OK guys, PLEASE recommend a good comedy out on video.

[mzmolly]

Some of my favorite are dark comedy's like Fargo. I also loved Raising Arizona, and many of the classic Woody Allen movies.

It seems difficult to find any good intelligent or just plain funny comedy's on video these days !!

Soooo your recommendations are appreciated ;)

[supernova]

1. Do you like British comedy?

[mzmolly]

3. LOVE BRITTISH COMEDY. We have the entire Faulty Towers collection.

:hi:

Also love Good Neighbors, Keeping up appearances etc...

[supernova]

5. Have you seen

The Young Ones?

The Thin Blue Line (Rowan Atkinson)

Saunders and French?

If you can find it, Michael Palin's "Ripping Yarns" is a hoot too.

[mzmolly]

8. We also own all the Young Ones LOL...

Haven't seen the others though, THANKS!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. If you like British comedy

try these oldies but goodies:

1. The Wrong Box with Michael Caine, Dudley Moore, Peter Sellers, John Mills, Ralph Richardson and a lot of other familiar faces, ca. 1963. Two old men are both on the verge of death, and the last survivor inherits a fortune. The heirs of both men are trying to cheat.

2. Whiskey Galore: With the dangers of alcoholism well recognized these days, this 1940s film is not exactly PC, but it is very funny. A Scottish island is deprived of whiskey during WWII, and everyone is deeply depressed. Then a ship carrying whiskey is shipwrecked just offshore... One of the stars is Gordon Jackson, who played Hudson on Upstairs, Downstairs.

3. Clockwise (from about 1985): John Cleese is the tight-assed headmaster of a comprehensive school who runs his school as if it were a Marine bootcamp. He is invited to give a presentation on his disciplinary methods at a national conference. However, he makes a wrong turn in the train station, and from then on, everything that can go wrong in his life does.

[AlCzervik]

21. OMG

I love the young ones!! My Friend gave a young ones video collection when they first showed up on American TV, hysterical. Every time i hear the word lentils i think of Neal.

[lornamoon]

38. Agree..and

AbFab

[RebelOne]

46. I think "Absolutely Fabulous" is the best of British comedy.

[mzmolly]

2. C'mon you guys!

:freak: You can think of something can't ya?

[NightTrain]

4. "The Tall Guy," a 1990 comedy starring Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson.

Goldblum plays an American actor in London who gets the lead part in a stage musical based on "The Elephant Man," called "Elephant! The Musical."

It's one of the funniest damned films I've ever seen! Just rent it. You won't be disappointed.

[mzmolly]

9. Thanks!

:hi:

[gmoney]

6. Three To Tango

"Three to Tango" is a fluffy, but very charming romantic comedy with three kiss-of-death actors, Neve Campbell, Matthew Perry, and Dylan McDermott. Very nice supporting role by Oliver Platt. Again, a completely fluffy escapist romp -- will take your mind off your troubles. Did twelve dollars at the box office, I think, so I'd bet you haven't seen it.

Or for that matter, Doc Hollywood is another one along those lines...

A couple older movies... cheaper to rent, but still good!

Or try "Bulworth" if you're feeling political. His "Obscenity Rap" about 2/3 in is perfect.

[eileen from OH]

7. "Election"

with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. Also "Serial Mom" with Kathleen Turner. I think these would definitely fall into the dark, quirky category that you like.

eileen from OH

[seventhson]

16. election is hysterical

a must see

[LearnedHand]

10. Try Galaxy Quest

Don't listen to a SOUL who tells you it's stupid. It stars Tim Allen (always hysterically funny) and Sigourney Weaver, and it parodies the idea of the original Trekkers whose popularity remained high with fans DECADES after the original Star Trek was off the air. I watch this film about once a month for good medicine!

Also, if you can stand to watch a Jim Carrey film, try Bruce Almighty if you haven't seen it. It's really dumb in some places, but some of the scenes are so funny you'll find yourself on the floor laughing.

Not much else out there. ESPECIALLY not many intelligent comedies.

[seventhson]

15. agree with both of these

funny

[Dogmudgeon]

51. Galaxy Quest was BRILLIANT!

It works on every level, and you don't have to be a Trekker to enjoy it.

If it's available for under ten bucks, buy it, don't rent it.

--bkl

[mzmolly]

11. Thanks all. I'm off to snooze, but will check back tomorrow for more

of your thoughts. :hi:

[TrustingDog]

12. The Big Lebowski and...

O Brother Where Art Thou
Office Space (heheh)

[pocket]

23. I second that!

[AbbeyRoad]

29. 3 great movies n/t

[seventhson]

13. 50 first dates is cute but not dark

and very funny

adaptation is funny and weird as is the secret lives of dentists and novocaine

I also loved double whammy with denis leary and steve buscemi

living in oblivion (buscemi is awesome) is also wonderful with Kathryn Keener (whom I met when I saw Tim Robbins' "Embedded" in NYC)

as is eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

[livinginphotographs]

14. I don't know if you work in a cubicle or not....

But if so, try "Office Space."

