The Best Films of the 2000s and more.
Posts tagged R-Rated Comedy
Top 10 Comedies of the 2000s
May 11th
The task of picking the top 10 comedies of any decade is a hard one as the comedy genre is so subjective – more so than most genres. What appeals to one person’s sense of humor doesn’t to another’s. The style of comedies (gross out, character based, situational, physical, etc.) come and go in fads and what may be funny today won’t be funny tomorrow.
In picking this top ten, I’ve chosen ten films that were built first and foremost as comedies, that is films designed to make us laugh. In addition, I’ve chosen ten films that seem to have stood the test of time, though some of the latter might need a bit longer to prove their longevity.
Regardless, enjoy and tell me which films you would like to see on the list!
Movies listed chronologically, not in order of importance. List is subject to change and if does will be updated appropriately.
In the Loop (2009)
Mar 25th
Starring: Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, James Gandolfini
Director: Armando Iannucci
Country: UK
Genre: Comedy
The Office meets Dr. Strangelove.
The above statement pretty much sums up this film to a T. Perhaps throw in a bit of Aaron Sorkin’s inter-office/political character dynamics and you’re good to go. This is one hell of a funny film. It’s quick, it’s witty, it’s clever, but it’s never above a good phallic Washington Monument joke. It does a great job creating a zany satire of the inner workings of both British and American government and the rat race that it can be. The actors are not to be understated, but the real brilliance of this movie is its super sharp script- not just in its hilarity, but in its complex multi-character narrative. The film doesn’t let up for a single minute in its pacing, making for a very quick and highly enjoyable watch.
I Heart Huckabees (2004)
Mar 14th
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Lily Tomlin
Director: David O. Russell
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
I heart I Heart Huckabees.
Despite the infamous on-set battles that David O. Russell seems to get himself into, he has created some of the best character driven films in the last quarter century. I Heart Huckabees boasts one hell of an ensemble, all bringing their A game to the over-the-top characters. The film is an exploration on the question “why are we here?” and the answer seems to be an optimistic one, that is if we have a sense of humor about it all. It’s a zany existential farce. While every aspect of the film plays its part well, the score by Jon Brion is what really brings out the joy, and even sadness. Instead of a typical score, Brion’s music becomes a character itself, sometimes relaying information through a typical pop song, other times commenting on the silliness by evolving into a pseudo silent film score. The film is rude, it’s crude, it’s hilarious, it’s touching, it’s everything that life is.
Knocked Up (2007)
Nov 10th
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl
Director: Judd Apatow
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
It’s all fun and games until someone pops a baby out.
After his 2004 gem The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Judd sharpened his hooks to sink into a more mature story with immature characters. Apatow and gang know how to craft a crude yet insightful coming of age comedy that can glide between its main character tripping on mushrooms to the fear that comes from having a child. Few films that attempt their hand at both comedic and dramatic can boast success, but then there definitely aren’t enough that give it their all. Knocked Up does, and there’s no question whether or not it works because it all just feels so natural. Most of the funniest comedies, and even some of the most dramatic films could find here a lesson in genuineness.
Superbad (2007)
Oct 7th
Starring: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Director: Greg Mottola
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
Superawesome.
It was only a matter of time before the R-rated comedy trickled its way back down into teen territory, where, in all honesty, it belongs. Teens have some of the foulest mouths and dirtiest minds on the planet, (not only from observation, but from experience.) So it’s only natural that a backdrop such as high school, having a crush in high school, and being invited to a party hosted by the girl you have a crush on while you are still in high school, provides the best environment for not only unadulterated laughs, but also opportunities to capture the horror of the awkwardness that comes with the age. A lot of talented forces came together to tell a wonderful story about friendship; Greg Mottola’s retro-style direction added the right sense of nostalgia, Rogen and Goldberg’s script is both truthful and hilarious, and everyone in the cast is spot on. If you don’t mind a bit of hilarious vulgarity with your coming-of-age stories, this is one of the best the decade has to offer.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Sep 27th
Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Catherine Keener
Director: Judd Apatow
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
Hey, it happens… right?
Say what you will about Apatow-brand films, but you cannot deny the influence they have had on modern day comedy. The grouping of films range from broad comedies (Anchorman (2003),) to coming-of-age hilarities (Superbad (2007),) to big-budget action-comedies (Pineapple Express (2008),) (and yes, even some flops (Walk Hard (2007), Drillbit Taylor (2008), Year One (2009),) but none quite stack up to the films in which Judd finds himself in the directors seat, and they all begin with The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Steve Carell puts in a brilliant performance as the late bloomer who finds himself in a series of confusing and frustrating situations, trying to deal with his virginity. What this film does best is define the line of vulgar humor, (of which there is a lot,) and genuine heart. It never condescends to its main character’s problem, like so many sex-comedies do, but rather treats it with the respect it deserves, which is actually from where most of the humor derives.
Borat (2006)
Dec 16th
Posted by This Guy Over Here in 2006
1 comment
Director: Larry Charles
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy
The ambush style of docu-comedy is very bittersweet. At once it evokes an incredibly uncomfortable squeamish feeling, but quite often it induces uncontrollable laughter. Borat is much like any on-the-street-with-the-people comedy, only more so. While it boasts one of the most dedicated performances in the history of cinema, the real stars of this film are the real people and their reactions to this foreigner. It’s sometimes transparent that the filmmakers set up a situation to squeeze the most comedy out of it, but with the editing, the laughs are plentiful and that’s all that matters. By the time Borat is over, my stomach hurt and I wasn’t sure if it was laughing so much or from seeing just how hateful our country can be, sometimes. Love it or hate it, this film is an undeniable part of this decade’s pop culture.