The Funniest American Comedies

No Strings Attached
      2011 | USA | Laughs: 0.1 (Broken Comedies) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

After enjoying Ashton Kutcher in several comedies, I was disappointed by this film. My expectations were not high as "romantic comedies" rarely have strong writing, especially in the laughter department. Even so, I'd say that most tragedies have more humor than this movie. I chuckled once, a few minutes from the end, when Kutcher lightens up and tells Portman that she eats her breakfast like a baby dinosaur. It confounds me how this movie can rate higher than Dude, Where's My Car or My Boss's Daughter. These were the films that introduced me to Ashton, and where his innocent smile had a way of putting me in a good (and forgiving) mood. For most of this movie, Ashton is barely recognizable—he barely smiles, so that his face, normally so expressive, turns into a neutral mask. Not good for comedy unless you have an excellent deadpan script. Ashton was 22 in Dude and 33 in this film, and I realize that physiognomies change as we age… But I hope you don't lost your smile, Mr Kutcher! Bottom line: don't waste your time with this one. (Last viewed: September 2012)

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Forrest Gump
      1994 | USA | Laughs: 0.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 8.8
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

If the focus of this site were light-hearted movies rather than laugh-out-loud comedy, this film would rank pretty high, although it does get heavy at times, especially towards the end. On the laughter dimension, I came out empty-handed on this second viewing after a twenty-odd year gap, although I did chuckle once.

The movie shows us the world through the eyes of a man with a low IQ (I'll refrain from adding "but high sensitivity"). At first I got the impression that the film was going to be about the wisdom of the fool—the eternal theme of the simple man having a deeper understanding of life than his brethren. Fortunately, there was more to it than that, otherwise the nearly-three-hours of reels would have been unbaringly preachy.

Part of the comedy lies in the fact that unwillingly, our character gets to play a part in frontline events and achieves some outstanding deeds—without seeming to care one bit about the ensuing glory. By and large, he does things because he feels like doing them.

Although the movie is sappy at times, it is a real treat in other moments. Overall, I would place it on the shelf of the guilty pleasures of American cinema. Let the record state that I am glad that shelf exists. (Last viewed: May 1994 April 2018)

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Blue Jasmine
      2013 | USA | Laughs: 0.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.3
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This might be a great feel-bad movie, but it's definitely not a comedy. Misclassified. (Last viewed: January 2014)

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Never Goin' Back
      2018 | USA | Laughs: 0.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 6.0
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Two deadbeat girls and their deadbeat brothers get into a lot of trouble. Gross, loud, obnoxious. This is the dark side of the spread of technology. Everyone can make a movie, and they do. An awful, awful piece of work. (Last viewed: March 2019)

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War on Everyone
      2016 | USA | Laughs: 0.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 5.8
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Two cops behave violently. Apart from that, I can't tell much about this movie as we gave up about fifteen minutes. Not only did we not once laugh, we had a hard time with the actors' diction. If Americans are needing subtitles in order to understand an American movie, maybe someone is going a bit too far. (Last viewed: June 2017)

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This is 40
      2012 | USA | Laughs: 0.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Garbage. (Last viewed: March 2013)

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Horrible Bosses
      2011 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Broken Comedies) | imdb: 6.9
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Three friends afflicted with unbearable bosses resolve to help one another get rid of their superiors. Despite the promising premise, the film fails on execution, probably for lack of a skilled writer. The cast and production are decent, but the humor is very low-grade. That one of the three buddies has a cartoon-like strident voice doesn't help. I guess I'm allergic to loud comedians: I want the script to make me laugh, not a tone of voice that might have been funny when we were ten years old. (Last viewed: September 2012)

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The Big Year
      2011 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Three birding enthusiasts compete to be the one who will spot the most bird species in a calendar year. The commitment to the competition takes a toll on their professional and family lives.

Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson made a balanced triangle, and the story-line was unusual. While this is certainly not a laugh-out-loud comedy (the rare bird that this site aims to spot) this was a very cute movie that made me smile a lot. (Last viewed: November 2016)

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Neighbors (short)
      1920 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.7
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Two lovers who live across from each other must work around their abusive parents. Someone who saw this 17-minute film in a theater with a live pianist recommended it to me. When I watched it on my own, it entertained me, but it didn't make me laugh. You probably have to be in the mood. (Last viewed: June 2014)

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My Cousin Vinny
      1992 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.6
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

Four stars. An excellent, fun, even funny movie, but not the kind that has you in stitches. A New York lawyer (Joe Pesci) travels to Alabama with his fiancee to defend his nephew and another youngster, who have been falsely accused of murdering a grocery store clerk. It's always pleasant to see justice triumph—hopefully, it doesn't only happen in the movies. (Last viewed: August 2010)

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The Big Lebowski
      1998 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 8.1
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

A Los Angeles "unemployed long-hair cool dude" gets embroiled in a kidnapping story involving the wife of a millionaire who shares his last name, Lebowski. He gets the well-intentioned but ineffective help of his bowling buddy. Fun but not laugh-out-loud. (Last viewed: Dec 1998 October 2010)

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Dance of the Vampires (a.k.a The Fearless Vampire Killers)
      1967 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Four stars. An eccentric professor travels to Transylvania to research vampires in company of his young assistant (Roman Polanski), who falls in love with the innkeeper's daughter (Sharon Tate) shortly before "his Excellency", the head vampire of the local castle, plunges his fangs into her neck. Every detail about the Eastern European inn and castle feels real. A beautiful movie that has stuck in my mind since I first saw it as a kid. (Last viewed: Mar 1982 September 2010)

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The Princess Bride
      1987 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 8.1
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

I waited 25 years to watch The Princess Bride, certain that with such a title, this had to be a "girly movie". Ironically, in the opening scene, that is the very fear of the present-era kid whose grandpa offers to read him the story. Cringe no more, this is no romantic fairy tale, but an adventure comedy loaded with humor if not hard laughs and with with interesting character—except for the pricess, of course. A sweet and entertaining film for a rainy Sunday afternoon. (Last viewed: March 2012)

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Raising Arizona
      1987 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.4
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

Two stars. An ex-con and his cop wife abduct a baby. Cute but not relaxing—you worry about what will happen to these poor people. (Last viewed: August 2009)

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48 Hours
      1982 | USA | Laughs: N/A (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 6.9
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

Three stars. A cop (Nick Nolte) pulls a con (Eddie Murphy) out of jail for two days to crack a case. Endearing characters, beautiful performance by Murphy, a few good laughs. (Last viewed: August 2009)

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