As long as nobody takes the piss and puts 'Shoah' in there, I'll take anything that can reasonably be stretched to be called a comedy. That would make it a far more interesting list.
Ok!
In vague order, I suppose.
TrainspottingEqual turns hilarious and harrowingly bleak, but with a definite sense of the absurd throughout. I love everything about this film: every shot is superbly directed, the soundtrack is incredible, the casting is spot on, and it does a very good job of turning what is effectively a collection of fragmented short stories into a loose but coherent plot. From the wonderfully surreal - Renton taking a swim past a mine in a toilet bowl - to the crude - Spud covering his girlfriend's family, and their full English, with diarrhoea - the lighter scenes sparkle with a wonderful energy, whilst even a scene as dark as Renton's cold turkey hallucination is filled with black humour, particularly Dale Winton's cameo.
Withnail & II don't need to say anything, it's fucking Withnail & I.
GhostbustersI absolutely love this film. The original, of course. I did enjoyed the remake a lot though. A brilliantly barmy premise, a heap of superb dialogue, and a giant marshmallow man. Bill Murray throws in one of the best performances of a career filled with incredible performances. Just one of the most joyously hilarious films ever.
A Shot in the DarkIt's difficult to choose a Clouseau, but I went with this as I think it offers the best balance of gag-rate combined with an actual plot. The first Pink Panther is the most well-rounded of the series but lighter on jokes (although I think Clouseau's role in the film is sometimes played down by commenters - he pretty much leads things in the second half of the film); the '70s ones are hilarious, but feel a little like they're just trying to put the character in more ridiculous situations for the sake of it (not inherently a bad thing, of course). A Shot in the Dark, though, just works on both levels. Farcical, and with as many Peter Sellers walks into things gags to last a lifetime.
ClerksNot even the staggeringly poor quality of Kevin Smith's later works, or the sequel to this, can mar this lovely film. Of the many, many 'American suburban kids hang around and do nothing'-based independent films of the late '80s and early '90s, this one always stands out to me.
Educating RitaI love Julie Walters, and I think this is my favourite thing she's done. Rita is a brilliant character, and the chemistry between her and Michael Caine is tremendous. The tremendous sense of warmth in this film fills me with happiness alone.
SuperbadThis was not my childhood. As a teen, any social events and parties I attended were far more sedate than this affair. The simplicity of the premise here is maybe the film's strength: three teenagers try to buy some alcohol for a party. It escalates in a farcical manner. The ridiculousness of McLovin secures it a spot in here alone.
Dog SoldiersThe first of three horror comedies now. I love this film. I went in with no expectations and enjoyed every second of it. Although the initial shock value of how utterly daft it is (yet played completely straight) is lost on rewatching, it still has enough jokes, charm and atmosphere to keep a lot of entertainment value.
Evil Dead IIAh bloody hell, how do I even talk about this film? The perfect balance of the low budget horror of the first and outright comedy of Army of Darkness, it's relentless in its hideousness and hilarity.
An American Werewolf in LondonMuch like Dog Soldiers, the first time I saw this I wasn't aware just how funny it was going to be. The cinema scene is tremendous, but strangely it's the abruptness of the ending that makes me laugh most in hindsight.
And the ten almost-made-its:
Monty Python’s Holy Grail
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Naked Gun
Shaun of the Dead
Yellow Submarine
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
Being John Malkovich
Songs From the Second Floor
Airplane!
The Happening
