Let's say I need to find a movie to lighten my mood. I don't want something that insults my intelligence, but I also don't want something whose humor is overly cerebral, dark, or satiric. Romance is acceptable, as long as it isn't the central aspect of the movie (generic or formulaic RomComs need not apply). I just want something that I'll laugh at, and will afterwards feel better about life in general.
Some examples: Appropriate: Some Like It Hot, The Princess Bride, The Philadelphia Story, His Girl Friday, A Christmas Story
Inappropriate: Dr. Strangelove, La Vita è bella, Life of Brian, The Graduate, Heathers
Really Inappropriate: anything that is "so bad it's good"
What do you recommend, Dr. Hatrack?
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Amelie!
Also, Monster's Inc, The Incredibles, Zoolander (silly, but really well-done silly).... I think you might really like Amelie, though. Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
Jungle Book. Just watch it for the Music! NOTE: look for the use of litemotief's just like a Wagner opera.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
The Court Jester How to Steal a Million any Wallace and Gromit films any of the Mr. Bean tv shows Kiki's Delivery Service Spirited Away Amelie Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Arsenic and Old Lace Being There The Hudsucker Proxy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels So I Married an Axe Murderer Three Amigos Murder by Death
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
Brain Donors! (A modern version of Marx Brothers style comedy, with John Turturro playing the Groucho role.) The PowerPuff Girls Movie! Everything that Zeugma listed!
--Enigmatic
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
Meet the Parents? It revolves around a wedding and a proposal, so I suppose it could be a RomCom, though.
--j_k
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Excellent, excellent, I'm feeling better already. A little feed back: >Kiki's Delivery Service >Spirited Away Are these really comedies? I haven't seen Kiki's, but Spirited Away struck me more as absurdist adventure.
>Dirty Rotten Scoundrels >Meet the Parents These are a little too mean to fit my model of the perfect funny, happy movie. Although I like both movies and think they are very funny, I'm looking for something involving less mockery.
>The PowerPuff Girls movie umm...I don't see how the universe could align to make me consider watching this.
Favorite suggestions so far that I haven't seen: Amelie Zoolander How to Steal a Million Brain Donors (pending further investigation)
Good suggestions that I have already seen: The Court Jester, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Hudsucker Proxy
Suggestions that I have already seen, but don't quite fit what I'm looking for: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy So I Married an Axe Murderer Three Amigos (aforementioned) Meet the Parents (aforementioned) Dirty Rotten Scoundrals
*feedback is intended to better clarify the type of movie I'm interested in and should in no way discourage those who have made excellent and very helpful suggestions
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Mystery, Alaska Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
I'm not sure how you can consider the Hudsucker Proxy not cerebral, but...sure.
If you haven't seen Amelie yet, I vote for it being #1 on your list of movies-to-watch.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Father Goose.
Posted by SC Carver (Member # 8173) on :
Second Hand Lions, a truely great uplifting movie with lots of funny parts.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Cheaper by the Dozen, and Cheaper by the Dozen II.
Yours, Mine and Ours, the original. Undercover Blues
Any episode of Boy Meets World.
White Christmas/Holiday Inn.
I should have a much longer list, but I'm blanking.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Singing In The Rain Blazing Saddles A Night At The Opera Space Balls Young Einstein with Yahoo Serious
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Young Frankenstein
Posted by Kristen (Member # 9200) on :
Office Space (but is that too satiric?) My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Both movies never cease to make me laugh. Feel better!
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
I second the suggestion of How to Steal a Million. That movie started my love of Audrey Hepburn movies.
Secondhand Lions is a great feel good, laugh out loud movie.
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Checking back in: great suggestions, one and all.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is exactly what I'm looking for. If only I hadn't already seen it. And the Young Einstein suggestion brightened my day through its very existence.
I was just reading Roger Ebert's (negative) review of "The Break-Up" and I realized the key characteristic (besides humor) that I'm searching for is warmth. The humor is not at anyone's expense and no one is made to look the fool. Family comedies seem to do this particularly well, because of the nature of families, I suppose. Anyway, just to give some insight into my process of determination.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
I call your O Brother, Where Art Thou? and My Big Fat Greek Wedding and raise you Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and The Waterboy.
I also loved 50 First Dates, Fever Pitch, and Never Been Kissed but those can be classified as romantic comedies.
Older movies like Big, 9 to 5, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Mr. Mom all make me laugh.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:The humor is not at anyone's expense
Not to nit-pick, but isn't this a paradox?
Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :
'Rat Race' ends nicely... warm and fuzzily.
Pretty much any Pixar movie.
I actually rather enjoyed 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 days'. But is that too dark?
A retro western would be 'Support your Local Sheriff'
'Hoodwinked' was hilarious... A little slow starting, but quite rewarding if you stick past those first ten minutes. It's one of those movies that gets funnier the more you watch it...
Oh, and the all time funniest movie of all times.
'What's up Doc' with Barbera Streisand and Ryan O' Neal. Madeline 'What's her face' was in that too. Is it Carr? Madeline Carr? I dunno. Anyway, I laughed the entire time through the movie.
Musicals like 'Hello Dolly' are extremely overdone, but funny. Watch 'My Fair Lady', or something.
Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :
The Wedding singer was good too.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
Eros, I don't think it is. There are movies that start out intending to make fun on one character or a group of people. One character is beaten down the whole movie so we, the audience, feels sorry for him and then he wins in the end. I hate those kind of movies. Meet the Parents is like that for me, and it is the same with many of Ben Stiller's movies. I just don't think they are funny.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
I just can't think of anything funny (by anyone's standards, not just mine) that doesn't have a victim.
Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :
Yeah, I really don't get Ben Stiller. Sometimes it's a little painful, like the American Idol auditions... Only I don't like the movies. <Grin>
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
One of the funniest movies I've ever seen in my entire life. My whole family has sat around laughing at it at least half a dozen times. Good for old and young alike. It's got Harland Williams as a star, so it has to be a riot. Definitely, definitely see this movie. If not now, then sometime soon. It's a feel good movie with a happy ending and the humor isn't at the expense of anyone.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
"What's Up Doc" Madeline Kahn
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
Hmm...
L.A. Story The Emperor's New Groove Ten Things I Hate About You (might be too much of a romance, though) Sinbad - Legend of the Seven Seas Hitch (though I hate the ending)
Posted by SC Carver (Member # 8173) on :
Bravo just did a top 100 funniest movies of all time.
1. Animal House 2. Caddyshack 3. Shrek 4. There's Something About Mary 5. South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut 6. Airplane – 7. The Wedding Singer 8. Blazing Saddles 9. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – 10. Arthur 11. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure 12. The Producers 13. Naked Gun Series 14. Napoleon Dynamite 15. Fast Times At Ridgemont High 16. Old School 17. M*A*S*H 18. Stripes 19. Wedding Crashers 20. The Jerk
Funny is so subjective that no one is ever going to agree completely. I thought they may have put a little too much empasis on newer movies,
A couple that stood out as being way too high on the list were: "the Wedding Singer". It seems no better to me than any other romatic comedy. I've seen it once and can't remember anything about it. Can someone please tell me what makes this movie so great.
Pee Wee's movie??? Didn't get it when it came out, still don't
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Wait, what the hell did they base it on? There are a lot of really, really funny movies that didn't make it on there. Like Shark Attack III. And NORTH SHORE!
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
Woah, I've seen every movie on that list and only enjoyed five of them. edit: Erm, the Bravo list.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
I think those Bravo people have a different definition of "funny" than I do....
Posted by Kristen (Member # 9200) on :
I've seen most of them and while yes, they are funny, it's a specific kind of funny. I'm really bad at describing humor but it's like those movies aren't very highbrow, satiric, or subtle about their funniness.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
At first I was horrified by the presence of The Producers on the list; then I realized that it was the original movie that was intended, and not the unholy execrable conflagration that was last year's release.
Posted by Amilia (Member # 8912) on :
Since you are obviously OK with old movies:
I Married a Male War Bride Bringing Up Baby Desk Set It Happened One Night How to Marry a Millionaire Gentlemen Prefer Blondes The Secret Life of Walter Mitty The Princess and the Pirate The Inspector General
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
-Waking Ned Devine!!! -Groundhog Day -Foul Play (humor probably too much at expense of others, but I still think it's hysterical) -It Happened One Night (edit: I see Amilia beat me to this one)
(you already mentioned two of my all-time favorites in that category: Philadelphia Story and Princess Bride)
Posted by OSTY (Member # 1480) on :
The Original "Yours, Mine and Ours" always puts a smile on my face.
M*A*S*H is always a good comedy
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
Clue.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Hoodwinked!
-pH
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
A lot of the ones that are being mentioned now -- like Groundhog Day and Bringing Up Baby -- probably fit the "romantic comedy" criteria he wanted to avoid.
