Comedy Films

Comedy movies  are a great way to unwind, forget your troubles, and brighten your mood.  This is actually one of the oldest genres of film, as the very first silent films were comedies.  There are several different variations on this genre: there is the "fish out of water" approach, like Elf,  where the main character is stranded in an unusual environment.  A parody or spoof film, like Scary Movie,  pokes fun at overplayed plot lines in popular genres. And of course there is the modern day, gross-out film, like American Pie, the date-ready romantic comedy, and black comedies.  Humor can be mixed with practically every other genre, for example, the action-comedy, Tropic Thunder.   

Top 2008 Releases

2008 had a slew of modern comedy hits that are sure go down as some of the greats.

Step Brothers  Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly star in this slapstick film about the lives of two middle aged men still living with their parents. When their mother and father move in together, the house is not big enough for the two's antics.	Pineapple Express  Two friends, played by Seth Rogan and James Apatow, unwittingly become involved in a drug war between two gangs when one of becomes a witness to a brutal murder.	Forgetting Sarah Marshall  After being dumped by his girlfriend, Peter (Jason Segel) travels to Hawaii alone to forget her.  Unfortunately for him, she shows up at the same resort with her new rock star boyfriend.	Semi-Pro  Will Ferrell stars in this sports comedy about the collapse of the old-school American Basketball Association. When he finds four teams will be absorbed into the NBA, Ferrell resolves to resurrect his hopeless franchise.

 

Cult Classics

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)   The British comedy group, Monty Python,  spoof King Arthur's quest to find the holy grail. This was their first proper movie, followed by the equally hysterical Life of Brian  in 1979.	Dumb and Dumber  (1994) Dumb and Dumber did not win any awards, but many in its expansive cult following would say it should have. Jim Carrey  and Jeff Daniels  are one of the most dynamic duos in slapstick history.	Forrest Gump  (1994) Starring Tom Hanks,  Forrest Gump won several Academy Awards including best picture and best actor (Hanks).	Groundhog Day  (1993) Bill Murray  plays a jaded weatherman who is assigned to cover the holiday in the small town of Punxsutawney.  He finds himself repeating the same day over and over again.

Related Guides

Upcoming DVD Releases	Upcoming Blu-Ray Releases	Movies and Television

External Links

• Wikipedia.org: An article on the AFI "100 Years... 100 Laughs" list.
• IMDb.com: The top 50 rated comedy titles.