I love everything Jackass. Those boys crack me up, even when they’re making me cringe.
It’s A Gift is my favorite WC Fields movie, and that’s saying a lot–I adore WC Fields. Fields hated the toddler who appeared in this and several other of his films (Baby Le Roy). Legend has it that one morning, Fields put gin in the boy’s orange juice. The kid stumbled around the set as his shrill stage mother went ballistic. Fields confided to a crew member, “I had a suspicion he couldn’t hold his liquor.”
Some Like It Hot and Duck Soup and Dr. Strangelove are the obvious choices. And I’m actually partial to Bringing Up Baby, a slightly less obvious choice.
Requiem for a Dream. I mean sure, it’s crushingly depressing from end to end, but when it ends there is almost nothing on this planet that cannot raise my mood.
I’ll interpret the question literally and assume that “funniest movie” encompasses more than “film comedies”, mainly in order to nominate both Richard Pryor: Live in Concert and Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip. Laughing uncontrollably. On the edge of weeping. Sometimes simply gobsmacked.
Cindy, I remember the first time I saw It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World…I must have been 10, at the foot of my parents’ bed. I didn’t get half the jokes, but I was dying.
MS, I once had pneumonia and was confined to the sofa. I was channel surfing and came upon It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I got really happy, but very soon Daryl had to run in and turn it off because my laughing jags turned into coughing jags that just about killed me. It was worth it, though.
My favorite parts are the bits where Dick Shawn is driving 100 mph in his red convertible, crying his eyes out and saying, “I’m coming, Mama!”
I think what I love so much about that film is the brilliant editing. It goes from one hilarious situation to the next with remarkable fluidity. And it features every major comedian of the day–Jonathan Winters, Buddy Hackett, Phil Silvers, Mickey Rooney–even Jack Benny and Jerry Lewis make cameos. Not to mention Spencer Tracy. What a movie.
Great movies so far in this string. We’re leaving out a lot, though–I hope we get some more comments.
The day Richard Pryor died — well, the day his death was announced — I had to drive back down to southern Illinois from Galena, a mad impossible route that took me through Peoria. And once I got to Peoria, I turned on my internal GPS, exited the freeway, and tooled around till I got near to where I thought Pryor’s grandmother’s whorehouse might have stood. (Came pretty close, I learned later.) Stopped the car, sat for a while, came as close to uttering a prayer as I come. Gave thanks to Richard Pryor for having been so brave and so true.
Flying High is a good one (I think it was called ‘Airplane!‘ in the US. The Life of Brian another. A Fish Called Wanda. The Big Lebowski. Shaun of the Dead.
I will admit to a certain fetish for the Carry On… films too, with Carry On Doctor probably the pick of the bunch.
I can’t believe so many like blazing saddles, first one that emails me gets the DVD that is sitting here in front of me that I’ve been trying to give away…
The only “funny” DVDs that I’m bringing with me to Kenya are Dumb and Dumber and of course Spinal Tap. But Spinal Tap is not just funny, it’s Holy. Speaking of Holy, the Holy Grail is pretty fucking funny.
Lots of other favorites have already been mentioned - let me just add a vote for Jacques Tati: Playtime, M. Hulot’s Holiday, and Traffic can all reduce me to wordless tears..
Jackass.
I love Jackass. But I have to go with It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. It just kills me every time I watch it.
Close runners-up for me areThe Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming and It’s A Gift.
Funny that I pick older movies, when I’m such a contemporary old woman. Go figure.
I haven’t seen those. I’ll have to check them out. And I really liked Jackass 2 as well.
I love everything Jackass. Those boys crack me up, even when they’re making me cringe.
It’s A Gift is my favorite WC Fields movie, and that’s saying a lot–I adore WC Fields. Fields hated the toddler who appeared in this and several other of his films (Baby Le Roy). Legend has it that one morning, Fields put gin in the boy’s orange juice. The kid stumbled around the set as his shrill stage mother went ballistic. Fields confided to a crew member, “I had a suspicion he couldn’t hold his liquor.”
for me, possibly:
Blazing Saddles
Caddyshack
Rushmore. (for me)
Some Like It Hot and Duck Soup and Dr. Strangelove are the obvious choices. And I’m actually partial to Bringing Up Baby, a slightly less obvious choice.
But, for me, His Girl Friday takes the cake.
Requiem for a Dream. I mean sure, it’s crushingly depressing from end to end, but when it ends there is almost nothing on this planet that cannot raise my mood.
Spaceballs (also the first movie played on my family first VHS)
Blazing Saddles & Raising Arizona
Blazing Saddles. Hands down.
