The Funniest American Comedies

Brigsby Bear
      2017 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.3
      wikipedia | who was involved?

From Voltaire's Candide to Forrest Gump, from Dostoevsky's Idiot to Dumb and Dumber, there's nothing new, in film or literature, about the theme of the naive person having something to teach the jaded. But in this adaptation of the theme, the premise was particularly original. Abducted as a baby, a man has lived through the bubble of a TV series tailor-made just for him. Delivered into the real world, he longs to continue his relationship with the fantasy world he has known. I guess much of the movie was predictable, and some of it was weak, but the premise and some of the execution were so appealing that the movie will surely be one of the most memorable of the year. If you're looking for laughs, though, this is the wrong movie—this is comedy of the light-hearted persuasion. (Last viewed: November 2017)

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That's My Boy
      2012 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 5.5
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Days before his wedding, a successful banker is reunited with his father, whom he had kept at bay for years. This movie is only in the "watch once" section for those who are curious about the work of Adam Sandlers; others can skip it. If you're ever in the mood to watch a bad movie, this is a decent choice. You know how sometimes bad can be good? I don't recall all the bad elements in That's My Boy—Adam's voice was certainly one of them—but there's enough badness here to keep you perversely entertained. (Last viewed: May 2013)

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Empire Records
      1995 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 6.7
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

This is a light-hearted movie rather than a comedy meant to make you laugh. As such, it is successful. The movie is set in an independent record store on a day when staff are having multiple crises. It has heart and character, and I enjoyed the story. (Last viewed: July 2015)

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Sydney White
      2007 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Rejected by the vicious president of a beauty farm (err… I mean, sorority), a college freshman joins the dorks and campaigns for student council. After She's The Man, I enjoyed seeing Amanda Bynes in a role with hints of tomboy once again. The movie didn't make me laugh, but it was cute and I smiled a lot. (Last viewed: June 2015)

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Our Hospitality
      1923 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.8
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A young man travels to a faraway town where he has inherited an estate. But he is the target of a century-old family feud, and he is soon hunted by the father and brothers of the young lady he has befriended on the train. Although this film won't make 21st century viewers laugh, it is surprisingly easy to watch, partly for its scenery and historical interest, partly because of its cute plot and descent pace. If you've got an hour to kill, don't let the age scare you. (Last viewed: June 2013)

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Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
      2002 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

In the tradition of Woody Allen's What's up Tigerlily, this film lays new dialogue over a B-movie, in this case a Hong Kong martial arts flick. New footage was added. The film must have been very funny to make, but it's certainly not funny to watch, unless perhaps you are a fan of underground "cult" movies. Do yourself a favor and watch Enter the Dragon instead. It's not a comedy (though it has quite a bit of humor), but it's an excellent film for the martial arts, the characters, the 1970s costumes and the social commentary. (Last viewed: July 2012)

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Crazy Rich Asians
      2018 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 6.9
      wikipedia | who was involved?

An economics professor from New York follows her boyfriend on a trip to Singapore, where she realizes he's heir to a gigantic fortune. This is not a great rom com, but the theme makes it original. The title says it all. (Last viewed: November 2018)

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Accepted
      2006 | USA | Laughs: 0.8 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 6.4
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

To fend off his anxious parents, a young man who has been rejected by several colleges prints out an acceptance letter from a fake college with a fake website. Things get out of hand when a hundred "students" offer him tuition. This movie is surprisingly not crass. By the same token, despite everyone's good intentions, it is surprisingly unfunny. I can't think of a good reason to watch it. (Last viewed: July 2015)

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Who Framed Roger Rabbit
      1988 | USA | Laughs: 0.8 (Just Awful) | imdb: 7.7
      wikipedia | who was involved?

I avoided this movie for years as the sound of cartoon characters mixing with live people sounded like an awful premise, then a podcast of learned cinephiles convinced me to give it a go.

The first ten minutes were unbearable. After the rabbit left the scene I gave it a go for another fifteen, but the rabbit's return brought the movie to new heights of "can't watch" this, so I gave up.

This might be interesting if you're in film school… Otherwise, forget it. (Last viewed: May 2019)

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Ruthless People
      1986 | USA | Laughs: 0.8 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 6.9
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This hour-and-a-half movie is about ninety minutes too long. It may have been okay in its day, but its public was a breed which has since vanished from this Earth.

Delighted that kidnappers are threatening to kill his wife, a business man does his best to disobey their instructions. Meanwhile, the kidnappers (a sweet couple) struggle to get along with their hard-headed victim.

There's nothing particularly annoying about the movie in itself — it has likeable actors doing their best. It's just unbelievably dull.
(Last viewed: May 2019)

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Don't Think Twice
      2016 | USA | Laughs: 0.8 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 6.8
      wikipedia | who was involved?

When one of the members of a troupe of stand-up comedians gets a job on a comedy show, tensions arise among old friends.

Despite the theme and setting, this was one of these classic stories about friendship rather than a funny movie. Watch it if you're craving second-hand comradeship, but not if you're hoping to laugh. (Last viewed: February 2019)

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The In-Laws
      2003 | USA | Laughs: 0.5 (Just Awful) | imdb: 5.8
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This is a remake of a funny 1979 movie by the same name. Days before his daughter's wedding, a risk-avoiding podiatrist meets the groom's father, who entangles him in the cross-border sale of a nuclear submarine. Albert Brooks slides right into Alan Arkin's shoes, but Michael Douglas can't hold the candle to Peter Falk. The movie can't decide whether it should be about plain comedy or espionage, and ends up settling on a formula of beautiful people and special effects on expensive sets. Alan Arkin and Ryan Reynolds are grossly underused, while Michael Douglas is grossly overused. We couldn't get past the first half. (Last viewed: August 2015)

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Melvin Goes to Dinner
      2003 | USA | Laughs: 0.5 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 6.8
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

I'm not sure how this ever came to be classified as a comedy. Maybe it's so edgy you have to live in the New York City subway to understand it. The movie (what I saw of it) seems to wander around a group of young adults having dinner at a restaurant. Seeing that the first twenty minutes didn't raise my interest on any level, I gave up. Save yourself time, go have dinner with your own friends. (Last viewed: December 2013)

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The Laundromat
      2019 | USA | Laughs: 0.5 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 6.3
      wikipedia | who was involved?

After watching half of this movie, what I think I understood is that it aims to explain in a light-hearted way the intricate ways in which certain legal entities are set up in order to shield their owners from any responsibility. It's neither funny nor clear in its direction — I couldn't get into it. (Last viewed: February 2021)

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The Other Woman
      2014 | USA | Laughs: 0.5 | imdb: 6.0
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A wife and two mistresses team up to punish their unfaithful man. I decided to watch this movie because of an imdb review from someone stating that they couldn't stop laughing. It saddens me, then, to have to report that I couldn't start laughing. The theme is certainly perfect for comedy, and I would love to watch it properly executed. Perhaps that film already exists in the vast repository of world comedies—I hope to hear about it someday from someone writing from a place such as France, Italy or Egypt. (Last viewed: December 2017)

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