DON'T go straight to see this film!

Starring: Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Strother Martin, Edie Adams, Stacy Keach, Mills Watson, Zane Buzby, Tom Skerritt, June Fairchild

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Oh... Hu-Wow, Man! You just ate the most acid I've ever seen anybody eat in my life!" - Man Stoner

Why watch this? This is the first movie adventure of everyone's two favorite stoners.

Plot Summary: Stoner musicians Pedro DePacas and Anthony "The Man" Stoner meet by chance and embark on a series of mishaps and adventures. They find themselves arrested and later released on a technicality, forming a band and attempting to score pot. Their quest takes them on a zany road trip, eventually leading them to unknowingly smuggle a van made entirely of marijuana from Mexico into the United States, all while being pursued by an overzealous police officer.

Dad's Preview: I dabbled on the wild side, a little, in high school. I was not a stoner, but some of my good friends were. We loved the album (well, 8-track) by Cheech & Chong called Los Cochinos. Their movie hit theaters and we secretly attended. The soundtrack hit stores and we loved it, too. The plot is just a series of C&C's greatest hits, but it's all funny as heck as Cheech and Tommy (Pedro and the Man) do everything from smoking dog dookie to constantly avoiding Sgt. Stedenko.     

Lou Adler, Lou Lombardo; Paramount Pictures

We're not your classic heroes, we're the other guys.

Starring: Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Greg Kinnear, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Reubens, Wes Studi, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Waites, Lena Olin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We've got a blind date with destiny... and it looks like she's ordered the lobster." - Eddie, The Shoveller

Why watch this? It's so much fun to watch a bunch of screw-ups win the day.

Plot Summary: A group of underachieving, self-proclaimed superheroes in Champion City are constantly upstaged by the city's popular and corporate-sponsored hero, Captain Amazing. When Captain Amazing's nemesis, Casanova Frankenstein, is released and kidnaps the hero, the misfit team must band together to save both Captain Amazing and their city. Along the way, the Mystery Men recruit other heroes with peculiar powers and learn to work together despite their quirks.

Dad's Preview: The Summary above makes this film sound so sanitized. Well, it's not. It's fugly. It's irreverant. It's hilarious. Personally, I'd never make it as a real super-hero, but with these guys, I might have a chance. This cobbled-together team of misfits must find a way to save the day. This flick manages to develop its characters and be completely snarky along the way. The actors, even the stern Wes Studi, seem to be having a great time. I so enjoy the masterful Geoffrey Rush as the notorious villain: Casanova Frankenstein.

Golar Productions, Dark Horse Ent.; Universal Studios

Come and Get Some

Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac, Loe Lo Truglio

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Gimme that. All right, you look like a future pedophile in this picture, number 1. Number 2: it doesn't even have a first name, it just says "McLovin"!" - Seth

Why watch this? One simple word: McLovin.

Plot Summary: Three nerdy high school seniors, Seth, Evan, and Fogell, set out on a misadventure to purchase alcohol for a party in the final weeks before graduation. Their plan to impress girls and get laid takes an unexpected turn when Fogell, armed with a questionable fake ID under a dumb name is busted by two incompetent police officers. Separated from their friend and facing increasingly chaotic obstacles, Seth and Evan navigate a wild night that tests the boundaries of their friendship.

Dad's Preview: Me and my basketball buddies, now called the Old Men's Club, can't get enough of this movie. It is a quite hilarious, and extremely crude, coming-of-age film about three college-bound dudes who just want to be "cool", while scoring with the ladies. The under-aged fellows are tasked with getting the alcohol for a big party. Aha! A chance to impress, and enhance their street cred. This quest becomes an epic adventure in and of itself. "Chicka chicka yeah!"

Columbia Pictures, The Apatow Company; Sony Pictures Releasing

Not everyone who drinks is a poet, some of us drink because we're not.

Starring: Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Stephen Elliott, Jill Eikenberry, Ted Ross

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"It's a very tiny country... Rhode Island could beat the crap out of it in a war." - Arthur

Why watch this? You will love this unorthodox, and very funny, love story.

Plot Summary: Arthur is a kind, yet sometimes insufferably spoiled, drunk, living lavishly on his family's wealth. He is quite miserable because he does not love the woman he's obliged to marry. By complete chance, he encounters a spunky Queens waitress who steals his heart.

Dad's Preview: Dudley Moore hit his stride with Arthur, a role made for him. What a cinematic gift it is to once again enjoy the incomparable talents of Liza Minnelli. This effort is witty, quirky and wonderful. I particularly enjoyed Sir John Gielgud as Arthur's stern British butler, Hobson. He loves Arthur, but also knows when the boy needs a good smack!

