Firefreak on 7/9/2007 at 12:15
I just remembered (thinking about Galaxy Quest) -In the hope that this is not too far fetched (and an old hat):
How about (
http://www.starwreck.com) Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning.
A bit slow at start, but some humor on the StarTreck/Babylon5/Crusader series. And for free to download as well.
fett on 7/9/2007 at 12:42
I seem to have this problem too, and I think part of it is exactly what you mentioned - disconnection and age. I remember watching Dead Man's Chest and thinking it was hilarious. Then I realized that Johnny Depp playing a gay pirate in a Disney movie is the funniest thing I've seen lately? WTF is wrong with me? For the record, I don't get Borat, Will Ferrell (sometimes), or Ben Stiller (with the possible exception of Zoolander and Meet the Parents).
What I *do* think is funny is usually on TV. You need to check out shows like Arrested Development and Scrubs. They're mildly popular, but largely unheralded shows that beat the fuck out of George Sanchez and How I Met Your Mother (who gives a fuck?). Good slapstick, verbal, and character based humor that reminds a lot of the old Chase/Martin/Akroyd/Candy films. They also make a pretty successful stab at drama from time to time.
As for movies, I'd echo the recommendation for Galaxy Quest. Also, Evolution with David Duchoveny is worth a laugh. At the risk of being ridiculed, there are some 'chick flicks' that are funny such as 'What Women Want (Gibson and Helen Hunt), Two Weeks Notice (Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock), 'Failure to Launch' (Matt Mcwhatsizname and Sarah Jessica Parker), and 'The Breakup' (Anniston and V. Vaughan). I'm not a huge fan of these, but it seems like 'romantic' comedies are where my wife and I have gotten a few laughs that didn't involve facials, bestiality, eating feces, or gynecological problems.
henke on 7/9/2007 at 12:48
Good wholesome character based comedy:
Napoleon Dynamite
The Science of Sleep
Trailer Park Boys (the movie)
Spaced (series, from the makers of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz)
Not straight up comedies all of them but they got a laugh out fo me. (
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0829482/) Superbad is apparently good too. Haven't seen it tho.
BEAR on 7/9/2007 at 13:40
Big trouble with Tim Allen and a ton of other people. This movie kind of slipped under the radar, the previews didnt look funny at all but the movie itself is actually hillarous.
Dia on 7/9/2007 at 15:16
I agree that Galaxy Quest was one of the funniest movies to come along in ages, and after that Big Trouble (which had an outstanding cast!). I also agree that aside from some of the animated feature films, there seems to be a dearth of true comedy in movies lately. A couple other good comedies that I felt didn't get their just due were Made (Vince Vaughan at his best) and Double Take. Also, Meet the Fokkers was a classic imo.
When I want my funny bone tickled I usually throw in an episode of Black Adder, Mr. Bean, Monty Python, or Fawlty Towers. Even one of the Wallace and Grommit movies or Ace Ventura 1 or 2 are preferable to movies like Are We There Yet? (Omg, I can't stand obnoxious kids in movies!), Evan Almighty (*yawn*), The Wedding Crashers (can anyone say 'Losers'?), or 40-Year Old Virgin (I think I fell asleep during this one).
Mazian on 7/9/2007 at 15:25
You can't go wrong with Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. A Mighty Wind is not as much a pure comedy as the other two but it's still hilarious in parts. And whatever you do, do NOT see For Your Consideration. It's a one-note Hollywood in-joke gone awry, and not very funny to boot.
Most of my recent favorite comedies tend to be dramas that happen have funny parts. Things like Rushmore (which I loved) or The Station Agent (which stars the little person from Death at a Funeral).
Bad Santa is great but definitely not family-friendly, as is Meet the Feebles ("Muppets on acid" is close but still does not mentally prepare you for the shock of seeing a walrus puppet boning a cat puppet, among other things).
Rug Burn Junky on 7/9/2007 at 15:40
My god, I never thought we'd find a topic that agwpt is more misguided on than politics, but are you fucking shitting me?
Planes, Trains and Automobiles is the pinnacle of comedy for you?
Christ. I mean, I think dead fat guys are funny too, but there have been plenty of moments of comedic genius since John Candy, Chris Farley and John Belushi each kicked their respective bucket. Maybe you just lost your ability to laugh when Ronnie Reagan left office. Canadian Bacon? CANADIAN BACON? That was a fucking abortion of a movie.
In the last ten years, you have Kevin Smith, the Frat Pack, the Farrelly Brothers and Judd Apatow just CHURNING out quality comedy movies. Not to mention one-off 80's spoofs and stoner comedies like Not Another Teen Movie, Van Wilder, Harold & Kumar, and Dude, Where's My Car? Each of which contain enough funny points to forgive any of their numerous flaws.
Yeah, they're stupid at times, yeah, they're fucking juvenile, and yeah, some of them contain sexual humor. Well fuck, what kind of repressed sexual deviant do you have to be to not realize that you CAN laugh at things related to sex? Even things as out-there-gross as the hair gel scene in Something About Mary is funny, not because "Hey, that's cum." The funny part is the deadpan nature of it, the fact that she's oblivious to it. It's taking "gross out comedy" and turning it on its head. The joke is actually somewhere else.
FUCK YOU SHOULDN'T NEED THIS STUFF EXPLAINED TO YOU.
Honestly, I've always gotten the impression that you entirely lack the ability to communicate as a normal human being. Because there are unstated subtexts to everything that people say and do and write, and you seem to take everything at a very simplistic, earnest, face value, without understanding that there's more to it than that. This just seals the deal, because you look at these, and just see the juvenile, over-the-top stuff upfront, and totally miss out on the subtle nuances that make these things great.
And I'm not going to give a blanket endorsement of all of this stuff. Just focusing on simply Will Ferrell/Vince Vaughn movies alone, there's a huge difference between the well crafted, well timed, and yes, sophisticated humor that went into Anchorman and Old School, and the hackneyed formulaic stuff that went into Dodgeball and Talledega Nights.
But hell, if you really lack the ability to appreciate comedy with more bite than John Candy's relatively inoffensive brand of aww shucks humor, I'm sure you can rent Cool Runnings from netflix and guffaw your little heart out.
Stitch on 7/9/2007 at 15:41
Quote Posted by Mazian
as is
Meet the Feeblesit's a trap
charlestheoaf on 7/9/2007 at 17:49
Little Miss Sunshine is great.
Aerothorn on 7/9/2007 at 18:58
In agwpt's defense, I find comedy is completely subjective, so I'm not sure there's much point in assaulting someone's taste in it.
