Caine and Steve Martin compete for the laughs, each quite successfully.


7. Airplane! It’s a laugh from the first minute, when you realize Leslie Nielsen isn’t the same guy you’ve seen in so many serious movies.


8. Back to School. Rodney Dangerfield at his very best. No, beyond that. My favorite line happens when Thornton Melon asks the teacher out on a date. I can’t, she says. I have class. “Well, maybe we can go out when you have no class,” replies Thornton.

9. Monty Python and the (fill in the blank). Clever and silly, all at the same time. The best may be The Holy Grail. And the Knights of Ni.
King of Swamp Castle: “One day, lad, all this will be yours.”
Prince Herbert: “What, the curtains?”


10. The Wedding Crashers. God, I never laughed so hard as I watched Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn break into wedding after wedding, romancing the wedding party, and having a lot of fun.



Honorable mention:

*** The Nutty Professor, Jerry Lewis’ best.
*** Miss Congeniality, the vehicle for Sandra Bullock, but made great by co-stars Michael Caine, Candice Bergen and William Shatner.
*** Napoleon Dynamite. Dry humor, lit on fire.
*** What’s Up Doc, Peter Bogdanovich’s best, and the introduction of Eunice, er, Madeline Kahn.
*** Borat. I’m ashamed to admit it. I laughed like hell through this movie.
*** Bad Santa