Orion Pictures; Warner Bros.

They're not just getting rich... They're getting even.

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, Paul Gleason

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Yeah. You know, it occurs to me that the best way to hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people." – Billy Ray Valentine

Why watch this? I love the premise. I love the cast. I love the execution.

Plot Summary: Two incredibly wealthy brothers, the Dukes, make a bet about whether a person's surroundings or genetics determines their success. To settle this, they orchestrate a complete life swap between their successful, high-society commodities broker, Louis Winthorpe III, and a street-smart hustler, Billy Ray Valentine. The film then follows the hilarious chaos that ensues as both men navigate their drastically altered lives and eventually discover the Duke brothers' cynical scheme.

Dad's Preview: I was not an Eddie Murphy fan - after this film, I came around. The basic plot is two uber-rich old guys select one poor person and one rich person, then reverse their settings, all to settle a bet. In this well-written, smart, John Landis comedy, we are blessed with ex-SNL'ers Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, plus the stunning force of veteran actress, Jamie Lee Curtis. The scene where Aykroyd disguises himself as Santa is one of my all-time favorites. I'll pass on the smoked salmon...

Aaron Russo; Paramount Pictures

If at first you don't succeed, lower your standards.

Starring: Chris Farley, David Spade, Bo Derek, Brian Dennehy, Dan Akyroyd, Rob Lowe, Julie Warner, Sean McCann, Zach Grenier

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I can practically hear you getting fatter." – Richard

Why watch this? ... to learn to never load an injured deer in your car's back seat.

Plot Summary: Tommy Callahan Jr., a somewhat naive and underachieving son of a successful auto parts magnate, returns home to work in the family business. However, after the sudden death of his father, the company faces financial ruin and a potential takeover. To save the factory and the jobs of its employees, Tommy embarks on a cross-country sales trip to secure a large order for a new brake pad division. He is begrudgingly accompanied by his father's tightly wound assistant, Richard.

Dad's Preview: This lovable film is simply great fun. Farley and Spade are having a helluva great time. It really captures the chemistry between the unpredictable Farley and deadpan Spade. It's almost like watching Abbott and Costello in their heyday. Or Laurel and Hardy. For a low budget flick, there is a lot going on, plot-wise. It is part comedy, part romance, and part road film. Farley's genius was leaning into his faults, and getting folks to laugh at him. It will always sadden me that he followed his idol, John Belushi, too perfectly, and now we have to mourn two amazing comedians.

Lorne Michaels; Paramount Pictures

The story of a man who wanted to keep the world safe for democracy...and meet girls

Starring: Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, P. J. Soles, John Candy, Sean Young, John Larroquette

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You better hit those bunks, my little darlin's, or Sergeant Hulka with the BIG TOE is gonna see how far he can stick it up your ass." - Sgt. Hulka

Why watch this? Murray's irreverence toward military discipline is something to see.

Plot Summary: When facing a string of bad luck and dissatisfaction with their lives, John Winger and Russell Ziskey decide to join the U.S. Army on a whim. They struggle through a chaotic basic training with a misfit platoon and a demanding drill sergeant, Sgt. Hulka. This unlikely duo and their platoon eventually find themselves in an unpredictable situation that tests their mettle.

Dad's Preview: Before Ghostbusters (1984), Reitman, Murray and Ramis gave us this snappy comedy. Here we have two loveable slackers, John and Russell, who join the army because, frankly, they have run out of other options. What follows is a hilarious adventure through boot camp led by tough-as-nails Sgt. Hulka. This is one of the best SNL-alumni comedies ever made, and it really solidified Bill Murray as a bankable comedic actor. 

Columbia Pictures

If he were any cooler, he'd still be frozen, baby!

Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Michael York, Fabiana Udenio, Will Ferrell, Mimi Rogers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You know, I have one simple request, and that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!" – Dr. Evil

Why watch this? All great comedy bits need an introduction. This one blows the lid off.

Plot Summary: A hip British secret agent from the 1960s is cryogenically frozen and thawed out in the 1990s to combat his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil, who has also been frozen and resurrected. Austin must adapt to the vastly different world of the 90s while trying to stop Dr. Evil's latest plan for global domination.

