Top Ten (10) Favorite Movie Comedies
I had heard of the American Film Institute's list of best Hollywood comedies of all time. The AFI's list has led me to create my own list. Below is a list of my top ten (10) favorite movie comedies of all time:
TOP TEN (10) FAVORITE MOVIE COMEDIES
1. "Some Like It Hot" (1959) - Billy Wilder directed and co-wrote with I.A.L. Diamond this still hilarious comedy about two jazz musicians who impersonate women in order to join a all-female band, after witnessing the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929 Chicago. The superb cast included Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.
2. "Tropic Thunder" (2008) - Ben Stiller directed, produced and starred in this excellent spoof of Hollywood filmaking. He portrays one of a group of prima donna actors making a Vietnam War film. When their fed-up writer and director decide to drop them in the middle of a jungle, the actors are forced to portray their roles without the comforts of a film set. The cast also included Jack Black, Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel; along with Tom Cruise and Robert Downey, Jr., who both give the two most hilarious performances in the film.
3. "Hot Fuzz" (2007) - Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright co-wrote this hilarious British comedy about a very competent Metropolitan police officer, who is assigned to a crime-free village in Gloucestershire because he makes the rest of the force look bad. Sergeant Nick Angel soon finds himself immersed in a series of murders and scandal. Wright directed Pegg, along with Nick Frost, Timothy Dalton and Jim Broadbent. Absolutely hilarious.
4. "Lover Come Back" (1961) - Doris Day and Rock Hudson reunited in this excellent comedy about two ad executives who are rivals on Madison Avenue. Although slightly similar to the premise of "PILLOW TALK", I believe it is a lot funnier. And it has one of the funniest endings I have ever seen.
5. "The Lady Eve" (1941) - Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda lit up the screen in this hilarious Preston Sturges romantic comedy about love between a card sharp and the heir to an ale brewing fortune. The story takes a wicked twist after the beautiful card sharp decides to get revenge on the shy heir, when he dumps her after discovering her profession.
6. "My Fellow Americans" (1996) - Jack Lemmon and James Garner are a hoot as two former Presidents and political rivals who form a team to investigate a White House scandal, while trying to stay alive during a cross country trek. Directed by Jon Segal, Dan Ackroyd and Lauren Bacall co-star.
7. "Trading Places" (1983) - John Landis directed this comedic hit about a snobbish investor and a wily street con artist, who find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires. Dan Ackroyd,Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Paul Gleason and Denholm Elliot starred in this very funny tale.
8. "French Kiss" (1995) - Kevin Kline and Meg Ryan created sparks in this tale about a Canadian woman who flies to France to confront her straying American fiancé, but gets into trouble when the charming French crook seated next to her uses her for smuggling. Lawrence Kasdan directed. Timothy Hutton and Jean Reno co-starred.
9. "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988) - Charles Crighton directed this hilarious tale about four very different people in London, who team up to commit armed robbery and then try to doublecross each other for the loot, snaring a hapless solicitor in their crossfire. John Cleese (who co-wrote), Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin and Oscar winner Kevin Kline starred.
10. "The Palm Beach Story" (1942) - Preston Sturges wrote and directed this funny tale about an inventor needs cash to develop his big idea. His wife, who loves him, decides to raise it for him by divorcing him and marrying a millionaire. Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Rudy Vallee and Mary Astor co-star in this comedy classic.