But don't watch it on a Sunday night.... ;)

[fudge stripe cookays]

17. If you can handle subtitles...

Two of my favorite movies...

French (The Visitors) A knight and his servant are sent forward into modern day France and chaos ensues. Hysterical!!

Italian (Johnny Stecchino) A goofy nobody is substituted for a wanted gangster. I laughed so hard the first time I saw this that I was a Begnini fan for life.

In "Il Mostro" (the Monster), he's mistaken for a serial killer. ALSO VERY funny!!

Honestly, all of these three are so amazingly funny that you almost forget you're reading the subtitles!

[seventhson]

19. great films

when we are down and out we watch the austin powers films ,

slums of beverly hills is awesome and

best in show, waiting for guffman and mighty wind are definitely bizarro funny

and there is always the Wayne's world movies (Mike Meyers is awesome and even the shrek movies are worthy

of course there is the mask and something about mary and meet the parents which are all great

[Madrone]

24. 2nd Slums of Beverly Hills -

AWESOME!

Saw it on the Sundance channel years ago - now own it on dvd!

[Dogmudgeon]

52. A hat trick for Slums of Beverly Hills

Better 70s nostalgia than Dazed and Confused.

Natasha Lyonne is not only excellent eye candy, she's an extraordinary actor. (She's now in NYU learning to make movies. Watch for her name in next year's NYU BFA graduation roster.)

Arkin has never been better as the Noble Loser; Tomei is his doppelganger. Carl Reiner's extended cameo at the end has one of the most painful AND hilarious movie rants I've ever seen.

Screamingly funny all the way through.

You'll laugh. You'll cry. But mainly you'll laugh.

--bkl

[Dogmudgeon]

53. Speaking of Natasha Lyonne

I thoroughly enjoyed Krippendorf's Tribe.

The movie was panned, but I thought it was quite funny.

Richard Dreyfus played a depressed anthropologist whose wife had died while he and their three kids -- Shelly, Mickey, and Endmund -- were on a field trip. When the time came for Dreyfus to account for the money he spent, he couldn't, since he had been laid low by the loss of his wife, and the evil college comptroller would be aiming to have him prosecuted for fraud. So he invents a tribe, called the Shelmickedmu.

Then along came Jenna Elfman in a role I suspect was originally written for Janeane Garofalo. One of the stranger -- but funny -- love interests I've seen.

The situation gets out of hand after that. I think the movie deserved better than it got. 2 1/2 stars, maybe three.

--bkl

[TrustingDog]

18. A Christmas Story (the old Darren McGaven one)

Being John Malcovich
Doctor Strangelove
The Gods Must be Crazy (the original) (hehehe! - beautiful movie)

[welshTerrier2]

22. God Said "Ha"

this movie was funny, sad, human and moving ... i would highly recommend it ... i saw it recently on the Independent Film Channel on Direct-TV ... it's available on video ...

read some of the reviews here: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/GodSaidHa-1087538/

btw, i also like a somewhat recent (1998) Woody Allen movie called "Wild Man Blues" ... the movie focussed on a tour of Europe Woody made with a musical group ...

great music and an interesting "backstage" look at Woody ... he's damned good on that clarinet ...

read some of the reviews here:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/WildManBlues-1083386/

[Madrone]

25. SUPER TROOPERS!

Best movie lead in - EVER.

"Do you know how fast you were going?"

"uhhh - 65?"

"NO! 63."

"Well uhhhh - isn't the speed limit 65?"

"Yes."

lol

or, later in the flick:


"Hey Farva, what's the name of your favorite restaurant again?"

"What? You mean Shenanigans?"



:D

Rent it meow!

[AbbeyRoad]

26. Groundhog Day, Rushmore, High Fidelity, Adaptation

School of Rock, Royal Tenenbaums, About a Boy, The Office(tv series)

[Tummler]

27. "Bad Santa"

Joel & Ethan Coen came up with the concept and then executive produced it.

"You got some lip on you, midget!"

[NightTrain]

28. For a dark comedy, try Pedro Almadovar's WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?

The characters include:

1. a pedophiliac dentist whose patient roster is limited exclusively to young boys;

2. the 12-year-old boy for whom he particularly has the hots; and

3. the boy's mother, who sells him to the dentist so she can purchase a curling iron.

Now, that's MY kind of comedy! :freak:

[Beaker]

60. i LOVE Almadover's movies- Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown...

is one of my faves.

