Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Filled with iconic quotes and characters, Anchorman is a must-see for comedy fans. From Will Ferrell to Paul Rudd to Steve Carell, not to mention cameo roles from Ben Stiller, Fred Armisen and the writing and directing of Adam McKay, Anchorman is filled with comedy legends at the top of their game. Of course, underneath the absurd, over-the-top humour, Anchorman is a satire of workplace misogyny, and the beginning of the political satire that McKay would become known for in future films such as Vice, Don’t Look Up and The Big Short.
Airplane!
One of the most absurd comedies ever made, Airplane! is a spoof of the disaster movie genre that was so popular in the 70s. The film follows the passengers and crew of a flight who fall ill with food poisoning from the fish served on board. With many on board, including the pilots, incapacitated by food poisoning, a war veteran pilot with a ‘drinking problem’ must take over to land the plane safely. At the same time, he navigates a romance with his ex-girlfriend, the flight attendant. Airplane! is ridiculously silly, never stopping its gags for a moment of seriousness.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Ben Stiller had a string of hits in the 2000s, from Tropic Thunder to Dodgeball, a sports comedy in which two neighbouring gyms compete in a dodgeball tournament. Vince Vaughn’s lovable Peter La Fleur and the team from Average Joe’s Gym face off against Stiller’s comically despicable White Goodman, owner of the far more successful Globo Gym. The film is full of inappropriate jokes combined with plenty of physical comedy as the film parodies the classic American sports movie.
Cocaine Bear
Cocaine Bear follows a group of intertwined characters, including professional criminals, who find themselves at the mercy of a cocaine-fueled bear on a rampage. Directed by Elizabeth Banks, this horror/comedy is gruesomely violent and filled with shocking, dark humour. Filled with hilarious performances from its ensemble cast, including Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Keri Russell, the comedy’s strength lies in the array of distinct and eccentric personalities that manage to find each other amidst the chaos.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Like Cocaine Bear, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a comedy full of hilarious personalities. The A24 film follows a group of 20-somethings who find themselves stranded in a remote mansion. After playing a murder-themed party game, one of the characters is found dead, setting everyone on edge as they suspect a killer is among them. The film’s subversion of typical horror tropes is what makes it so funny, as ridiculous events escalate to the film’s final, hilarious punch line.
