There are several movies that are so unique and creative that they break thecomedygenre mold. Some ofthe best movies of all timeare remembered for their unusual yet refreshing takes on the usual stereotypes and tropes that are commonly found in comedy titles, many of which stick in audiences’ minds for years after their initial releases. Over the years, there have been all manner of wild and wacky comedy movies in the world of cinema, but certain eras stand out more than others.
There are loads ofweird comedy movies from the 2000s, for example.These films bring something new to the table, and regardless of whether they reinvent comedy’s biggest clichés or simply present them in a new way, there’s no doubt that they’re mold-breakers.
Palm Springs
Cast
Palm Springs is a sci-fi comedy film that sees two strangers, Nyles and Sarah, who meet at a wedding reception and, after heading off for a night of debauchery, are tossed into a strange vortex that keeps them date locked in November 9th with no perceivable way out. Nyles and Sarah bond while trying to find an escape from the odd time loop as the truth behind the vortex slowly unravels.
Palm Springsis agreat time loop movie that isn’tGroundhog Day, by taking the concept and putting a spin on it that is both unique, yet still takes inspiration from the classic title.The movie follows Cristin Milioti as Sarah, whose depressing day at her sister’s wedding takes a turn for the worse when she meets Andy Samberg’s Nyles. Experiencing the same day over and over again naturally sets up comedic situations, but the true humor ofPalm Springscomes from the relationships that form.
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Sarah and Nyles’ connection is realistic, which makes it easier to invest in the characters, and it’s hilarious to watch them progress from strangers to friends, and eventually, fall for one another.Reliving the same day is tough enough, but for Sarah, it’s possibly the worst day that could ever be picked for her.Palm Springsis fascinating because it looks at what happens if more than one person is in the time loop, all of whom get stuck at different points, and is an overall brilliantly funny watch.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a 2010 horror/comedy film starring Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk. Labine and Tudyk play a dynamic hillbilly duo that is mistaken for killers when college students around them continue to accidentally kill themselves in gruesome ways. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil marks director Eli Craig’s feature-length directorial debut.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evilis ahorror movie parody from the early 2000s, that focuses on a group of college students who mistake the titular characters for violent killers.Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine’s respective performances as Tucker and Dale are phenomenal, and it’s comical to see them portray a pair of misunderstood hillbillies who mean no harm.Tucker & Dale vs. Eviltakes several intriguing horror tropes and subverts them, which results in all manner of comical situations.
The absurdity of the film is fantastic, butTucker & Dale vs. Evilalso does horror well, too.
Miscommunication in the comedy genre is the easiest way to get laughs, butTucker & Dale vs. Evil’s use of it doesn’t feel overused.The absurdity of the film is fantastic, butTucker & Dale vs. Evilalso does horror well, too. In fact, there are several references to other horror movies. Despite being a parody, there are some genuinely scary moments, but it doesn’t dampen the comedic moments, and vice versa.Tucker & Dale vs. Evilis one ofthe most entertaining horror movies ever made, and an underappreciated title in general.
Don’t Look Up
Don’t Look Up follows two astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) desperately trying to warn humanity about an approaching comet that they believe could wipe out all life on Earth. When the President (Meryl Streep) and her son (Jonah Hill) ignore their warnings, they embark on a media tour to enlighten the public, earning the ire of the global populace who refuse to believe in the danger. Meanwhile, an eccentric billionaire (Mark Rylance) begins to fund an emergency colonization mission to take humanity out among the stars.
Don’t Look Updoesn’t initially appear to be a comedy, but that’s because of the film’s particular sense of humor.The rather dark, satirical movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as astronomy professor Dr. Randall Mindy and Jennifer Lawrence as astronomy PHD candidate Kate Dibiasky, who discover a comet that is set to cause an extinction-level event.Don’t Look Upmocks modern-day politics, those who refuse to believe scientific fact, and the media in a brutal (and unfortunately realistic) way.