Dad's Preview: As silly as it is absurd, this film is a deep dive into the mind of the talented Mike Myers. I remember thinking "what a dumb concept". Boy, was I wrong. You can't help but fall in love with this James Bond spy spoof. Myers' comedic genius shines through as he portrays the out-dated British Secret Agent, and also his greatest foe, the chrome-domed mastermind Dr. Evil. Elizabeth Hurley also shines as his sexy assistant. If you don't find this humor funny, I can't help you.

New Line Productions, Eric's Boy, KC Medien, Moving Pictures; New Line Cinema

First, he fought for the Crown. Now he's fighting for the Family Jewels.

Starring: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Mindy Sterling, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Gia Carides, Will Ferrell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"If you've got a time machine, why don't you just go back in time and kill Austin Powers when he's on the crapper or something?" – Scott Evil

Why watch this? AP2 is more of the same, and by "more" I mean, bloody wonderful more!

Plot Summary: Once again Austin Powers must square off against his nemesis, Dr. Evil. Only this time, His Baldness has been, that's right, cloned, in the form of the 2 ft. 6 in. Mini-Me - a little person with a big temper. Austin Powers has mysteriously lost his "mojo", so he travels back to 1969 and enlists blonde-bombshell CIA Agent Felicity Shagwell. Together they take on Dr. Evil and his most notorious henchman, the nasty Fat Bastard!

Dad's Preview:  If you liked Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) this raunchy, hilarious romp will thrill you. This is a confident comedian, Mike Myers, at the peak of his creative mastery. Part of why these films are so funny is that Powers can be sexist, and he gets a pass because he literally is from a time when that was somewhat excepted. He gets most of the laughs at his own expense... and I can laugh at that all day long. 

Eric's Boy, Team Todd, Moving Pictures; New Line Cinema

Dr. Evil on the loose. A sexy new cohort. Mini-Me at your side. Oh, Baby, Yeah!

Starring: Mike Myers, Beyoncé Knowles, Michael York, Michael Caine, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Fred Savage

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There are two things in the world I can't stand: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures... and the Dutch." – Nigel Powers

Why watch this? Powers' third and final outing puts forth a hilarious, well-oiled comedy.

Plot Summary: Groovy spy Austin Powers learns that his famous spy father, Nigel Powers, has been kidnapped by a Dutch villain named Goldmember, who has an obsession with gold. Austin travels back in time to the year 1975 to stop Goldmember and rescue his father, where he encounters FBI Agent, Foxxy Cleopatra, who joins him on his mission. Together, they must foil Goldmember and Dr. Evil's plot, which involves a tractor beam designed to pull a molten meteor of gold to Earth, threatening global devastation

Dad's Preview: In this outing, Myers takes on four roles: Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldmember, and, back again, the blubber-filled Scottish mass known as Fat Bastard. It's a fitting end to the film series with lots of laughs. The scene on the submarine where Powers and Mini-Me are forced to take a Navy physical is one of the funniest comedy bits I can remember.

Gratitude International, Team Todd, Moving Pictures; New Line Cinema

Mel Brooks' comic saga of cowboys and imbeciles.

Starring: Clevon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, Mel Brooks, Alex Karras, Claude E. Starrett Jr., Carol Arthur

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Where the white women at?" - Sheriff Bart

Why watch this? ... because this hilarious comedy could not be made today.

Plot Summary: In order to drive away the townspeople of Rock Ridge and acquire their land, a corrupt politician appoints a Black man, Bart, as their new sheriff, expecting him to be run out of town. However, the new sheriff, aided by a skilled but troubled gunslinger, The Waco Kid, defies expectations and rallies the reluctant citizens to defend their home. Together, they face down a variety of absurd and dangerous obstacles, ultimately exposing the villain's scheme.

Dad's Preview: How do you talk about racism in 1974 - make a comedy about it, of course! Then you set it in the most racist chapter of American history - the Old West. Thank you Mel Brooks. Oh, it's funny, like off the charts funny. It also would never have happened this way in real life. That absurdity makes the whole thing even more humorous. The white townsfolk serve as the film's "comic relief", turning the typical Western trope on its head. Little and Wilder are wisely allowed to steal the show. Madeline Kahn is at her loveable, sleazy best. Warning - the "N" word is used a lot.

Crossbow Productions; Warner Bros.

Everyone's talking about Mary...

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans, Chris Elliott, Lin Shaye, Jeffrey Tambor, Markie Post, Keith David, Sarah Silverman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I want a guy who can play 36 holes of golf, and still have enough energy to take Warren and me to a baseball game, and eat hot dogs, I'm talking sausage hot dogs and beer, not Lite beer, but beer. That's my ad, print it up." - Mary

Why watch this? This film has certainly grown on me. It's gross and crude, but what the hell - it very much fits me.

