Comedy Films! (& TV)

[Jed Cooper]

As much as I enjoy action movies, comedy is probably my favorite movie genre.  Laughing is one of the best experiences in the world, especially when shared with others.  The films below aren't the greatest of all time by any means, but a few of my favorites by Jim Carrey.  I remember how popular they became upon release and watching Carrey's stardom skyrocket during this time.



Jim Carrey is one of my favorite comedic actors.  He's done a handful of other very good comedies since these but I also enjoyed The Truman Show very much.  Of course, the Eastwood connection is his appearance in The Dead Pool.

Some recent classics I enjoy are Smokey & The Bandit, Stir Crazy, Young Frankenstein and Eastwood's "Which Way" comedies.  To go back even further, another favorite is Jerry Lewis.  Hard to top his zaniness!  He's done a lot of funny movies with Dean Martin and on his own.  I enjoyed watching the Abbott & Costello tv show when I was younger and have always enjoyed watching The Three Stooges and thought the new movie was great.

[davytriumph]

"Frasier" (1993-2004)  ALL the way for me.  I will never tire of this series.  Everyone a winner.

Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce.  What a class act.

[Rawhide7]

Here are some of my favorites:

Vacation
Christmas Vacation
Summer Rental
What About Bob
Step Brothers

Threes Company Tv show
That show is very funny

[Jed Cooper]

"Frasier" (1993-2004)  ALL the way for me.  I will never tire of this series.  Everyone a winner.

Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce.  What a class act.

Yes, very funny program! 

[Jed Cooper]

Here are some of my favorites:

Vacation
Christmas Vacation
Summer Rental
What About Bob
Step Brothers

Threes Company Tv show
That show is very funny

I enjoyed the Vacation movies, except for the last one.  I also liked Summer Rental and What About Bob but haven't seen Step Brothers yet.  I've heard it's very funny.

I loved watching Three's Company when it aired and watched the reruns for a while, too.

[JSE]

I also love some of Jim Carrey's movies, he is one of my favourite comedic actors.

He also, of course, hosted Clint's AFI tribute night which was very funny especially the Sinatra take on Dirty Harry 'Did I fire six shots or only five, were they blank rounds or were they live'.

I know some people can't stand him, I guess he is one of those people that you either love or hate but most everything he does makes me chuckle so I'm pleased! Just got this slide from the States, it's a photo I've seen before but wanted the slide so I can blow it up and get a decent sized print from it. It makes me smile every time I look at it!

[Jed Cooper]

Very funny photo, JSE, thanks for sharing!  My other favorties by Carrey are Liar Liar, Me Myself & Irene, Bruce Almighty and Yes Man.  If I were to buy Carrey comedies on dvd or Blu-ray, it would be these 4 and the first 3 I mentioned at the beginning of this topic.  I haven't seen all of his films, but did enjoy The Truman Show very much.  I've seen some of The Majestic and would like to see it in it's entirety because it looks interesting.  I couldn't stand Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I hated it.  I did, however, enjoy Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Horton Hears A Who!  I hope he has a number of funny comedies left in him.

I understand what you mean about those who either love or hate his films.  I believe some felt the same way about Jerry Lewis, another of my favorites.

[AKA23]

I am one of those that really can't stand Jim Carrey's comedy. I tend to prefer intelligent humor, and the Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler crowd don't provide that. They engage in really obvious, often gross humor, that insults the viewer and provides cheap laughs. That's not the type of comedy that I enjoy. I do think Jim Carrey has talent though, but I much prefer his dramatic work. "The Truman Show" and "The Majestic" were the best movies he's ever been involved with. I wish he did more drama.   

As for TV comedies that are still on, I like "Curb Your Enthusiasm."  For contemporary comedies in syndication, I also liked "Frasier," "Everybody Loves Raymond"  "King of Queens," which were all good. 

