CaB's 100 Greatest Comedy Films Of All Time - The Big Vote 2017

[garbed_attic]

Well Paizs originally scripted and filmed it as "Crimewave" - it's only on the American VHS release that it is changed to "Crime Wave" due to the accidental clash!

I wrote my PhD on Czech cinema so Daisies is pretty close to my heart! It's tricky as to whether such an avant-garde film can strictly be considered a comedy, but I think it is far more interested in making play than in politics, however angry it can be. It's def a hard to classify film though. I'd also recommend Chytilova's follow-up Fruit of Paradise if you haven't seen it, which is a stranger fish but just as good!

[AsparagusTrevor]

I like that there have been several mentions of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut which I think is just a perfectly constructed and faultlessly paced comedy, and also The Man With Two Brains which I think is Mr Martin's best film.


My list also is non-highbrow and relatively modern, and in no particular order:


South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Like I said before, it's just masterfully crafted, barely a duff joke in its entire run-time and the pacing is spot-on. The songs are better than most musicals, the plot is ambitious enough for a big-screen transition while still remembering to focus on the things which make the TV show special. Best of all it manages to make over-done profanity witty and hilarious.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Most people would choose Life of Brian but I've always much preferred Holy Grail. Again it's mainly down to the pacing, there isn't a moment that drags and you're rarely left without a joke to chew on. I find this film infinitely watchable, I wouldn't even like to guess the amount of times I've watched it over the years.

The Man with Two Brains
Dook dook dook dook of oil oil oil.

Evil Dead II
The perfect balance of comedy and horror, ridiculously inventive and very well directed.

The Big Lebowski
Another film I could watch on a loop, it's just so interesting, fleshed-out and quotable.

Naked Gun
Police Squad! was a perfect 3 hours of comedy, and the first film carried this over well. The sequels were a case of diminishing returns but for quality spoof-comedy this film can't be topped.

Braindead
Another horror-comedy, Peter Jackson's finest hour. Much of the humour comes from the excess, the audaciously gory slapstick.

Jackass the Movie
Yeah, Jackass. Sometimes you just need to go back to basics and have stupid stunts, painful injuries and toilet humour. Jackass came around at the right age for me, and the film was the most I've heard an audience laugh at the cinema.

Addams Family Values
A sequel that's not only better than the first film, but takes everything up to 11 and still works. Christina Ricci as snarky Wednesday steals every scene she's in and her brilliant summer-camp subplot makes the film.

Shaun of the Dead
I know this is divisive but it's such a well made film with great jokes and clever references that manages to do interesting things with the genre cliches.


Honorable mentions:
The Lego Movie, Borat, Super, Gremlins 2, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Cannibal! the Musical, Airplane!, Team America,  In Bruges, Austin Powers, Wayne's World, Clerks, In the Loop.

[DukeDeMondo]

Jackass the Movie
Yeah, Jackass. Sometimes you just need to go back to basics and have stupid stunts, painful injuries and toilet humour. Jackass came around at the right age for me, and the film was the most I've heard an audience laugh at the cinema.

Ach damn it to hell, I forgot about Jackass. Although I'd probably have gone with Jackass 2.

Also Election and The Wolf Of Wall Street. I forgot about them, too. Dunno what I'd lose from my 10 to accommodate them, though.

[Sebastian Cobb]

People suggesting Waynes' World should be made to watch Bill and Ted repeatedly until they consider the error of their ways.

[zomgmouse]

I wrote my PhD on Czech cinema so Daisies is pretty close to my heart! It's tricky as to whether such an avant-garde film can strictly be considered a comedy, but I think it is far more interested in making play than in politics, however angry it can be. It's def a hard to classify film though.

It was in my runner-up list - I'd definitely consider it a comedy. Aching to see more Chytilová! Was it you who did your PhD on Švankmajer or was that someone else and yours was more broadly about Czech cinema? Would be great to chat with you about it regardless.

[garbed_attic]

It was in my runner-up list - I'd definitely consider it a comedy. Aching to see more Chytilová! Was it you who did your PhD on Švankmajer or was that someone else and yours was more broadly about Czech cinema? Would be great to chat with you about it regardless.

You are probably remembering about the right lines! My MA dissertation was on Švankmajer and my PhD thesis on Czech animation more broadly. And I'm always happy to talk about it... it's not often I get the offer!

[newbridge]

People suggesting Waynes' World should be made to watch Wayne's World 2 repeatedly until they consider the error of their ways.

Fixed that for you.

[zomgmouse]

You are probably remembering about the right lines! My MA dissertation was on Švankmajer and my PhD thesis on Czech animation more broadly. And I'm always happy to talk about it... it's not often I get the offer!

Ah yes, that's fallen into place! I'm about twenty minutes from the end of The Cremator and it's blowing me clean away (I've read the book so I know what's coming but what a stellar adaptation).

[the science eel]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Animal House. Is it not that funny in retrospect, is it because it inspired the Porky's 'genre' a bit? I wouldn't put it in my top ten, but like The Blues Brothers (another Landis) I've watched it plenty of times and I always enjoy it. But it gets its dues normally - this thread is about putting Top Secret! near the top like it should be.