Plot Summary: Ted attempts to reconnect with his high school crush, Mary, whom he hasn't seen since a disastrous prom night incident. He hires a private investigator to find her, but the detective, Pat Healy, also becomes infatuated with Mary and tries to win her over by sabotaging Ted's efforts. This leads to a comedic entanglement as various men, including Mary's friend Tucker, resort to increasingly desperate and deceptive measures to secure her affection.

Dad's Preview: This Farrelly effort is inappropriate, gross, sexually over-the-top, yet somehow manages to be one of the funniest love stories committed to film. Stiller, per usual, plays the nice guy too shy and awkward to get the girl. Matt Dillon, as Healy, steals a lot of scenes, yet it's the clumsy chemistry between Stiller and Diaz that carries the film. That and the fact that no "dating disaster" topics are off-limits for our demented filmmakers. If somebody offers you hair gel, must ignore them.

Michael Steinberg, Bradley Thomas, Charles B. Wessler, Frank Beddor;
20th Century Fox

The year's most revealing comedy.

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy, William Snape, Paul Barber, Hugo Speer, Lesley Sharp, Emily Woof

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Anti-wrinkle cream there may be, but anti-fat-bastard cream there is not." - Dave

Why watch this? I have never loved a film more than this one I fully expected to hate.

Plot Summary: Featuring the most unlikely of topics for a comedy, this film centers on a group of unemployed English steel workers who are desperate to find work. When Gaz spies women lined up at a male strip club, he develops a desperate plan. That's right, he'll gather up his mates and give it a jolly old go. How hard could it be?

Dad's Preview: Some of the greatest comedies are spawned from the most unlikeliest of subjects. By all accounts, unemployed British men should not be funny, yet it is. I mean, we got garden gnomes, folks. This is a huge tribute to some fine direction, and a solid script. There are also great performances through-out, leads to supporting cast. It truly is a dream ensemble. There are laughs throughout, and, trust me, the film's fully-gratifying ending will be one you won't soon forget.

Redwave Films, Channel Four Films; Fox Searchlight Pictures

They'll never get caught. They're on a mission from God.

Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Carrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin, Henry Gibson, James Brown, John Candy, John Lee Hooker, Twiggy, Charles Napier, Steve Lawrence, Frank Oz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers HAS been approved." - Police Dispatcher

Why watch this? Great blues music, edgy humor and the car crashes are off the charts!

Plot Summary: Newly released convict brothers, Jake and Elwood Blues, embark on a "mission from God" to save the Catholic orphanage where they were raised from foreclosure. To do this, they must reunite their old band and perform to raise the $5,000 needed to pay the property taxes. Their efforts lead them on a chaotic adventure across Illinois, encountering a series of zany characters and being pursued by various groups, including the police, a vengeful ex-girlfriend, and a neo-Nazi group.

Dad's Preview: How is it possible to take an Saturday Night Live skit and turn it into this spectacle?! On the heels of the raunchy Animal House, John Belushi had more cred with the studio execs, so he brought in John Landis to direct. Beside being a wonderful homage to Chicago blues, it manages to be a road/buddy, car-chase-filled action/comedy. Hell, there are even Nazi's. Not to mention cameo's from Carrie Fisher, James Brown, Twiggy, Ray Charles and the goddess of soul herself, Aretha Franklin.

Robert K. Weiss; Universal Pictures

At Ridgemont High Only the Rules get Busted!

Starring: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, Ray Walston, Forest Whitaker, Eric Stoltz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." – Spicoli

Why watch this? As a teen I loved this crude flick. As an adult, I appreciate it even more.

Plot Summary: The school year of several Southern California teenagers is chronicled as they navigate the challenges and excitements of adolescence. The film explores themes of romance, first jobs, and self-discovery, showing how these young people cope with the ups and downs of growing up. It captures the atmosphere of 1980s youth culture, highlighting social trends like mall culture and the shift towards more casual relationships.

Dad's Preview: This could have been just another irreverent, nudity-filled 80's high school comedy (which it is), but it's also much better than that. There's a great story being told about teenagers coming of age, struggling to date each other and learning their painful lessons. This film introduced the world to both Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Sean Penn, who is everyone's ultimate stoner, Spicoli.

Refugee Films; Universal Pictures

An epic of epic epicness.