As for films, "Meet the Parents" was good, and "Wedding Crashers" I could tolerate, but that's really only because Rachel McAdams is in it

[Jed Cooper]

I understand and respect that opinion, AKA23.  As for humor, be it intelligent or not, I enjoy all kinds.  The important thing to me is this:  Is what I'm watching making me laugh?  Do I find it humorous enough to have the kind of positive reaction that involves anywhere from a smile and light chuckle or all the way to an all out belly-aching laugh bringing tears to my eyes?  The latter, of course, is the best and those are few and far between but when they come along, they're great.  What I love about comedies is sharing scenes or quotes with others that may have seen the same thing and laughing all over again because laughter is one of the best feelings in the world.

Will Ferrell seems to be another that is loved or hated.  A couple of his films that I enjyoyed immensely are Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby.  I thought he was funny in A Night At The Roxbury, Superstar and especially Elf.  I haven't seen many of his films, but Anchorman and Talladega Nights are 2 of my favorite comedies.  I guess I'm more of the type that enjoys slapstick comedy, the kind that goes all the way back to The Three Stooges, Abbott & Costello and Martin & Lewis.

I could never get into Curb Your Enthusiasm, perhaps someday because unless I'm mistaken, I believe the star of that show created Seinfeld and much as I enjoyed that program, Curb seems to be much different and what little I've seen didn't hold my interest.  My wife's sister enjoys that program very much.  I'm not opposed to giving it a try sometime, though.  I agree in that Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond and King Of Queens were all good.  Very good; very humorous and enjoyable enough for repeated viewings.

[AKA23]

I hate to break it to you Jed, but I hate Will Ferrell too

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" is kind of hit and miss. When it's good, it's great, and when it's not, it can be frustrating, but it is often really good. Certain episodes are hilarious, and I like the idea of a guy who says a lot of things that many people think but are too afraid to say. Larry David is the epitome of that type of character. I mention it because it's a current comedy show that I often enjoy, and there aren't many out there that fit that category for me. I feel like the quality of sitcoms has really declined in the past few years. There's nothing on TV like "The Cosby Show" anymore, or "Frasier," or "Everybody Loves Raymond, or for a blast from the past, "The Bob Newhart Show," which is another favorite of mine.

[Jed Cooper]

That's okay, AKA23 and believe me, no offense taken.  It's not like they're my films    This type of humor to me at times can be hilarioius and that's what's most important.  I understand and respect that films like this aren't for everyone.  If they were, we'd be living in a boring world.  Like the old saying goes, variety is the spice of life and I'm grateful for that because there's so much to choose from.  Everybody wins.

I agree about sitcom decline in recent years.  I have to admit, one of my recent guilty pleasures has been 2 Broke Girls but it's been weeks since I've bothered to watch.  It started out okay, but I've lost interest and haven't returned to it lately (but thank goodness for dvr!).  I don't think you'd enjoy this program but I enjoy the banter between the two main stars, Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs.  It's nice to see a familiar face in Garrett Morris, formerly of the original Saturday Night Live cast, too.



Part of the attraction  for me, besides Kat Dennings, is the friction and cameraderie between the 2 main stars, which reminds me of a great classic comedy, The Odd Couple.  Jack Klugman and Tony Randall were fantastic in that show together and it remains one of my all time favorites.  I used to watch the reruns with my brother when we were kids.  They just don't make 'em like that anymore!

[AKA23]

I think the best comedy sitcom on TV right now would probably be "The Big Bang Theory," but the quality of that show is really declining, and even at its height, it was nowhere near as good as "Frasier," and Everybody Loves Raymond," and other popular shows of only a few years ago. It was certainly nowhere near the quality of the classics like "The Cosby Show." Why have comedies declined so much in recent years? I really don't understand it. I've never seen "2 Broke Girls," Jed.

[Jed Cooper]

My wife liked The Big Bang Theory before I did.  So, by default, I warmed up to and began liking it.  I don't watch it all the time but do enjoy what I've seen.