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
I liked After the Sunset.
Posted by Amilia (Member # 8912) on :
quote:A lot of the ones that are being mentioned now -- like Groundhog Day and Bringing Up Baby -- probably fit the "romantic comedy" criteria he wanted to avoid.
Now, see, I would classify those as screwball comedies rather than romantic comedies. And he did meniton several screwball comedies as examples of what he wanted.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Yeah, it's a fine line, but in his original post all of the "appropriate" movies w/ the exception of A Christmas Story have romance story lines, so I felt pretty safe w/ Groundhog Day and It Happened One Night; I left out others like You've Got Mail because I thought that romance was the major element.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
I second "Clue" and "Singin in the Rain."
I'm sure everyone and their mother has seen "Father of the Bride" but its certainly one of my favorite feel-good comedies.
Posted by Elmer's Glue (Member # 9313) on :
Take the Money and Run.
Posted by Elmer's Glue (Member # 9313) on :
I thought Hoodwinked had a budget cut, because the animation was REALLY bad. It was funny and all, but I couldn't get over the animation.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
Periscope Down - One of my favorites of all time. Any Firefly Episode, or Serenity Titan AE
Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :
The Animation was different. They were going for a cartoony look. (And twitchy was supposed to look like that)
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Amelie is my favorite movie.
I thought Lost in Translation was funny, but I know a lot of people who thought it was boring. About a Boy was cute. When Harry Met Sally is probably my favorite romantic comedy ever. Kiki's Delivery Service was by far the worst Miyazaki film I've seen. If you're going for a funny animated flick, I'd vote for The Incredibles or Finding Nemo.
And anyone who likes The Philadelphia Story is automatically okay in my book.
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Thanks again, everyone. Just watching this list get made really brightened my day. Ironically, after all this I ended up watching Tomb Raider last night, since 1) that was what was on TV and 2) I wasn't able to go rent anything.
Just a couple more observations: 1) Part of the benefit of making this list was to see what the commonalities of the movie genre I was looking for were. Here's what I came up with - Ensemble cast. In almost all cases where I said, "Yeah, like that" they were movies not with a strong central character, but a group of strong characters. Good examples of this (that I've seen): My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Waking Ned Devine, Clue - Lovable characters. This is what I meant when I said "warm." As a counter-example, I didn't love any of the characters in Meet the Parents. The movie was funny, but I came out of the show thinking "man, I'd never want to meet/know/be forced into contact with any of those people." - Kind Humor. In most cases, the humor arises from characters quirky idiosynchracies. While I agree with erso that all humor is at someone's expense, in this case even though we cringe it just makes us love the characters more, because that's who they are. If that makes sense. - What's the opposite of urbane? Rurale? M*A*S*H, while hilarious, is very urbane, just like all of Altman's movies. Jaded. I don't want that. I want something...idealistic, maybe? Innocent?
2) In my initial post, I did say that movies with romantic themes were fine as long as it wasn't the central theme of the movie. The only true RomComs that I think were mentioned were mentioned (and caveated) by MandyM. I would say the central theme of Groundhog Day is Bill Murray's redemption, and the central theme of Brining up Baby is Cary Grant's loosening up.
3) That Bravo list is a great example of funny movies that are exactly *not* what I'm looking for. Which makes sense to me, because Bravo as a channel caters to the more urbane viewers (IMO). The only one from that list (of the 15 or so that I've seen) that fits in the sub-genre I'm considering is Napoleon Dynamite. And maybe Shrek.
So, culling from the many wonderful suggestions, and considering some that I've thought of on my own offline, here's my funny, happy movie list (these are all movies I've seen, rather than the movies I'm now looking forward to seeing due to the great recommendations of all y'all): "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" "Moonstruck" "Napoleon Dynamite" "Northern Exposure" (if only it were a movie) "Waking Ned Devine" "About a Boy" Any Cary Grant comedy ("Topper" was one I thought of that hasn't been mentioned, but all the ones mentioned are good)
Honorable mention: "Clue" "Singin' in the Rain" (I once helped a Blockbuster employee who was unable to find this for a patron, because they kept typing Singing rather than Singin') "Office Space" "LA Story" The Pixar movies
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
You consider "Napoleon Dynamite" to be kind, gentle humor? I cringed in more sympathetic embarrassment while watching that movie than I have in a long time.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I definetly cringe at embarassment humour... Eeee.
