# Recommend some higher-brow comedy movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 11, 2008, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106 "2008-01-11T08:09:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/1 "2008-01-11T08:09:50Z")
As the title says, I need a list of higher quality comedy movies. A typical scenario plays out every time my girlfriend and I attempt to watch a movie: Me: “I want to watch a compelling movie, something that will make us think. How about Twelve Angry Men? We haven’t seen that in awhile.” Girlfriend: “No, I want to watch a comedy movie! Let’s watch something with Will Ferrel or Vince Vaughn.” Ten minutes later, I am stuck sitting through Dodgeball for the umpteenth time, wishing she would fall asleep so I can turn off the drek. There has got to be a compromise. I need some better comedy movies. I’m talking Duck Soup, MST3K, Blazing Saddles… you know, comedy movies that don’t cater to the lowest common denominator. Something that will satisfy her need for laughter while at the same time satisfy my need to retain all my brain cells. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/2 "2008-01-11T08:15:42Z")
_Some Like it Hot_? Not exactly rocket science, but still a bit more than body function humor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/3 "2008-01-11T08:50:06Z")
Blazing Saddles doesn’t cater to the lowest denominator? Thats the movie with the group of cowboys farting around a big pot of beans, right? (OK… I know it is, I’m just saying… ) That said, I love most comedies from stupid really lame comedies that a lot of people hate (Deuce Bigalow for example) to the higher brow comedies of which you speak. My first thought actually, coming into this thread, was Best in Show or A Mighty Wind. (I’d give their last one a pass though… I don’t remember the name.) Some of the Coen Brothers movies are actually really funny and yet still very good movies… “Raising Arizona” “The Big Lebowski” (A big Cult and SDMB favorite) “O Brother Where Art Thou”… and I know “Fargo” is supposed to be a comedy, but I never got that one. I’m trying to think of others… but I’m coming up blank right now. I’ll probably think of some in a few hours… if I do, I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/4 "2008-01-11T08:52:56Z")
_His Girl Friday_. _Bringing Up Baby_. _The Philadelphia Story_. _The Apartment_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/5 "2008-01-11T08:59:44Z")
The Apartment… thats a good one. Also Dr Strangelove a Kubrick classic. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/6 "2008-01-11T09:00:13Z")
Personally, I like: **Oscar The Freshman Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Princess Bride Drop Dead Fred Groundhog Day Sneakers** (Has some funy bits, though not necessarily a comedy.) **Spaceballs Young Frankenstein Maverick Ed TV Tango & Cash** (Action/Comedy) **Joe Versus the Volcano Turner & Hooch** (I recall liking it, but who knows) **The Burbs Big Dragnet The Money Pit** (Again, I _recall_ liking it, but who knows) **Spies Like Us Funy Farm Memoirs of an Invisible Man Big Trouble in Little China Scrooged Overboard Captain Ron The Toy Little Shop of Horrors Trading Places Brewster’s Millions See No Evil, Hear No Evil The Jerk My Blue Heaven Amelie** If you want real highbrow, you can also go for **Dr. Strangelove** , but I doubt that she would like it. **Being There** , on the other hand, might work for both of you (though it’s not really a comedy, in some ways), similarly is **The Adventures of Baron Munchausen**. You might also think to try some TV shows. There’s some good British shows, and at least Scrubs and House in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/7 "2008-01-11T09:11:36Z")
More: **Destiny Turns on the Radio Mr. Destiny Shakespeare in Love The Adams Family** (1 and 2 were both good, I thought) **Ferris Bueller’s Day Off The Night We Never Met Hudson Hawk Death Becomes Her** And _most_, but not all Jackie Chan movies. Not highbrow, mind, but you get to watch Jackie kick butt instead. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/8 "2008-01-11T09:23:00Z")
I have rated all these highly on IMDB. Some guilty pleasures amongst them mind you. Groundhog Day Office Space The Big Lebowski Joe Versus the Volcano Airplane! City Slickers Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Funny Farm Fletch Dogma Love Actually Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Amelie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Election Napoleon Dynamite The Life of Brian The Breakfast Club Blazing Saddles My Giant Very Bad Things The Gods Must Be Crazy Little Miss Sunshine Analyze This The Pink Panther Shallow Hal The Girl Next Door Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail There’s Something About Mary What About Bob? Young Frankenstein The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Weekend At Bernie’s Mad Dog and Glory Raising Arizona Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Money Pit Waking Ned Devine Mars Attacks! Bad Santa The Jerk Three Amigos! The Royal Tenenbaums Grosse Pointe Blank Captain Ron A Fish Called Wanda Trading Places Animal House Big Legally Blonde My Cousin Vinny Sideways Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/9 "2008-01-11T09:35:56Z")
As mentioned up thread, The Big Lebowski is a wonderful comedy and can be viewed on many levels. Also Wes Anderson Movies: Rushmore Bottle Rocket The Life Aquatic And Harold and Maude ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/10 "2008-01-11T09:38:37Z")
**Adaptation** is pretty clever, and I find it hilarious in a many places, though I don’t know if it’s considered a comedy, as such. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/11 "2008-01-11T09:47:14Z")
If you can find them you really should watch **Abigail’s Party** or **Nut’s in May**. Both are very British comedies but I think should appeal to most people, very well observed comedy directed by Mike Leigh ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/12 "2008-01-11T16:06:56Z")
Some good suggestions here. I haven’t seen mentioned yet: **Roxanne** **Parenthood** **Good Morning Vietnam** **UHF** (not exactly highbrow, but good) both **Bill & Ted** movies (more intelligent than you might think) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/13 "2008-01-11T16:14:28Z")
**L.A. Story** **My Man Godfrey** ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/14 "2008-01-11T16:31:14Z")
[The Imposters.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Impostors) Now go and laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/15 "2008-01-11T16:41:13Z")
**As good as it gets** **Delicatessen** - a wonderful French movie, if you like your comedy on the darker side. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/16 "2008-01-11T17:12:48Z")
I thought that **Dogma** was a comedy that didn’t assume its audience was comprised entirely of mouth breathers. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/17 "2008-01-11T18:56:14Z")
How about **The Rutles**? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/18 "2008-01-11T19:03:56Z")
The under rated Kingpin. And Used Cars. Both very funny. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/19 "2008-01-11T19:04:47Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] **Being There** , on the other hand, might work for both of you (though it’s not really a comedy, in some ways), … [/QUOTE] Just the one I came in to recommend. On the lighter side, **Fandango** is an awesome coming of age in the 70s, southwestern romp. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106/20 "2008-01-11T19:06:25Z")
My favorite “high-brow” comedy is the Albert Brooks **Defending Your Life** Rip Torn just cracks me up in that film. Daniel Miller: Is this Heaven? Bob Diamond: No, it isn’t Heaven. Daniel Miller: Is it Hell? Bob Diamond: Nope, it isn’t Hell either. Actually, there is no Hell. Although I hear Los Angeles is getting pretty close. Comedian: How’d ya die? Arthur: I was in a coma. Comedian: I’m sorry. How long were you in the coma? Arthur: I really don’t know. Comedian: Let’s play a game, Art. Elvis: living or dead? Arthur: Living. Comedian: Long coma, Art. Long coma. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-higher-brow-comedy-movies/433106.md?page=2)