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alison Pill, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Um, I guess... if we're gonna date, you may have to defeat my seven evil exes." – Ramona Flowers

Why watch this? There is not a second in this film that I don't love.

Plot Summary: Scott Pilgrim, a slacker musician living in Toronto, finds his comfortable life disrupted when he falls for the mysterious and enigmatic Ramona Flowers. To win her heart, however, he must defeat her seven evil exes, each with their own unique abilities and personalities. This journey forces Scott to confront his own flaws, past relationships, and insecurities, ultimately pushing him toward self-discovery.

Dad's Preview: I had sorta lost faith in the next generation of movies; maybe I was getting old and out of touch. Then I discovered Scott Pilgrim, and my faith was restored! Nestled sweetly within this video game of a story is a very fresh and interesting romance. It's so much fun! The lovingly odd Michael Cera is an amazing understated actor. I love the action, the songs (watch a video of all All Scott Pilgrim musical performances), the premise, its creativity - EVERYTHING!

Marc Platt Prod., Big Talk Films, Closed on Mondays Ent., Dentsu;
Universal Pictures

Some People Just Don't Belong.

Starring: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, Bill Murray, Cindy Morgan, Sarah Holcomb, Henry Wilcoxen, Scott Colomby

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Oh, this your wife, huh? A lovely lady. Hey baby, you must've been something before electricity." – Al Czervik

Why watch this? It's an all-star cast, but Mr. Dangerfield steals every scene.

Plot Summary: At its center is a feud between two rich fellows: One an uptight snob, the other an easy-going slob. Their dislike for one another comes to a head, with all to be settled in a single round of golf at the country club. Meanwhile, the club's deranged groundskeeper prepares to finally blow up a pesky gopher who has been destroying the course.

Dad's Preview: This raunchy comedy launched the movie careers of Chase and Murray, and it made Rodney Dangerfield a household name. Every scene is a mini-SNL-skit about golf. The rest is horny teens, Chevy's dry wit and a water-logged Baby Ruth bar. This iconic comedy classic sets the course record for laughs.

Orion Pictures; Warner Bros.

Brace yourself for Melvin.

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, Shirley Knight, Yeardley Smith, Lupe Ontiveros, Jill the Dog

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"When you first entered the restaurant, I thought you were handsome... and then, of course, you spoke." - Carol

Why watch this? The transformation of Nicholson's character is unbelievable.

Plot Summary: Meet Melvin Udall, a misanthropic romantic novelist with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. His life is disrupted when he's forced to care for his gay neighbor Simon's dog after Simon is brutally beaten and hospitalized. Melvin also develops an unexpected connection with Carol, a kind waitress at his usual diner who is struggling with her son's illness.

Dad's Preview: How the hell does Jack Nicholson do it? He takes a character, who is an completely unlikable, neurotic chauvinist; and by the movie's end... you love him! This film centers on the acting chops of Nicholson and Hunt who won both Academy and Golden Globe awards for Best Actor/Actress. Greg Kinnear also stands out as a gay artist having a bad run of luck. It's a pleasure to watch these pros make movie magic with a really superb script.

TriStar Pictures, Gracie Films; Sony Pictures Releasing

Save the Date

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Chris O'Dowd, Ellie Kemper, Jill Clayburgh, Wendy McLendon

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"This is such a stone-cold pack of weirdos, and I am so proud!" - Lillian

Why watch this? ... the bridal shop scene after spicy Mexican food. OMG!

Plot Summary: Annie's BFF is getting married. Though marriage has eluded Annie, she's happy for her friend and eager to meet the bridesmaids. One in particular, Helen, a rich, snobby trophy wife, seems determined to oust Annie as maid-of-honor. As the pre-wedding plans enfold, poor Annie seems to cause more harm than good.

Dad's Preview:  Every time I watch this comedy, I realize how damn good it really is. My heart smiles seeing these ladies act opposite one another. Scene after scene plays out all the classic tropes pertaining to wedding disasters - from the female perspective. Wiig is such a comedic force, and McCarthy devours every scene she's in. These two may be the funniest two humans on the planet.

Apatow Productions, Relativity Media; Universal Pictures

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Director: Tom Shadyac, rated PG-13 for off-color humor, some sexual content

To Serve and Protect... Your Pets!

Starring: Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc, Dan Marino, John Capodice, Troy Evans, Noble Willingham, Troy Evans, Raynor Scheine

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It's all that Dan Marino's fault, everyone knows that. If he had held the ball, laces out, like he was supposed to, Ray would never have missed that kick. Dan Marino should die of gonorrhea and rot in hell. Would you like a cookie, son?" – Mrs. Finkle

Why watch this? ... 'cause it is one of the funniest films ever made.