But, Amelie really is a delightful movie. I think the New Peter Pan movie is funny in bits. Can't think of any other ones... I don't know if I am a big fan of most comedies, but Wedding Singer is really cute and sweet. I also liked 50 First Dates. I doubt you'd like 40 year old virgin, but that movie was sweeter and funnier than I thought it would be, better than Wedding Crashers which just annoyed me. Do people actually fall for lines like that?
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Tom-
I think my interpretation of Napoleon Dynamite is colored by having grown up in the area where it is set. For me, I found all the characters very lovable, because I knew them all from when I was young. It's sort of nostalgic for me.
Posted by jaysedai6 (Member # 8856) on :
Bedazzled with Brandon Frasier National Treasure League of X O Gentlemen Down Periscope Goonies She-Devil, both the British verision and the one with Roseanne Tootise the one with Bruce Willis,
Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn - the women take apotion to keep them young
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Is 40 Year Old Virgin really okay? Or is it all potty humor, which is what it looked like from the trailer?
I need some new movies.
-pH
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
I'd recommend a couple of Steve Martin movies that I think were miles ahead of The Jerk that made the Bravo list. The Man with Two Brains and All of Me are two of my all time favorite goofy, funny movies. I'd also suggest Midnight Run although I don't think I'd classify it as a happy funny movie, more in the sarcastic funny vein.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Well, some of it is very raunchy... I watched the unedited version and sometimes my sense of humour gets like that. *big fan of South Park and idiotic puns* But I liked that movie because it was actually rather sweet outside of all the dumb male remarks about sex, but they learned stuff and he learned stuff and-
Spoiler-
They waited until they got married to have sex. That was interesting.
/Spoiler
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I love South Park.
But I hate stupid college sex movies.
And Tom Green. Oh, how I hate Tom Green. And Jack Black.
-pH
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I hate... Will Ferrel. He annoys me so much... It wasn't exactly a stupid sex movie. I didn't expect to like it, but it really wasn't so bad and made me think a bit too.
But, after American Pie, enough stupid teenager sex movies. Especially when they have gross jokes with no warmth between the characters.
Posted by Swampjedi (Member # 7374) on :
No emotional warmth? Heh.
The only movie that immediately comes to mind is The Princess Bride, but that's been mentioned. Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
Why in the world has no one mentioned Robin Hood: Men in Tights?!
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
The Shop around the corner.
great movie.
If you are willing to break the satiric rule...I love Happy Gilmore.
"What, friends listen to endless love in the dark." Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tinros: Why in the world has no one mentioned Robin Hood: Men in Tights?!
Because it's not out on DVD in the states yet? I know I always forget about it because I don't actually have it.
I know this probably won't be what you're looking for, but I have to agree with everyone who has said Blazing Saddles. I just watched that with my parents the other night (again) and loved it. Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
Actually, it's available in the new Mel Brooks box set. Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
quote: Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn - the women take apotion to keep them young
Death Becomes Her? (I enjoy that movie, though I could never explain why).
Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :
'While you were sleeping' was cute and funny... I just like Sandra Bulluck (I know I'm mispelling her name and possibly 'mispelling')
The Congeniality movies would probably be a little mean hearted... But two weeks notice was funny too.
But those have got romance... just not as the main plot in 'While you were sleeping'.
Two weeks notice was a little bit more of a blatent Romantic comedy.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Why aren't there more Marx Brothers movies on this list? I highly recommend most of them. And don't skip the "boring" harp solos.
Also, Being There (Peter Sellers)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
The Muppets take Manhattan.
Best Little Whorehouse (See it if only for Charles Durning's number "The Sidestep" -- brilliant!)
I thought Mars Attacks was pretty funny
Blazing Saddles is a definite!
The Producers (the new one is great, original is dated but pretty funny)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
I also second Wallace & Grommit
Also:
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (John Candy and Charles Grodin)
I also have to agree that Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin created a masterpiece in All of Me
[ June 04, 2006, 08:39 AM: Message edited by: Bob_Scopatz ]
Posted by calaban (Member # 2516) on :
I don't think I saw Arsenic and Old Lace in there. There is little that can pick me up like that gem.
"I'm not a Brewster, I'm the son of a sea cook! Chaaaaaaarge!"
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
The Fifth Element. Seriously, even after a million viewings, I still laugh at this movie.
Ni!
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
About a Boy Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mrs.M: About a Boy
I like that movie even though Hugh Grant annoys me
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I know I always forget about it because I don't actually have it.