EW presents: the 25 funniest movies of the past 25 years
Like many people, I love a good "best of" list. Entertainment Weekly knows this about us, and so continues to rank our beloved pop culture icons in increasingly specific categories in an effort to draw out our applause/ire. This week, it's the The Funniest Movies of the Past 25 Years (since 1983, for those who don't want to do the math).
The list contains few surprises (though I've never heard of number 25, a British film called "Withnail and I"), but I feel there are some glaring omissions. On the subject of British films, for example, how about some love for "Shaun of the Dead"? Too bloody? Bloody hilarious, mate!
I'm happy to see "The 40 Year-Old Virgin," "Old School," and "Superbad" on the list, but where is "American Pie"? There's room for the first "Austin Powers" movie, I see, but I'm pretty sure that stopped being funny the day your mom started saying "Yeah baby!"
And really -- "Tropic Thunder" at number 17 already? It was funny, sure, but shouldn't we give it longer than three weeks to see if it holds up? Let me be the first to say that the Tom Cruise schtick is not funny. At all. And there's a lot of it.
I do love me some "When Harry Met Sally," but this is not the list for this movie. I would have thrown "Mean Girls" on there instead, mostly because it's funny that Lindsay Lohan used to be an actress. And finally, I am sorry to see "The School of Rock" is not on the list, as I don't think Jack Black will ever be that palatable for that length of time ever again.
The complete list is after the jump. Don't let me stop you from sharing your opinions.
25. WITHNAIL AND I
24. THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD
23. AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
22. OLD SCHOOL
21. CLERKS
20. BEST IN SHOW
19. CLUELESS
18. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
17. TROPIC THUNDER
16. SUPERBAD
15. TRADING PLACES
14. WEDDING CRASHERS
13. WAITING FOR GUFFMAN
12. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY...
11. THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN
10. DAZED AND CONFUSED
9. A FISH CALLED WANDA
8. THE BIG LEBOWSKI
7. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY
6. SOUTH PARK: BIGGER LONGER & UNCUT
5. OFFICE SPACE
4. THIS IS SPINAL TAP
3. BEVERLY HILLS COP
2. NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION
1. GHOSTBUSTERS
Comments:
See, and I think that Pineapple Express was funnier than Tropic Thunder but I guess they didn't want to get the list all Judd Apatow heavy.
And I'd totally put This is Spinal Tap closer to the top of the list, shoot, any of the Christopher Guest movies.
Dazed and Confused? That seems more coming of age than comedy.
Posted by: adam at August 27, 2008 6:43 AM
Um...someone left 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles' off the list.
Posted by: Ernie at August 27, 2008 8:29 AM
Yeah, Cruise's whole thing got kinda old pretty quick in Tropic Thunder. Still, a pretty funny film but totally agree with you on it's appearance on the list. Good to see South Park & Clerks on the list but I would of ranked those higher. Where's Three Amigos? "It's a sweater!"
Posted by: brodiemash at August 27, 2008 8:46 AM
It's also missing my all-time favorite, "Planes, Trains & Automobiles."
Posted by: Tiffany at August 27, 2008 9:08 AM
To Ernie:
Great taste!
Posted by: Tiffany at August 27, 2008 9:53 AM
First off: "National Lampoon's Chistmas Vacation," is funnier than "National Lampoon's Vacation." Well, at least AS funny.
Second: No Mel Brooks ("Spaceballs")? No Woody Allen (he was still funny in the '80s, right?)?
I would have also included "Mean Girls," and "Drop Dead Gorgeous."
Posted by: Famous at August 27, 2008 11:16 AM
Thanks, Tiffany
I think I may go home and watch that movie in protest tonight. 'I want a f***ing car, right f***ing now." :-)
Posted by: Ernie at August 27, 2008 11:24 AM
I'd like to throw another semi-obscure British comedy out there: "Cold Comfort Farm." My fave. Also can't forget "Heathers." (Drop "When Harry Met Sally" and "Clerks.")
Posted by: Donald Munro at August 27, 2008 11:45 AM
What about Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion? And i have to say that National Lampoon's European Vacation tops both Vacation and Christmas Vacation. And what about The Wedding Singer? Tommy Boy?
Posted by: MsJoey at August 27, 2008 11:55 AM
"Married to the Mob"---funny, quirky,directed by Jonathan Demme, great job by Michelle Pfeiffer and Mercedes Ruehl,
David Byrne does the incidental music--- it's a good one.
Posted by: blake at August 27, 2008 12:22 PM
and how 'bout "Hot Fuzz"?
Posted by: blake at August 27, 2008 12:23 PM
Ernie:
It's tradition at our house to watch "PT&A" every Thanksgiving eve. We never tire of it even though my entire family can recite the script word for word.
Gobble Gobble!
Posted by: Tiffany at August 27, 2008 12:50 PM
The GhostBusters rock! Other comedies of note with Bill Murray: Groundhog Day, Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic.
Posted by: Kiel at August 27, 2008 1:20 PM
Where the hell is "Caddyshack?" How about "Dumb & Dumber?" "The Jerk?" "Blazing Saddles?" "Private Parts?" Weak, weak list. But I guess comments like mine are exactly why the wankers at Entertainment Weekly put it together.
Posted by: diego at August 27, 2008 1:27 PM
The Three Amigos is hands down the funniest movie ever made. Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic, Darjeeling Limited are all movies that belong in thier own genre catagory... something like "Funny Movies (that won't make you laugh)".
Posted by: The Suppressors at August 27, 2008 2:04 PM
give it up for lebowski at no. 8
Posted by: will at August 27, 2008 2:12 PM
I think these films are in the last 25 years and should be on the list,
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Ruthless People
Posted by: luis at August 27, 2008 2:45 PM
What about "Borat"? It was pretty laugh-out-loud funny.
Posted by: Willaim at August 27, 2008 3:39 PM
Oh, let's not forget Airplane!
Posted by: Luis at August 27, 2008 4:07 PM
I agree that "Blazing Saddles" totally belongs on that list - except for the time frame. It came out in 1974. (I don't think they could do a movie like that again - too politically incorrect.)
Posted by: Mike D. at August 27, 2008 4:12 PM
What might be funny to you, may not be funny to me. EW hit on a few good ones. But honestly, where is "Fear of a Black Hat"?
Posted by: Bino Escobar at August 27, 2008 6:34 PM
Tom Cruise was the only funny part of Tropic Thunder, and it's a crime that Bad Santa didn't make the list.
Posted by: Daniel A at August 28, 2008 2:16 PM
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