My 5 Favorite Comedies (Movies)

Last month, I talked briefly about the horror films that I love. This was especially pertinent due to the fact that I wrote The Trailokya Trilogy. I’m sure you know that horror isn’t the only genre I enjoy. You might guess that science fiction, maybe fantasy, are next on my list. Well, let’s go over all that then!

Comedy seems like a good balance to the scary films I have mentioned. Comedy also happens to be my second favorite genre (action being the first, and horror falling into third). Imagine my delight when these mix together, like in Hellboy (2004). Certainly I adore fantasy and science fiction, but the three genres listed above always play into the last two when you look over my lists.

Let’s not drag feet any longer. Here are my comedy favorites:

5. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

I love me some Will Ferrell. Although I don’t care for NASCAR, this film has some prime moments. It also has Jane Lynch (A Mighty Wind – 2003).

The satire aimed at of the average, down-home American family and their pastime is superb.

4. Yellowbeard (1980)

This one is more obscure, although it attracted top comedic talent in its time. Cheech and Chong, Monty Python, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, etc, fill out the nutty cast. Graham Chapman delivers a classic Python performance as the title pirate.

Many find this film ridiculous and are often surprised to find it on my list. They think they can cite far better examples of comedy gold. Sometimes I don’t think they really get comedy at all. Thus, I still rank it in the top. The intertexts are where you find the treasure!

3. The Holy Grail (1975)

I think this is a required title on everyone’s list. It’s also highly quoted, meme’d, and cited.

My copy is a special edition with a film frame and script. That’s how highly this ranks for me. To this day, I can’t walk up a hall and not think of John Cleese running at the wedding tower for days (that and the mom in Poltergeist – 1982).

It came out the year I was born, and has been special for me through most of my life. Bad, bad, naughty Zoot!

Nevermind. Let’s not go there. It’s a very silly place.

2. Airplane! (1980) & The Sequel (1982)

These films cannot be parted. I always include them at the top of my list together. I once watched them to cheer me up as I was suffering through a killer cold. My laughter sounded so pathetic, I kept cracking myself up. At least I couldn’t breathe for better reasons than a spectacularly awful virus!

The films have such quotable moments. I could probably recite the gold to you, but watching the film is far more fun. Still, let’s recall: Shatner shushing doors open to bring in a cutting intertext of Star Trek, Sonny Bono with a bomb briefcase purchased in the airport (biting satire), a smoking ticket, the running gag of the pilot being a pervert, Jive, a sick kid and her singing nun, don’t call me Shirley!, and I like my coffee black like I like my men. It mocks racist and sexist ideology. Both are just a fantastic jumble of silliness.

1. Young Frankenstein (1974)

You’ve no doubt read about my love of this film before. It’s my favorite movie of all time. The script is on my coffee table. I will randomly call out lines all hours of the day. Gene Wilder is stellar in the lead role, and it was he who delivered a phenomenal script for Mel Brooks to direct. This will always be annually played at Halloween time.

Hopefully Katie will be able to throw back lines with me in a few years.

What are your favorites? Tell me in the comments.