[alarcojon]

30. Fear of a Black Hat

the gangsta rap version of "This is Spinal Tap" (which is also hilarious if you haven't seen it).

[Kali]

31. dark star, repo man

anything by monty python guys,

[Az]

61. The wisdom of Bomb Number 20

"What is your ONE purpose in life?"
"Why to explode of course!" replyed thermostellar bomb number 20
"Intriging! I wish I had more time to discuss this matter"
"Why don't you have more time?"
"Because I must detonate in 75 seconds!" -- thermostellar bomb #20
-- Classic SciFi Movie "DarkStar", 1974

"In the beginning their was darkness, and the darkness was without form and void. And in addition to the darkness their was also me! And I moved upon the face of the darkness, and I saw that I was alone..."
"Hey... bomb..."
"Let their be light ..."
-- Classic SciFi Movie "DarkStar", 1974

[Old and In the Way]

32. Can I recommend?

"A Fish called Wanda" Kevin Kline at his funniest.
"The Mouse that Roared" A great Peter Sellers film
"Around the World in 80 Days" David Nivens is terriffic, all star cast.
"Night Shift" Micheal Keaton's pretty wacked out in this.
"It's a Mad,Mad,Mad,Mad World" Every comedian seems to be in it.
"The Russians Are Coming" Arkin and Reiner in this cold war send up.
"1941" / "Neighbors" Belushi and Ackroyd...'nuff said.
This is Spinal Tap/Waiting for Guffman/Best of Show (Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy....all great movies)

Any Peter Seller's film, of course.
Any Python film, too.
Any Bill Murray film

[The Zanti Regent]

33. Marx Bros Box set just released by Warner

Has the MGM Classics plus Room Service and a Night in Casablanca

[stopbush]

34. If you like Brit comedy, try the "Carry On" Series.

Carry on Screaming is my fav. They're all on DVD now.

A Mighty Wind is also killer.

[Guy_Montag]

44. Nooooo,

they're awful

[Anarcho-Socialist]

35. Blackadder II/III/Goes Forth (TV)

One Foot In The Grave (UK TV)
Father Ted (TV)
Red Dwarf (Seasons 1-6)

[Swamp Rat]

40. The Black Adder

I agree entirely... was my first choice as well. I 've seen every one a dozen times.

The one I saw most recently was, "The Queen of Spain's Beard."

... "Más por favor!"... "More please!"



Go here mzmolly:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000100/

[St. Jarvitude]

36. The Man Who Knew Too Little

One of the best Bill Murray comedies, in my opinion. And a Chicago home-boy to boot.

[amerikat]

37. The Hudsucker Proxy. Coen Brothers production.

[Dogmudgeon]

54. Yes. Yes! YES!!!

Don't even stop to read a review -- rent The Hudsucker Proxy and don't turn it off until you're ready to see F911.

--bkl

[theoceansnerves]

39. school of rock

not really intelligent per se but its also not a "gross out" teen comedy type thing. also, reno 911! first season was just released on dvd.. i'd check that out too.

[Gore1FL]

41. an oldy but goody is "Better off Dead"

That movie is funnier than hell, and never stops-- even through the ending credits.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

42. Shakes the Clown

Greatest drunk clown movie of all time.

TWL

[MrBenchley]

63. The Citizen Kane of Alcoholic Clown Movies

[Rhiannon12866]

43. "As Good As it Gets" 1997

With Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear. The former two won Oscars, but I really felt Greg Kinnear, who was also nominated, deserved it most. He was just excellent, as was his little dog. It was a great movie, really optimistic, which I think we can all use, these days. I watched over again last week on TV, but I especially enjoy the little dog, since that is the breed of dog I have, though my little guy, miraculously, is rescue and I think he is even cuter than the movie's Verdell.

My dog, a Brussels Griffon, like Verdell:

[Kookaburra]

45. "Sordid Lives"

Dark, funny, weird. You'll love it.

[MadHound]

47. By all means, if you haven't seen it, rent Dogma

Funny, funny movie. A great dark comedy, and hey, the right wing fundies tried to ban it too. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Selma Hayek, Chris Rock, George Carlin, and Your Buddy Jesus;) Check it out sometime, you won't regret it.

[democracy eh]

48. Zoolander

Death to Smoochie, dark, dark humour

Zoolander was on TBS the other night. it was like my 5th time watching it, exceptionally dumb funny. practivally pee'd myself.

I know it is not a 'comedy' but Desperado. Banderas' one line excuses for dialogue crack me up big time.

[peacefreak]

49. Brit TV series The Office

Drop Dead Gorgeous
Saving Grace
Sweet & Lowdown
Unconditonal Love

[seventhson]

50. John Sayles' :Brother from another planet" is funny/strange

Sayles plays an alien in it - very weird

[Dogmudgeon]

55. Lord Love A Duck

1966. George Axelrod produced, directed, wrote it after he did Manchurian Candidate. It was his take on American youth culture. The darkest of the screwball comedies.