Plot Summary: Ace Ventura is a flamboyant, eccentric pet detective. He is hired to find Snowflake, the missing mascot of the Miami Dolphins. Ace employs his rather unique methods to track down the aquatic mammal and finds himself entangled in a wider mystery along the way.

Dad's Preview: I heard there was this outrageous young new comic, Jim Carrey, on the cable show In Living Color. This low-budget, comedic melee was his first feature film. Carrey's style sort of assaults you, and it takes some getting used to. This gut-buster is scene after scene of outrageousness. It also is genius at work. Incidentally, the great film critic Roger Ebert absolutely HATED this film. Like many critics and viewers alike, he just didn't get it. For me, it never gets old. (Sidenote: the sequel just wasn't as funny.)

Morgan Creek Productions; Warner Bros.

It was the Deltas against the rules... the rules lost!

Starring: John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Thomas Hulce, Donald Sutherland, Stephen Furst, Bruce McGill, Karen Allen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"What? Over? Did you say "Over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!" - Bluto Blutarsky

Why watch this? This film was THE FILM for me and all my McMurry College frat brothers. We could not get enough of it.

Plot Summary: At Faber College in 1962, the rowdy Delta Tau Chi fraternity finds themselves on "double secret probation" under the strict Dean Wormer, who is determined to expel them from campus. The Deltas, known for their unruly antics and low academic standing, clash with the snobby Omega Theta Pi fraternity, who collaborate with the Dean to achieve their expulsion. Despite the escalating pressure and mischievous pranks, the Delta brothers remain defiant.

Dad's Preview: Irreverent, absolutely. Tasteless, yep. Gratuitous, oh yea. It is also one of the funniest films ever made. Landis wanted to capture the wanton fraternity life that raged on college campuses during the 1960's, and he used SNL's bright young comic, John Belushi, to accomplish that feat. It is one uproarious scene after another, building to an unforgettable climax that leaves Dean Wormer and Faber College wounded forever.


Universal Pictures

Work sucks.

Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Bader

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #45 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review of Office Space

"Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about mission statements!" - Peter Gibbons

Why watch this? ... a whole generation of US workers filled corporate buildings... this is for them...

Plot Summary: Peter Gibbons, a disgruntled software engineer at the soul-crushing company Initech, feels trapped in the monotonous cycle of his unfulfilling job. After a series of misfortunes, including his hypnotherapist's unexpected demise, Peter finds himself in a state of blissful indifference towards his work. This newfound apathy leads to a series of unexpected events that challenge the oppressive corporate structure, including a blossoming romance and a daring plan concocted with his equally frustrated coworkers, Samir and Michael.

Dad's Preview: For 40 years I slaved away at the oars of this ship. Don't get me wrong, corporations aren't all bad - they do pay well and provide adequate retirement funds for millions. But they are far from perfect. This comedy nicely sums it up in a neat little package. Corporations are chock full of comedic fodder, and this film hits it all: stupid initiatives, bad managers, lay-offs, even that one guy with too much affection for his red stapler... you know that guy!

Judgmental Films; 20th Century Fox

In Search of Wine. In Search of Women. In Search of Themselves.

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, Marylouise Burke, Jessica Hecht, MC Gainey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #42 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Sideways

"Half my life is over and I have nothing to show for it. Nothing. I am a thumbprint on the window of a skyscraper. I'm a smudge of excrement on a tissue surging out to sea with a million tons of raw sewage." – Miles

Why watch this? ... comedy, wine, romance, golf, depression, infidelity, more wine...

Plot Summary: Two middle-aged friends, Miles and Jack, are on a week-long road trip through California's Santa Barbara wine country as a celebration of Jack's upcoming wedding. Miles, a wine enthusiast and struggling writer, hopes for a peaceful escape from his recent divorce and stalled career. Jack, a carefree actor, is more focused on having one last fling before getting married.

Dad's Preview: Set in Santa Barbara wine country, this film's heart is wine-tasting, however its soul is the relationship between two best friends, Miles and Jack. One is an intelligent, struggling writer. The other is an over-confident, calloused, has-been actor. They are nothing alike. They fight a lot, as many best friends do, and they are often brutally honest. Yet deep down, the lugs love each other. Giamatti is quickly becoming my go-to actor, and Haden Church never disappoints.

Michael London Productions; Fox Searchlight Pictures