Raising Arizona
O Brother, Where Art Thou
The Meaning of Life
(also The Life of Brian)
(also anything Python or Cohen Bros.)
Most any of these. Recently, though, Blades of Glory. I’m almost ashamed to admit it, I pretty much hate all things Ferrell.
Does laughing uncontrollably make it funny?
Yes, Rick–I believe that laughing uncontrollably makes it funny.
Have to say, I love Will Ferrell. Old School sends me into hysterics.
Oh, Bottle Rocket is probably number two for me. I got out of my chair half a dozen times when I first watched it trying to catch my breath.
The Big Lebowski
Being There
The Producers (the one with Gene Wilder & Zero Mostel)
Bottle Rocket
So many great ones have already been listed here! I’m not sure these four are the funniest ever made, but I smiled thinking about them.
I’ll interpret the question literally and assume that “funniest movie” encompasses more than “film comedies”, mainly in order to nominate both Richard Pryor: Live in Concert and Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip. Laughing uncontrollably. On the edge of weeping. Sometimes simply gobsmacked.
This is Spinal Tap.
Cindy, I remember the first time I saw It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World…I must have been 10, at the foot of my parents’ bed. I didn’t get half the jokes, but I was dying.
“Why. Did. You. Kill. Everybody. In. The. House?”
“They was home.”
MS, I once had pneumonia and was confined to the sofa. I was channel surfing and came upon It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I got really happy, but very soon Daryl had to run in and turn it off because my laughing jags turned into coughing jags that just about killed me. It was worth it, though.
My favorite parts are the bits where Dick Shawn is driving 100 mph in his red convertible, crying his eyes out and saying, “I’m coming, Mama!”
I think what I love so much about that film is the brilliant editing. It goes from one hilarious situation to the next with remarkable fluidity. And it features every major comedian of the day–Jonathan Winters, Buddy Hackett, Phil Silvers, Mickey Rooney–even Jack Benny and Jerry Lewis make cameos. Not to mention Spencer Tracy. What a movie.
Great movies so far in this string. We’re leaving out a lot, though–I hope we get some more comments.
Richard Pryor was God.
Well hell–what about Planes, Trains and Automobiles? That movie still kills me. “Man it’s cold. What’s the temperature?” “One.”
“How about you let me buy you a beer and a hot dog to make it up to you?”
“No, thanks, it’s all right.”
“Okay, just a hot dog, then.”
The day Richard Pryor died — well, the day his death was announced — I had to drive back down to southern Illinois from Galena, a mad impossible route that took me through Peoria. And once I got to Peoria, I turned on my internal GPS, exited the freeway, and tooled around till I got near to where I thought Pryor’s grandmother’s whorehouse might have stood. (Came pretty close, I learned later.) Stopped the car, sat for a while, came as close to uttering a prayer as I come. Gave thanks to Richard Pryor for having been so brave and so true.
Flying High is a good one (I think it was called ‘Airplane!‘ in the US. The Life of Brian another. A Fish Called Wanda. The Big Lebowski. Shaun of the Dead.
I will admit to a certain fetish for the Carry On… films too, with Carry On Doctor probably the pick of the bunch.
Oh, Kris. Balkan ‘flocker Alek Lindus also has a fondness for the Carry On series.
I can’t believe so many like blazing saddles, first one that emails me gets the DVD that is sitting here in front of me that I’ve been trying to give away…
The only “funny” DVDs that I’m bringing with me to Kenya are Dumb and Dumber and of course Spinal Tap. But Spinal Tap is not just funny, it’s Holy. Speaking of Holy, the Holy Grail is pretty fucking funny.
And speaking of Kenay and Richard Pryor, this bit kills me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kHxLcCuGFo
Hmmmm… The Balkens meets Sid James, I can see room for an excellent Carry On Sarajevo.
Sheila: Did you ever see Richard Pryor in Which Way is Up? Very funny–he plays 3 parts I believe.
The Wrong Guy (1997)
Lots of other favorites have already been mentioned - let me just add a vote for Jacques Tati: Playtime, M. Hulot’s Holiday, and Traffic can all reduce me to wordless tears..
Oh, I forgot Woody Allen’s Play it Again, Sam.
Other worthy mentions are the originals of The Pink Panther and The Out of Towners.
“We’re from Ohio, George–let the man fool with it.”
im over ten will i like Jackass ? A funny adult movie Tootsie
Well, David, I’m about to turn 50, and I love it.
Cindy will give jackass a veiwing
but first i need to learn how to spell
People, people:
The Court Jester
Come on!