12.29.06 From the Viking
The Top 10 Comedies Of The Year
It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times. 2006 saw one of the best comedies known to man (uhm, duh, “Borat”). But on the flip side, it also saw the release of two straight-to-DVD American Pie movies (the “Band Camp” one and something starring a midget called “Naked Mile”). Most of the funny stuff seemed to go down not in the movies or even on TV, but on the internet (Michael Richards’ new stand-up routine, anyone?) But regardless, there were some real winners in the comedy department this year, so let’s check it out.
#10) Little Miss Sunshine: A lot of the film was over dramatic and weepy, but when Alan Arkin, Steve Carell or that little girl were on screen, belly laughs ensued. Funniest Moment Of The Movie: Steve Carell’s Frank and Olive, the little girl, discussing why he tried to kill himself. Frank: “I loved a man…who didn’t love me back.” Olive: “That’s silly!”
#9) Tristram Shandy: A Cock And Bull Story: The funniest movie you didn’t see, this British import is an Adaptation-style look at making a stodgy costume drama with many of the actors playing themselves. Steve Coogan, one of the funniest British comedians to come along in years, playing Tristram Shandy, Walter Shandy and…Steve Coogan…is the unmistakable highlight of the film. Funniest Moment Of The Movie: Steve Coogan insisting, over and over throughout the film, that the costume designer remake his shoes until she breaks down in tears.
#8) American Dreamz: The American Pie team tackles American Idol in this hilarious but mostly overlooked comedy. Hugh Grant is perfect as an even meaner and more soulless Simon Cowell-style judge, but it’s actually Chris Klein’s idiot boyfriend/soldier character who steals the show. Funniest Moment Of The Movie: Chris Klein enlists in the army and is shot and sent home within minutes of arriving in Iraq. Oh well!
#7) Jesus Camp: This documentary about children at a born again Christian summer camp wasn’t meant to be as funny as it is, but with scenes featuring absolute whack job extremists building anti abortion power point presentations to an eerily timed scene featuring the now scandalized and dismissed Ted Haggard bragging about how amazing it is to be him, Jesus Camp is an LOL fest, no matter what religion you may be. Funniest Moment Of The Movie: One of the nutso kids meets his idol, Ted Haggard.
#6) Beerfest: Not Broken Lizard’s finest (that’d be Super Troopers) but not their worst (that’d be Club Dread), Beerfest pretty much makes every beer related joke you could thing of…and gets away with damn near every one of them. Funniest Moment Of The Movie: When the Indian dude is prowling around as a male hooker. I thought they were supposed to be good at math…not blowjobs! Oh you Indians!
#5) Stranger Than Fiction: Will Ferrell in a “drama” equals funnier than most people on their funniest day. The dude can’t not be hilarious. Not only was the movie original but Ferrell proved he can sometimes be funny without using an over-extended vocabulary or by yelling "You know it!" If you happen to be part of that -2% of the population that can't stand Ferrell, Stranger Than Fiction should help bring you out of the negative zone.
#4) Clerks 2: Kevin Smith’s second funniest film. Go back and look…Mallrats isn’t that funny and the whole Shannon Elizabeth/Eliza Dushku thing ruins Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. So foul it actually got Joel Sigel to stand up mid-screening and scream “I’ve seen enough!” I love it. Funniest Moment In The Movie: Two scenes stand out…Star Wars vs. LOTR and the whole “Pillow Pants” sequence.
#3) Jackass Number Two: Who knew these idiots could make another movie? And that it’d actually be funny? That’s a miracle. Funniest Moment In The Movie: The various spring powered boxing gloves that go off throughout the film, smashing Bam and Wee Man, among others, in the face.
#2) Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby: On most years, this would be #1. Debatably Will Ferrell’s best movie and certainly the most solid, Talladega Nights is hilarious wall to wall. Assists from Sacha Baron Cohen and John C. Reilly didn’t hurt at all either. Funniest Moment In The Movie: When Will Ferrell has to relearn how to drive…with a cougar in the backseat of his car.
#1) Borat: What can I say that hasn’t been said? Hands down the funniest movie of the year, if not the funniest movie in five years. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re either in jail…or an idiot. Funniest Moment In The Movie: Well…the infamous naked wrestling scene has scarred me for life.
Here are some funny looking movies we didn’t check out:
Beer League: The other beer movie, this one starring Artie Lange. It should’ve had a wider release, but I’ll catch it on DVD regardless.
Idiocracy: Dude, Mike Judge’s movie was raped. It only came out in Texas. That’s just effed up. When is it coming on DVD? Please!
Accepted: Starring the Mac from the Mac ads. I’ll check it out on cable.
Click: Sandler meets Bruce Almighty meets Tivo. Again, I’ll see it on cable.
Here are some comedies we saw that fucking sucked…and now we’re demanding a refund
Date Movie: The movie was actually parodying mostly comedic movies. Always a bad sign. Hitch and Napolean Dynamite didn’t need comedic redos by less funny writers.
Scary Movie 4: Okay…the end. No more scary movies.
Little Man: I actually Reallly liked White Chicks. But this one…REFUNNNND!!!Share this on Digg, Facebook, Stumbleupon, etc.
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