Upon reading this list, I have just finished watching, for the first time mind you, The Princess Bride (which I always thought was a chick flick) and Amelie (which I always thought was a boring foreign film). Both of these were amazing films that I would have never seen if not for this thread. Thank you!
“You don’t know how lucky you are being a monkey. Because consciousness is a terrible curse. I think. I feel. I suffer. And all I ask in return is the opportunity to do my work. And they won’t allow it… because I raise issues.”
It’s one of my favorites, but definitely not for everyone. In fact, I think of all the people I’ve introduced it to, only one enjoyed it. But any comedy that presents Eloisa to Abelard (in a marionette show, nonetheless) can’t be considered too low brow. Plus the marionette work is effing amazing, and Charlie Sheen as John Malkovich’s best friend and confident actually works. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Orson Bean saying lines like, “My spunk to you is like manna from heaven.” Then there’s the orientation video which explains the presence of the 7-1/2 floor: “I shall take yee as me wife, and I’ll build a floor in my building so that you and your cursed kind can have one place on God’s Green Earth.”
Man, what a great film. If the girlfriend is into Will Ferrell comdies, though, then it’s probably not her bag of tea.
I laughed more during Snatch! and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels than 95% of “comedies” I’ve seen. I’m sort of a strange bloke, though. There’s something offputting about most programs that are intensely focused on trying to make you laugh, because the result usually seems desperate and clingy. I like the along-the-way absurdities and snark that happen in a movie like Lock Stock.
make that three of us. ‘fargo’ may be the best black comedy out there since ‘gross pointe blank,’ which one of my all time faves. also on the subject of black comedy: ‘drowning mona,’ ‘war of the roses,’ and the very entertaining and little seen, ‘the ladykillers,’ either the 1955 alec guinness version, or the tom hanks version. both are equally good in their way.
If you liked Amelie, you might also like Big Fish, which has a similar magical fairytale feel to it. Not LOL funny… more of a smile-to-yourself type of comedy.
The strangest part is that it’s a Tim Burton movie, because it’s not nearly as dark or morbid as his usual fare. Think of it as Edward Scissorhands, minus the suburban angst and hedge-shears for hands.
I forgot about those two. I think Lock, Stock… is the funnier of the two by far. (“You cheeky bastard!”) But Brad Pitt’s deliberately incomprehensible gypsy (Romani?) accent in *Snatch *is hilarious.
I’m very picky, but the SD’s have done a good job. Still, I’d add:
Raising Arizona
Fletch
The Naked Gun
This is Spinal Tap
Roxanne
Parenthood
What About Bob?
Seems Like Old Times
Life of Brian
Monty Python’s ISO The Holy Grail
As for Marx Bros,
“Animal Crackers” would be my first pick! It’s like a “best-of” of their numerous routines.