I mentioned it you CUNT

The Producers (Mel Brooks, 1968)
Withnail and I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
About Schmidt (Alexander Payne, 2002)
Blockheads (John G. Blystone, 1938)
A Night At The Opera (Sam Wood, 1935)
Crimes and Misdemeanours (Woody Allen, 1989)
The Sunshine Boys (Herbert Ross, 1975)
National Lampoon's Animal House (John Landis, 1978)
International House (Edward Sutherland, 1933)
Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)

[Serge]

It was a simple National Lampoon.

[Herbert Ashe]

Another list which tries to give some priority to what makes me laugh the most. In chronological order -


For Heaven's Sake (1926) - I tend to like Harold Lloyd despite his 'go-getter' character, which is probably why this one is maybe my favourite - he's a playboy millionaire pursuing a girl from downtown. The two chase sequences (invariably a highlight of a Lloyd film) are excellent variations on the theme: one where he has to collect pursuers, the other where he has to escort a bunch of drunks across town.

The Cameraman (1928) - The Keaton. Hope someone mentioned this earlier, else I'm just splitting the Keaton vote like I'm probably doing with my Lloyd selection. (But I do think it's funnier than The General).

It's A Gift (1934) - Unless I missed something, that BBC list had a severe WC Fields deficit. This one gets the nod; it seems to have the highest quotient of characters who sole purpose is to direct their malevolence at WC.

Oh Mr Porter! (1937) - Lifegoals: being 'Your wasting your time!' bloke.

His Girl Friday (1940)

Good Morning (1959) - The most consistently funny Ozu comedy, I think (although always living in hope of any of his lost films turning up and proving me wrong).

Mr Vampire (1985) - Bit of a toss up which which Hong Kong action comedy film makes the cut so this is a pretty safe selection. As always with the best from HK (and plenty of the also-rans as well) the staging, direction, editing all in perfect harmony to let the humour flow.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Gremlins 2 (1990)

Shopaholics (2006) - Rather than have to choose a Johnnie To, here's his mucker Wai Ka-Fai's delirious late-capitalist screwball romcom. Lubitsch + Nintendo music + amphetamines. Added (dis)recommendation: the female leads' characters are Fong Fong-Fong and Ding Ding-Dong.


Bubbling under: Lubitsch, ZAZ, A New Leaf, Ratataplan (dir. + star = Maurizio Nichetti, something of an Italian Tati).

[DukeDeMondo]

The Cameraman (1928) - The Keaton. Hope someone mentioned this earlier, else I'm just splitting the Keaton vote like I'm probably doing with my Lloyd selection. (But I do think it's funnier than The General).

I put it on my list. I think it's funnier than The General too.

[Serge]

I just remembered that I meant to keep bumping this thread. Well, here's a bump. Another four weeks until the cut-off point, and then I'll put a list together.

[itsfredtitmus]

More like bumming this thread

[Delete Delete Delete]

I just remembered that I meant to keep bumping this thread. Well, here's a bump. Another four weeks until the cut-off point, and then I'll put a list together.

We could then take the top 10 and I could do a marathon on (spam)?

[Bazooka]

I just remembered that I meant to keep bumping this thread. Well, here's a bump. Another four weeks until the cut-off point, and then I'll put a list together.

It's ok Serge, all of the other members sent me a pm saying that they agreed my list was the correct list and to let you know.

[phantom_power]

If you put aside the concept of what makes a "good" film and concentrate on simply the 10 films that make me laugh the most then I would have to go for:

Shaun of the Dead
South Park: BL&U
Airplane
Anchorman
Love and Death
The Jerk
After Hours
Clue
Johnny Dangerously
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

[Serge]

We could then take the top 10 and I could do a marathon on (spam)?

Sure, sounds good!

[itsfredtitmus]

Guest House Paradiso

[ads82]

This was harder than I thought. Some great recommendations in the thread. I need to re-watch a few films that I've not seen in years but after a bit of thought here's my 10 favourites:

Top Secret
Whitnail and I
The Big Lewbowski
Stir Crazy
Kingpin
The Hudsucker Proxy
The Life of Brian
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
A Fish Called Wanda
Airplane


Honourable mentions.
Midnight Run
Bill and Ted Excellent Adventure
Weird Science
Spaceballs
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Raising Arizona
Home Alone 2
The Jerk
Blazing Saddles

[Serge]

Bumping this again, will count the votes on Thursday and announce the winner.....!

[bgmnts]

As long as Life of Brian, Spinal Tap and Team America are in the top 3 in happy

[Sin Agog]

Can't quite get it together to think of my own so I'll just make a list from all of your lists, with two or three additions.

(In no order)

One, Two, Three

The wrong box

Trouble in Paradise

Vernon, Florida

Who Wants to Kill Jessie?

Mr. Freedom

The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer.

School For Scoundrels

This Is Spinal Tap

The Taste of Tea

[itsfredtitmus]

Housekeeping, Local Hero, Raining Stones

[itsfredtitmus]

THE PLANK

[Z]

Housekeeping, Local Hero, Raining Stones

Legitimately not sure if this is a joke post. I don't remember raining stones or housekeeping being at all comedic

[itsfredtitmus]

Scum

[itsfredtitmus]

Legitimately not sure if this is a joke post. I don't remember raining stones or housekeeping being at all comedic

bit of both really

[itsfredtitmus]

A few scenes in Housekeeping had me laughing my head off

[Catalogue Trousers]

In no particular order

Love And Death
Saps At Sea
Time Bandits
Bedazzled - the original
Duck Soup
Carry On Spying
Local Hero
The Big Bus
Monty Python And The Holy Grail
The Rebel