I am serious...
I'll be straight forward here: I don't like most comedy movies. I have a very high bar when it comes to these types of films, and most movies don't meet that bar. I don't like Adam Sandler very much. I don't like most Jim Carrey movies. If I am not laughing throughout the entire film, it's hard for me to like it. That said...when movies make me laugh, they make me die. These ten films had me cracking up so hard throughout, and I absolutely loved it. Here are my ten favorite comedies of all time.
10. The Dictator
The Dictator is the ultimate guilty pleasure for me. Is this a good movie? Ha. No. Is this movie absolutely hysterical? Uh, yes. Sacha Baron Cohen pours his all into this film. He just stops caring and gives you an offensive, racist, antisemitic, xenophobic, homophobic film. And it's so, so funny. This is one of the movies that I've truly laughed the most at. The plot is about a Middle Eastern dictator trying to stop his country from being overtaken by someone who wants to open up their country and give women rights. It's hilarious. It's so offensive, but it just doesn't care, which makes it all the better.
9. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Scott Pilgrim is one of the funniest, craziest movies I have ever seen. This is truly a unique experience. Edgar Wright gives us this insane, video-game inspired film about a computer nerd trying to fight off his crush's evil exes. That is just a fantastic concept, and it's executed with all of the sci-fi fantasy weirdness that I love. The one-liners here are delivered to perfection by Michael Cera and the rest of the cast. The movie doesn't take itself seriously at all but pretends like it does, which just adds to this fantastic tone and vibe that it has. If you haven't seen Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, watch it. You'll have a blast.
8. Coming to America
Coming to America is peak Eddie Murphy. I like some of his other movies. Beverly Hills Cop is solid, but nothing is on the level of this movie. This movie is the ultimate fish-out-of-water comedy. Murphy does a fantastic job as the naive Prince Akeem, an African prince from Zamunda who comes to America to experience...well, America. Watching him in New York and seeing him fall in love is just wholesome and fun while also being funny.
7. Dumb and Dumber
I don't love Jim Carrey. I think he's talented, but I've just never been into his whole shtick. Except for one film. And that film is Dumb and Dumber. This movie is exactly what the title implies. It's dumb. It's dumber than dumb. And that's what makes it great. It's so stupid. The whole plot is an adventure with these two complete idiots. And it's so funny. Everything they say is just dumb, but it works, because Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are hilarious. I love this movie. It's great.
6. Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids is one of the funniest movies that I've seen that also has a truly great story at the center. This movie is kind of about a woman's mid-life crisis, and it works as an actual film while also being really funny. Kristen Wiig is great. Her chemistry with Maya Rudolph crackles. But the supporting cast here is what makes the film. Rose Byrne is really funny as this snobby, rich b**ch that is the cause of all of Kristen Wiig's insecurities. The story about these two friends is genuinely sweet, and it's elevated by all of the comedy here. Great movie. Highly recommend.
5. School of Rock
School of Rock is on here mostly because of nostalgia, but this is actually a great movie. This is Jack Black in his prime. He just goes for it here. I think he's an underrated comedic talent that we don't see in enough things nowadays. School of Rock is a fun concept executed with greatness. It's simple: a washed-up rock musician takes his friend's job as a substitute teacher and turns his class into a band. The kids here are all charming. The story is light and fun. It's a great movie that I've really been itching to rewatch. I love it.
4. Home Alone
One of two Christmas movies on this list, Home Alone is fantastic. It's the classic story of one Kevin McCallister, a little boy who is left home alone over Christmas break. What is a fun situation at first soon becomes dangerous when two burglars try to rob Kevin's home. Macaulay Culkin is perfect in this role. He's so energetic and so fun. The third act is one of the most entertaining of all time. The slapstick is great. But it also has the Christmas spirit and heart that you'd expect from a holiday movie. It's a yearly watch for me. I adore it.
3. Elf
The second Christmas movie on this list, Elf is Will Ferrell in his prime. Sure, he has some other movies (a few that may appear later on this list), but this is really him at the height of his career. What does he do right after Anchorman? A Christmas fish-out-of-water comedy. When I said Coming to America was the king of fish-out-of-water comedies, I lied. Elf is. Ferrell is so charming and so fun as Buddy the Elf, and he's helped out by a great supporting cast and a heart-warming Christmas story at the center. This is another yearly watch. It's one of my favorites of all time. I love it.
2. Airplane
I don't know what to even call Airplane!. In the eighties and nineties, there was a slew of these ridiculous comedy movies that didn't really have a story or characters. They were just made to be purely funny. That's what The Naked Gun is. And that's what this movie is. And it is fantastic. Everything about Airplane! is random. Nothing in this movie makes sense. And that's the beauty of it. It will have you on the floor laughing. It's so funny. Leslie Nielsen is the standout here. He's hilarious. But the script and direction are just made to have the audience falling out of the chairs and clutching their stomachs because they are laughing so hard. And it succeeds in doing that. If you like comedies, please watch this film. It's a classic for a reason.
1. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Sure, Elf was Will Ferrell in his prime. But Anchorman was the film that launched him into his prime. This movie is similar to Airplane! in the fact that it's just utterly ridiculous in every meaning of that word. It goes for everything. And it hits everything. Ferrell nailed the performance as Ron Burgundy, everyone's favorite misogynist anchorman. But the supporting cast is what pulls this movie together. Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell are highlights here. Vince Vaughn is great. The fight scene is one of the funniest scenes ever made. This movie is incredible. It's the funniest movie ever made (in my opinion). I love it to death.