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Dad's top
20 Likable Irreverence Films - Ranked!
Countdown from #20 to #1.
This
includes Dad's spoiler-free Mini-Preview!
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(Dis?)Honorable
Mention |
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Up in Smoke
(1978)
DON'T go
straight to see this film!
Director: Lou Alder, rated R for drug use and abuse
  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.
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Dad's Preview:
I dabbled on the wild side, a little, in high school. I was not a stoner
(then),
but some of my good friends were. We loved the album (well,
8-track) by Cheech & Chong called
Los Cochinos. This
fine contribution to cinema hit theaters and we secretly
attended. The film's soundtrack hit stores and we gobbled it up. The plot is
just a series of C&C's greatest hits, but it's all funny as heck as Pedro and the Man do everything from smoking
dog dookie to constantly dodging police inspector Sgt. Stedenko.
Watch the full movie free
HERE on YouTube. |
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Lou Adler, Lou
Lombardo; Paramount Pictures
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#20 |
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Mystery Men (1999)
We're not your
classic heroes, we're the other guys.
Director: Kinka Usher, rated PG-13 for
language/crude humor
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.
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Dad's Preview:
The Plot Summary above makes this film sound so sanitized. Well, it's
not. It's fugly. It's irreverent. It's hilarious. Personally,
I'd never make it as a real super-hero, but with these guys, I
might have a
chance. I'd call myself The Procrastinator! 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. None more than the masterful Geoffrey
Rush as the notoriously flamboyant villain: Casanova Frankenstein. |
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Golar Productions,
Dark Horse Ent.;
Universal Studios
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#19 |
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Superbad (2007)
Come and Get
Some
Director: Greg Mottola, rated R for language,
crude humor
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.
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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 hilarious, extremely
crude, coming-of-age film about three college-bound dudes
who strive to be "cool"... and score with the ladies. The under-aged fellows,
Seth, Evan and Fogell, are asked to supply 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.
Legends will be made... "Chicka chicka yeah!"
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Columbia Pictures,
The Apatow Co.;
Sony Pictures Releasing
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#18 |
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Arthur (1981)
Not
everyone who drinks is a poet, some of us drink because
we're not.
Director: Steve Gordon, rated PG for language, alcohol use
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.
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Dad's Preview:
Comedic actor
Dudley Moore hit his stride with Arthur, a role that was made for
him. It was also a cinematic gift to once
again enjoy the incomparable talents of Liza Minnelli - her effort
are witty, quirky and wonderful. I particularly
enjoyed Sir John Gielgud's performance as Arthur's stern, stoic
British butler,
Hobson. He loves Arthur, but also knows when the boy needs a
good smack every now and then. This comedy is perfectly set in
New York City. |
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Orion
Pictures; Warner Bros.
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#17 |
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Back to School
(1986)
The biggest
jerk in the World gets amongst the wildest girls, gags
and goin's on...
Director: Alan Metter, PG-13 for
language, brief nudity, crude humor
Starring: Rodney
Daingerfield, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Keith Gordon, Robert
Downey Jr., Paxton Whitehead, Sam Kinison, M. Emmet Walsh
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect "The football team
at my high school, they were tough. After they
sacked the
quarterback, they went after his family." – Thornton Melon
Why watch this?
Rodney Dangerfield - this guy is a National Treasure of Comedy.
Plot Summary:
Thornton Melon, a successful businessman, decides to enroll in
college alongside his son, Jason, to encourage him to continue
his education. Once there, Thornton becomes popular on campus,
but struggles with the academic demands of college life, relying
on others to help him with his coursework. When the suspicious
dean suspects Thornton of academic fraud, Thornton must prove he
can succeed on his own.
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Dad's Preview:
This film really surprised me because I thought the premise was
too
far-fetched. Yet, somehow, it works. Rodney is dependably
wonderful as a crude yet loveable, father, who tries too hard to
help his son in college. His one-liners are stellar, just like his live
comedy routines. Look for a very young Robert Downey Jr.
I will conclude by stating that, after this laugh-fest, you will forever remember the term, "The Triple Lindy". |
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Paper Clip
Productions; Orion Pics
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#16 |
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Stripes (1981)
The story of a
man who wanted to keep the world safe for democracy...and meet
girls
Director: Ivan Reitman, rated R for language,
brief nudity, sexuality
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.
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Dad's Preview:
Before
Ghostbusters
(1984), Reitman, Murray and Ramis gave us this
snappy military 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 (a great performance by Warren Oates). This is one of the best SNL-alumni comedies ever
made, and it really solidified Bill Murray as a bankable comedic
actor. |
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Ivan Reitman, Dan
Goldberg;
Columbia Pictures
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#15 |
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Tommy Boy
(1995)
If at first you don't succeed, lower your standards.
Director: Peter Segal, rated R for language, crude
humor
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, to Tommy
Why watch this? I learned 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.
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Dad's Preview:
This lovable film is simply great fun.