Only because Shatner starred in it, I watched $#*! My Dad Says.  I thought it was okay buty could understand why it wasn't renewed, even though I was disappointed to learn it wouldn't return for another season.



There was one actor in that program that I thought stood out and could see going on to better things, Will Sasso.  As it turns out, he landed the part of Curly in the recent Three Stooges film, which I loved. 

[TWOMULES]

Great thread Jed!

I will try and post in this soon with a few of my favourites.

[Jed Cooper]

Thanks, 2M.  Glad you like it and looking forward to your thoughts.

[Rawhide7]

I enjoyed the Vacation movies, except for the last one.  I also liked Summer Rental and What About Bob but haven't seen Step Brothers yet.  I've heard it's very funny.

I loved watching Three's Company when it aired and watched the reruns for a while, too.

Ya if you like Will Ferrell defenetely watch Step Brothers.  I have to admit though when I first watched Step Brothers for the very first time I did'nt like it at all.  I found it to be silly, stupid, and corny.  But after watching it again and again it started to grow on me and I actually like it alot now.  I have several LOL moments watching it.  For me just looking at Will Ferrell makes me laugh.  And that's what comediens and comedy movies are all about making you laugh.  It's all about what you like.  What makes one person laugh may not make another person laugh at all.  I don't particularly care for Jim Carey or Adam Sandler as much.  But I know some people who like them alot and find them both to be very funny.  Like you said Jed it's all about what each individual likes and what makes them laugh, and not everybody is going to like the same comedian actors or same comedy movies.  Some of my favorite comedian actors include:  John Candy, Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, Steve Martin, and Bill Murray.

[TWOMULES]

Thanks, 2M.  Glad you like it and looking forward to your thoughts.

Thanks, Jed.

[Jed Cooper]

Ya if you like Will Ferrell defenetely watch Step Brothers.  I have to admit though when I first watched Step Brothers for the very first time I did'nt like it at all.  I found it to be silly, stupid, and corny.  But after watching it again and again it started to grow on me and I actually like it alot now.  I have several LOL moments watching it.  For me just looking at Will Ferrell makes me laugh.  And that's what comediens and comedy movies are all about making you laugh.  It's all about what you like.  What makes one person laugh may not make another person laugh at all.  I don't particularly care for Jim Carey or Adam Sandler as much.  But I know some people who like them alot and find them both to be very funny.  Like you said Jed it's all about what each individual likes and what makes them laugh, and not everybody is going to like the same comedian actors or same comedy movies.  Some of my favorite comedian actors include:  John Candy, Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, Steve Martin, and Bill Murray.

I've heard a lot of good things about Step Brothers so I'll have to check it out.  Thanks.  Much as I like Carrey, I've been disappointed in his sequel to Ace Ventura and didn't care much for The Cable Guy initially, but have warmed up to it a little but still don't consider it one of his best.  Fun With Dick And Jane is another I didn't enjoy.  Adam Sandler's only made a couple that I like a lot, but that's it.  There are lots of very funny comedies by all the guys you mentioned that I like, too. 

[TWOMULES]

I loved watching Only Fools and Horses when it aired and I have them all on dvd.

This classic British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan, starring David Jason as ambitious market trader Derek "Del Boy" Trotter, with Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger brother Rodney is probably one of the best in the world.



Here are some of the greatest moments from the show on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdwho_2yDaY

[Jed Cooper]

Thanks, Jed.

"Thank you, thankyouverymuch."



Speaking of The King, he made a couple of decent comedies that I enjoy.  Granted, they're not hilarious but definitely light-hearted humor that I find fun to watch; Follow That Dream and Viva! Las Vegas.



On my i-Phone via You Tube, I play the sequence where Elvis & Ann-Margaret sing "The Lady Loves Me" for my baby girl, Nina and she's seen it enough times now that she says "Splash!" before she even pushes him in the pool!