Roddy MacDowell played a weird high school kid named Allen Musgrave, who called himself "Mollymauk", the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian bird king. He takes a shine to Barbara, played by Tuesday Weld. But instead of wanting her luscious pubescent body, he makes himself the man who fulfills all her dreams, from getting her father to buy her cashmere sweaters (there is a scene of them eating ice cream that exudes sexual tension) to getting her the Man of her Dreams (a proto-Fundy sex counselor) to the slapstick denouement.

Decent soundtrack, too, with music by Neal Hefti, best known for the "Batman" theme.

--bkl
Hey hey hey!

[MrBenchley]

56. Water

Michael Caine is "the Patty Hearst of British diplomacy," ambassador to the impoverished island of Cascara, a Caribbean island whose inhabitants have mostly arrived via shipwrecks. Brenda Vaccaro is his unfaithful shrewish wife "who pines for the bright lights of Guatamala City."

A US oil company arrives in Cascara to film a TV commercial, strikes mildly laxative mineral water worth a fortune, and a fierce power struggle ensues.

A number of truly gifted clowns are in it, including Dennis Dugan, Fred Gwynne, Dick Shawn, Valerie Perrine, and Billy Connelly. And don't miss the actress playing Margaret Thatcher!

[Az]

57. Funniest movie ever made The Producers

Yes Monty Python's Holy Grail is a special and incredible movie. But The Producers is funnier still.

Only Mel Brooks could write a song called Spring Time for Hitler.

[Beaker]

58. Big Trouble

with Tim Allen.

[Az]

59. Big Trouble in Little China

Finally a director realised that when you shoot a gun in the air in a building the bullets go somewhere.

[Az]

62. Bizarre Japanese comedy: The Happiness of the Katakuras

Lets just say dancing zombie pedophiliac sumo wrestler.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

64. Yes, this is bizarro as only the Japanese can make 'em

Anyone who buys into the stereotype that the Japanese are uncreative has obviously never gotten to know the best of their pop culture.

But this IS very, very bizarre.

By the way, the actor who plays the father is Kenji Sawada (or Sawada Kenji in Japanese usage), who was sort of a David Bowie figure in Japan in the 1970s. He was one of my favorite singers when I lived there.

[Az]

67. Its been my observation

That the Japanese regimented society has lead to some interesting developments in their entertainment industries. Its as if the social pressures of comformity had squeezed all the interesting bits out the ends of the system.

Understanding the nature of Japan's culture is vital to understanding the nature of their entertainment. Due to population densities and scarcity of land the chaos of individuality is kept to a bear minimum. But human nature must be expressed. Turmoil would result if there were not ways to vent this pent up stress.

The Japanese have developed a number of professions that help with this. Geisha, chefs, and entertainers specialise in breaking the ice for stoic individuals. The entertainment is often extreme in nature. Humiliation of others both serves to relieve tension and reinforce the cultural taboo of standing out.

It is for this reason that many interesting things can be found coming out of Japan's entertainment complex. Both sublime and perverted. The extremes are expressed with equal passion.

[mzmolly]

65. YOU GUYS ROCK! Thanks for the great suggestions. Some I've seen

most I haven't. I look forward to checking them off my new *must see movie* list.

Thanks again! :hi:

And feel free to keep em' comin!

[TrustingDog]

66. The Gods Must Be Crazy - a must see. ;)

[Misunderestimator]

71. Yes.... a great movie.... n/t

[phillybri]

68. About A Boy

Awesome movie...

If you want something a little lower-brow, go with Old School...

[Merrick]

69. "Underground" and "Man Bites Dog"

Funniest movies I've seen in the past couple of years, and the best part is that they're extremely good dramas at the same time.

Underground - by Kustarica is a Bosnian movie about the inherent humor of perpetual war - a group of people who go underground during WWII to avoid the Nazis and, as a consequence of ulterior motives/machinations of their leader, are left down there long after the war until violence with the Russians and eventually the Balkan War begins, which they dive into with alacrity thinking they're still fighting Germans.

Man Bites Dog (Belgian/French) - If you like dark humor, this is one of the best. Contemporary sensationalism of violence in the media is satarized here as a serial killer practicing his craft is followed around by a film crew who eventually get involved - in part due to the killer's bumbling. Ultimately, its not a movie for the faint of heart since it does have its share of semi-graphic violence, but if you appreciate morbid humor at all, its really good.

[Misunderestimator]

70. Bringing Down the House with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah...

Had me laughing through the entire thing.

[hang a left]

72. I think it is a new release

saw it on cable last week. Inlaws. It is hysterical.