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Don’t Look Up’s castalso includes Meryl Streep as the President, who provides an excellent performance as the deluded and scandalous politician.The deep dive into the intricacies of human nature is captivating, and while the film’s humor is rather blunt and quite dry, it only pushes the overall message further. Even thoughDon’t Look Upfocuses primarily on the disaster at hand and society in general, the movie’s comedic direction is definitely unique and creative.
Spaceballs
Spaceballs is a 1987 comedic science fiction film directed by Mel Brooks. It follows Lone Starr and his sidekick as they confront the villainous Dark Helmet, who schemes to kidnap Princess Vespa and steal her planet’s air. They encounter Yogurt, who introduces them to the mystical power known as “The Schwartz.”
Spaceballsis one ofthe best ’80s sci-fi movies ever, and a hilarious parody of other titles from the genre, such as the originalStar Warstrilogy and2001: A Space Odyssey. The film stars titans of the industry like Rick Moranis, Joan Rivers, and Mel Brooks in an array of hilarious sci-fi parody characters. Despite the factSpaceballsonly exists because of other huge hits in the sci-fi genre, the movie also has its own cult following, and continues to grow in popularity with every passing year.
Spaceballsis a standout film in both comedy and science fiction, and it heavily relies on slapstick comedy and constantly mocks various sci-fi stereotypes and tropes. In fact, there are so manyhilarious quotes inSpaceballsthat there’s barely any time to stop laughing over one before another crops up.Spaceballswill forever be remembered for breaking the parody movie mold, and I can’t wait to see what the upcomingSpaceballs 2will mock over 30 years after the original’s release.
TheMonty Pythonmoviesare some of the best comedy titles in cinematic history, but the crowning jewel of the bunch is easilyMonty Python and the Holy Grail. The comical interpretation of King Arthur and his knights’ journey to locate the Holy Grail is a memorable one.The troupe’s first feature-length movie is full of iconic moments, like the Black Knight fight and the invisible horses in the opening shot, many of which are fondly remembered by audiences of various generations.
The most notable thing aboutMonty Python and the Holy Grail’s humor, however, is how meta it is.The fourth-wall-breaking jokes are astounding and crucial to the film’s success. Even thoughMonty Python and the Holy Grailis far from historically accurate at times, that’s kind of the point of it. Without the Monty Python group, future historical parody titles likeBlackadderandThe Princess Bridewouldn’t be as popular as they are.
Wet Hot American Summer
Wet Hot American Summer is a comedy set on the last day of summer camp in 1981 at Camp Firewood. The film follows the camp director Beth, who navigates her feelings for a local astrophysics professor while dealing with impending disasters, love triangles, and other camp hijinks.
I absolutely love theWet Hot American SummerTV shows, and the original 2001 film sets up the success of the Netflix titles brilliantly.Wet Hot American Summeris one ofthe best summer camp movies, and features a star-studded cast of actors, including Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, and Elizabeth Banks. While the story is generally as expected, there are moments that are so random that it’s impossible not to find them funny.
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From a talking can of vegetables to a montage of the teens shooting up drugs in a strange house,Wet Hot American Summer’s sense of humor is completely wild.Wet Hot American Summer’s running gags, nonsensical interactions, satirization of the 1980s, and mocking of comedy tropes are fantastic, and I hope that Netflix will revisit the TV shows in the future.
Airplane!
Airplane! is a 1980 comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. It parodies disaster films, centering on Ted Striker, a former fighter pilot dealing with a fear of flying. When an in-flight emergency strikes, Striker must confront his fears to save the passengers and crew. The film stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Leslie Nielsen, employing a mix of slapstick humor and rapid-fire jokes.
If any movie can be considered the one to originally break the mold, it’sAirplane!Even decades after the film’s release, many audiences of all ages are familiar withAirplane!’s best quotesand ridiculous sense of humor overall.Airplane!parodies the disaster movie genre and follows the pilots, cabin crew, and passengers on board a flight to Chicago. Word play is essential tothe movie’s comedy, and there’s no film past or present that executed it as well asAirplane!does.