Farley and Spade are having a helluva good time. It really captures the chemistry between the unpredictable Farley
and deadpan Spade. It's like watching Abbott and Costello in
their heyday, but funnier. 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
all we can do is mourn those two amazing comedians. |
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Lorne Michaels;
Paramount Pictures
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#14a |
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Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
(1997)
If he
were any cooler, he'd still be frozen, baby!
Director: Jay Roach, rated PG-13 for crude humor,
language
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.
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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 two characters: the out-of-his-time British Secret Agent, and his
greatest foe, the chrome-domed mastermind Dr. Evil. Elizabeth
Hurley also shines as his sexy assistant, Vanessa Kensington. If you don't find this humor funny, I can't
help you.
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New Line
Productions, Eric's Boy, KC Medien,
Moving Pictures; New
Line Cinema
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#14b |
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Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
First,
he fought for the Crown. Now he's fighting for the
Family Jewels.
Director: Jay Roach, rated PG-13 for crude humor, language
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!
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Dad's Preview:
If you liked
Austin Powers:
International Man of Mystery (1997), this
raunchy, hilarious sequel will keep the adventure going. This is Mike Myers at the peak of his
creative mastery. Part of why these films are so funny
is that Powers is allowed to be sexist, and he gets a pass because
he literally is from a time when that was somewhat
permitted. He gets most of the laughs at his own
expense, being either AP or his evil counterpart, Dr.
Evil... and I can laugh at that all day long. |
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Eric's
Boy, Team Todd, Moving Pictures;
New Line Cinema
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#14c |
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Austin Powers
in Goldmember (2002)
Dr.
Evil on the loose. A sexy new cohort. Mini-Me at your
side. Oh, Baby, Yeah!
Director: Jay Roach, rated PG-13 for crude humor, language
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.
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Dad's Preview:
In this third outing, comedic genius Michael Myers takes on four roles:
Austin Powers,
Dr. Evil, Goldmember, and, the blubber-filled
Scottish mass known as Fat Bastard. It's a fitting end to the
film series, and brings 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. It slays me. |
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Gratitude
International, Team Todd, Moving
Pictures; New Line
Cinema
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#13 |
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Blazing Saddles (1974)
Mel Brooks' comic saga of cowboys and imbeciles.
Director: Mel Brooks, rated R racial language, sexual
innuendo
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.
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Dad's Preview:
How do you talk about racism in 1974? You 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. Clevon Little
and Gene Wilder are wisely allowed to steal the show. Madeline Kahn
is at her loveable, sleazy best. Warning - the "N" word is used...
a lot. |
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Crossbow Productions;
Warner Bros.
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#12 |
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There's Something About Mary (1998)
Everyone's
talking about Mary...
Directors: Peter and Bobby Farrelly, rated R for
language, crude humor
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.
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Dad's Preview:
This Farrelly brothers' effort is inappropriate, gross, sexually
over-the-top, yet somehow manages to be one of the funniest love
stories committed to film. Ben Stiller, per usual, plays the nice guy
who is 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. My biggest
take-away: when somebody
offers you hair gel, just say, "No thanks." |
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Michael Steinberg,
Bradley Thomas, Charles B.
Wessler,
Frank Beddor;
20th Century Fox
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#11 |
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The Full Monty
(1997)
The
year's most revealing comedy.
Director: Peter Catteneo, rated R for some nudity, language
Starring: Robert
Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy, William Snape, Paul Barber,
Hugo Speer, Lesley Sharp, Emily Woof
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
DML Top 100
#95 -
Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review
and Deep Dive of The Full Monty
"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:
When a group of unemployed steelworkers in Sheffield are
inspired by a touring male striptease act, they decide to form
their own all-male stripping troupe to make some quick cash.
Despite lacking traditional physiques and facing personal
insecurities, the men commit to performing a "full monty,"
meaning completely nude, one time only to solve their financial
troubles and regain their self-respect.
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Dad's Preview: Some of the
greatest comedies are spawned from the most unlikeliest
of subjects. By all accounts, the concept of unemployed British men
should not be funny, yet it is. For goodness sake, we've
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. Also, there are laughs throughout, and, trust me, the film's
fully-gratifying ending is one
you won't soon forget. |
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Redwave
Films, Channel Four Films;
Fox Searchlight Pictures
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#10 |
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The
Blues Brothers
(1980)
They'll never get caught. They're on a mission from God.
Director: John Landis, rated R for language
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.
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Dad's Preview:
How is it possible to take an Saturday Night Live skit and turn it into
a cinematic
spectacle?! On the heels of the raunchy
Animal House
(1978),
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
a few Nazi's. Not
to mention cameo's from Carrie Fisher, James Brown, Twiggy, Ray Charles and the goddess of
soul herself, Aretha Franklin. |
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Robert K. Weiss; Universal
Pictures
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#9 |
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Fast Times at Ridgemont High
(1982)
At
Ridgemont High Only the Rules get Busted!
Director: Amy Heckerling, rated R for language, crude
humor, nudity, drug use
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.
