Wow, I thought I was the only one who knew who Max Linder was… I’m impressed.
I still think that the most belly laughs possible-per-hour are in W. C. Fields’s movie It’s A Gift.
For non-cranial activity comedy, Happy Gilmore, Southpark, bigger, longer, uncut and Zoolander are worth the rental fees. You know they’re stoopid, I know they’re stoopid, we all know they’re stoopid. But they’re funny. I guess you could also toss in American Pie, I & II and most of the stand-up comedians (Dennis Leary, Eddie Murphy, Dennis Miller, etc.).
For thinkin’ comedy’s I loved Kevin Smith’s work: Clerks, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Dogma and Mallrats. Creative and funny stuff.
-Tcat
Pixar films, particularly Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo.
Ditto on the Wet, Hot American Summer recommendation
Ghosbusters
Pootie Tang
Postcards from the Edge
Hudsucker Proxy
Brain Candy
What About Bob
Young Frankenstein. This movie is hilarious. It should only be viewed on DVD or Tape. The reason being that you will laugh so hard that you have to wind it back to catch the dialogue you’ve missed while laughing. A comedy masterpiece!
The Great Race. Best pie fight of all time (and you get to see Natalie Wood in a corset and stockings…grrrrrrr).
Casanova’s Big Night. Bob Hope gets mistaken for Casanova. May be difficult to find. I taped it off TCM.
I’m 31 years old and I just saw Arthur for the first time two days ago. THAT is a dam’ funny movie. The scenes with Moore, Minelli, & Gielgud together finally, fully defined for me what “chemistry” means in the context of movies. They have a hilarious, witty, rapid-fire repartee that Aaron Sorkin can only dream about. And yes, Sir John-freaking-Gielgud is funny.
And if you’re thinking “Oh, I can’t watch a movie that makes being drunk look funny”, which was my parents’ (and, by extension, my) reason for never seeing it, keep in mind - it’s just a movie. Dudley Moore is brilliant in making a drunken millionaire a funny, sympathetic character.
No one’s mentioned “Some Like It Hot” yet?
I suppose we need to toss in “Bedazzled” and an old favorite of mine, the short, “Elephant Parts”.
Good call, plnnr. “Some Like if Hot” is an immortal classic.
For extremely weird comedy, I refer you to “Skidoo” (1968) with Groucho, the Great One, and so many other famous actors, you’ll be amazed you’ve never hear of it.
I guess “Kentucky Fried Movie” and “The Groove Tube” need to be in here somewhere as well.
I forgot to include “Amazon Women On The Moon”
I just watched “Old School” a couple of days ago, and laughed so much, I decided to watch it again 5 minutes later.
Happy
Boomerang is pretty funny.
The Original Kings of Comedy is good - the recent one with Bernie Mac.
Dazed and Confused
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Waiting for Guffman
Up in Smoke or any of the Cheech and Chong movies
My favorite comedies (some have already been mentioned, but I’m seconding those):
National Lampoon’s Vacation
This is Spinal Tap
Waiting for Guffman
Best in Show
Office Space
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Young Frankenstein
Bottle Rocket
Rushmore
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Great Dictator - A Charlie Chaplin talkie!
Kung Pow - this movie will rot your brain
For a goofball comedy, check out What’s Up, Doc? starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal (from about 30 years ago).
For a more recent flick, I got a few laughs from Meet the Parents with Robert DiNero and Ben Stiller.
Although it’s already been mentioned, my favorite comedy is It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Great sentiment, wrong actors. The leads in La Cage were Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault.
I also second your Buster Keaton nomination, especially The General.
The Dream Team
Hairspray
Cry-Baby
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Dr. Strangelove
Eddie Murphy Raw
Most Billy Wilder films
Howard Stern’s Private Parts (and I hate Howard Stern generally)
**
Wayne’s World
Zoolander
Ace Ventura 1 and 2
Shrek
Austin Powers 1 and 3
**
Hello… Ghostbusters!
There are so many great one-liners in that movie. (“Listen… Do you smell that?” “Yes, this man has no dick”)
I’ll tossa vote in for Spinal Tap as well. (“You can’t really dust for vomit”)
MtM
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