Airplane!’s comic timing is also perfect, and it only adds to the overall surreal comedic tone of the title.Even though some jokes age badly, most ofAirplane!still holds up, proving itself to be a timeless classic not only in the comedy genre, but in cinema altogether. The fast pacing, non-stop jokes in every scene, and wacky atmosphere inAirplane!is truly like no other.
Ingrid Goes West
Ingrid Goes West is a dark comedy film starring Aubrey Plaza as Ingrid Thorburn, a troubled young woman who becomes obsessed with a social media influencer, Taylor Sloane, played by Elizabeth Olsen. Directed by Matt Spicer, the film explores the impact of social media on mental health and relationships as Ingrid relocates to Los Angeles in an attempt to insinuate herself into Taylor’s seemingly perfect life.
Ingrid Goes West’s sense of humor is painfully uncomfortable and a little eerie, but it works in the film’s favor, and also establishes an important message about mental health.The movie stars Aubrey Plaza as the lonely titular character, who becomes obsessed with Elizabeth Olsen as influencer Taylor, and the forced friendship that forms between them. Ingrid’s reinvention of herself in order to befriend Taylor is fascinating, and while it’s comical to see her pretend to be a rich socialite-esque figure, it’s also a little haunting.
It’s easy to feel second-hand embarrassment for Ingrid at times, but it’s hard to look away from her, too.
Ingrid Goes West’s dark themes delve into the realities of toxic influencer culture, social media, and loneliness.It’s easy to feel second-hand embarrassment for Ingrid at times, but it’s hard to look away from her, too. Plaza’s comedic timing, ability to beautifully portray twisted characters, and her subtle yet powerful facial expressions are truly fantastic. While you might not be laughing by the very end ofIngrid Goes West, it’s definitely a title that undoubtedly breaks the comedy genre mold.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Based on Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series of graphic novels, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World follows the titular slacker musician (Michael Cera) as he strives to earn a record deal by winning the Battle of the Bands organized by music mogul Gideon Graves (Jason Schwartzman). After meeting and falling in love with Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Scott learns that he must also defeat her seven evil exes. Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, and Brie Larson round out the film’s star-studded and quirky ensemble.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worldis an iconic title in the worlds of movies, TV, and comic books.Edgar Wright’s 2010 movie starsMichael Cera as Scott Pilgrim, who falls in love with Mary Elizabeth Winstead as quirky cool girl Ramona Flowers, and is tasked with defeating her seven evil exes to win her heart.Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worlduses a combination of live-action footage and special effects to take the story of a bumbling guitar player and turn him into somewhat of a video game superhero.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worldalso has some great and inventive jokes, too.It’s incredibly surreal and meta at times, and thecult classic movie from the 2010sis one of the most notable titles within this strange subgenre of comedy, despite initially being a box office flop.Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worldis wild and rather absurd, but it’s one that viewers don’t forget quickly, and I’m still disappointed thatScott Pilgrim Takes Offisn’t getting a season 2, but hopefully Netflix will reconsider the anime in the future.
Adaptation.
Adaptation is a metafictional film directed by Spike Jonze, featuring Nicolas Cage in dual roles as screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother Donald. Released in 2002, the film chronicles Kaufman’s struggle to adapt Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief while wrestling with personal and professional crises.
Adaptationis one ofthe most meta movies of all time, and one that I always find new little details in with every rewatch.The film stars Nicolas Cage in his Oscar-nominated performance asAdaptation’s writer Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin, Donald.Adaptationstrangely jumps between two main stories: Charlie’s struggles with writer’s block after he is tasked with, ironically, writing a film adaptation of a book, and Meryl Streep’s Susan Orlean, the author behindThe Orchid Thief, and her relationship with Chris Cooper’s John Laroche.
Adaptation’s use of humor is dry and subtle. It’s hard not to cringe at Charlie’s non-stop randiness, as is Orlean’s inappropriate affair with the orchid-stealing Laroche, but it still works. The movie is often confusing at times, but not in a way that makes audiences feel overly ostracized, but the absurdity of it simply makes it funnier. WhileAdaptationis an odd title in thecomedygenre, it’s also thought-provoking and full of intelligent humor.