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Dad's Preview:
This could have been just another irreverent, nudity-filled 80's
high school comedy (which it is), but it's so much more. There are some great tales to tell about high
school and teenagers coming of age. Some are working
evening jobs, some are playing sports, some are smoking
dope, and all are
struggling to find success with the opposite sex. This film has
a lot of really funny, and embarrassing moments, you
know, like real high school. This raunchy comedy introduced the world to
newcomers Judge Reinhold, Jennifer
Jason Leigh, and, of course, the scene-stealing Sean Penn, who
portrays Spicoli, the surfing stoner who loves to
have his pizza delivered to Mr. Hand's history class. |
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Refugee
Films; Universal Pictures
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#8 |
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
An epic of
epic epicness.
Director: Edgar Wright, Rated PG-13 for adult themes
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.
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Dad's Preview:
I had sorta lost faith in the next generation of film-making; 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. And - it's so much fun! The
lovingly odd Michael Cera is an amazing, understated actor. I love the
film's action, its songs (watch a video of all
All Scott Pilgrim musical performances), the premise, its
creativity - EVERYTHING! |
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Marc Platt Prod.,
Big Talk Films, Closed on
Mondays Ent.,
Dentsu;
Universal Pictures
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Genres:
Action-Comedy,
Action-Romance,
Adv-Swordplay,
Animation-Live-Action,
Comedy-Adv,
Comedy-COA,
Comedy-Dark,
Comedy-Fantasy,
Comedy-Physical,
Fantasy-Low,
Musical-Comedy,
Musical-Great-Soundtrack,
Romance-Comedy,
Romance-Fantasy
Dad's Genres:
Likable-Irreverence,
Queer-Tier |
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#7 |
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Trading Places (1983)
They're not
just getting rich... They're getting even.
Director: John Landis, rated R for language, crude
humor, brief nudity
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.
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Dad's Preview:
I was not
an Eddie Murphy fan. After this film, I came around. The basic
plot is two uber-rich old farts deviously select one poor person and one
rich person, then reverse their settings, all to settle a bet
regarding nature vs. nurture. 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 not be having the smoked salmon... |
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Aaron Russo;
Paramount Pictures
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#6 |
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Caddyshack
(1980),
Some
People Just Don't Belong.
Director: Harold Ramis, rated R for language, sexual
content, brief nudity
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.
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Dad's Preview:
This raunchy comedy launched the movie careers of Saturday Night
Live cast members Chevy Chase and Bill Murray. It also made
stand-up comedian Rodney Dangerfield a household name. Every scene
plays like a mini-SNL skit about
either sex or golf, and those happen to be two of my
favorite things. It's all horny teeens, Chevy's dry wit,
a water-logged Baby
Ruth bar and kill the gopher. This iconic comedy classic
sets the course record for laughs... it's a comedy legend. |
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Orion
Pictures; Warner Bros.
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#5 |
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Bridesmaids
(2011)
Save
the Date
Director: Paul Feig, rated R for crude humor,
language, sexual content
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.
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Dad's Preview: Every time I watch this comedy, I realize
that this is a damn good movie.
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. |
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Apatow
Productions, Relativity
Media;
Universal Pictures
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#4 |
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Ace
Ventura: Pet Detective
(1994)
To
Serve and Protect... Your Pets!
Director: Tom Shadyac, rated PG-13 for off-color
humor, sexual content
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.
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Dad's Preview:
I heard there was this outrageous young new comic named 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.) |
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Morgan
Creek Productions; Warner Bros.
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#3 |
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National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
It was the
Deltas against the rules... the rules lost!
Director: John Landis, rated R for nudity, crude
humor, language
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.
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Dad's Preview:
Irreverent, absolutely. Tasteless, yep. Gratuitous, oh yea. All
that, and it
is happens to be one of the funniest films ever made. Director
John 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. This anti-establishment romp
is one raunchy, uproarious scene
after another, building to an unforgettable climax that leaves
Dean Wormer and Faber College wounded forever. We loved every
second of it. |
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Matty Simmons,
Ivan Reitman;
Universal Pictures
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#2 |
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Office Space (1999)
Work sucks.
Director: Mike Judge, rated R for language, crude
humor
Starring:
Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, John
C. McGinley, David
Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Bader, Richard Riehle, Alexandra
Wentworth, Greg Pitts
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 hypno-therapist'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.
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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 of people. But they are far
from perfect, and they're getting worse. This dark comedy nicely sums it up in a neat little
package. Corporations are chock full of comedic fodder, and this
film hits it most of them: stupid initiatives, worthless classes
on improving productivity, bad managers, lay-offs,
even that one guy with too much affection for his red stapler...
you know that guy! |
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Judgmental Films;
20th Century Fox
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#1 |
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Sideways (2004)
In
Search of Wine. In Search of Women. In Search of Themselves.
Director: Alexander Payne, rated R for language, sex,
nudity
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.
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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, yet struggling
writer and divorcee. 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 with each other. Yet deep down, the lugs love each other. Giamatti is
quickly becoming my go-to actor, and Haden Church never
disappoints. |
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Michael London
Productions;
Fox Searchlight Pictures
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