(DML Top 20 Lists - Adventure Comedy Films ranked)

Honorable Mention

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), Director: Ben Stiller, rated PG

Stop Dreaming. Start Living.

Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Sean Penn, Jon Daly, Terence Bernie Hines

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I wanted to tell you, that song "Major Tom" and that beard guy... he doesn't know what he's talking about. That song is about courage and going into the unknown. It's a cool song." – Cheryl

Why watch this? It's a good thing to watch Ben Stiller take a beating, then root for him.

Plot Summary: Walter Mitty, a timid negative assets manager at Life magazine, escapes his mundane reality by frequently zoning out into heroic and fantastical daydreams. As the magazine prepares to release its final print issue, a crucial photograph for the cover goes missing, forcing Walter to embark on a real-life adventure to find its elusive photographer, Sean O'Connell. This quest takes Walter on a journey across the globe, leading him to experience the excitement and challenges he previously only imagined.

Dad's Preview: This film will be known as the Forrest Gump (1994) of its generation. It centers on a shy, quiet man, who dutifully performs his menial job and obeys his many taskmasters. Then he breaks out of himself! This courageous act, aided by the subtle twinkle in the eye of a beautiful woman, blasts our reluctant hero on the path to his re-self-discovery. He climbs mountains, battles sharks, and witnesses wonders around the world, finally becoming who he wants to be. Who doesn't crave that? This is Ben Stiller's finest moment on film, and he utters one of my favorite lines, "... you don't have to be such a dick."

Samuel Goldwyn Films, Red Hour Prod., New
Line Cinema, TSG Ent., Big Screen Prod, Down
Prod., Ingenious Media; 20th Century Fox

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #20 Top

Toy Story 3 (2010), Director: Lee Unkrich, rated G

The Breakout Comedy Of The Summer

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, Jodi Benson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You can unlock doors, sneak past guards, climb the wall - but if you don't take out that Monkey, you ain't goin' nowhere. You wanna get outta here? GET RID OF THAT MONKEY!" - Chatter Telephone

Why watch this? I did not expect this to have such an emotional impact... but, it did.

Plot Summary: As Andy prepares for college, his toys face an uncertain future as they are mistakenly sent to Sunnyside Daycare instead of the attic. Believing they've been abandoned, the toys initially welcome the new environment, but soon discover a sinister truth behind the daycare's facade. Woody must then convince the others of their mistake and lead a daring escape to return home to Andy before he leaves for college.

Dad's Preview: It's an accomplishment when the third film in a franchise remains engaging and delivers an emotional gut-punch, especially for a cartoon. Andy is 17 and heading to college. This event throws the toys into crisis-mode. Mom bags our favorite toys, then donates them to a local daycare. There, they encounter Losto, a stuffed, pink bear who rules the roost with an iron paw. It's up to Woody and Buzz to pull off an escape and get back to Andy! It's a wonderful ride, but brace yourself for the bittersweet ending... wow, I was a sobbing mess.

Pixar Animation Studios; Buena Vista
Pictures Dist.

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #19 Top

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, rated G

Enter a universe where more than one wears the mask.

Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Luna Lauren Vélez, John Mulaney, Kimiko Glenn, Nicolas Cage, Liev Schreiber

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero. " - Stan

Why watch this? It's loads of fun and the animation is visually quite stunning.

Plot Summary: Miles Morales, a teenager struggling with fitting in at school and living up to parental expectations, is bitten by a radioactive spider. When he witnesses a fight between his universe's Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, a dimensional collider, created by Kingpin, pulls various Spider-people from other realities into his own. Miles must learn to embrace his powers and work alongside these alternate Spider-heroes to stop Kingpin from further endangering the multiverse.

Dad's Preview: Where did this little animated gem come from? Yet here it is, and it is Amazing. This computer-generated film received universal acclaim at the box office and from critics. The plot, which merges multiple "spidey universes" takes us on quite a mind-bending journey. It also, in an over-saturated super-hero film market, manages to be completely fresh. Marvel, again, pulls off a big win.

Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures
Animation, Pascal Pictures, Lord Miller Prod.,
Arad Prod; Sony Pictures Releasing

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #18 Top

Robin Hood (1973), Director: Wolfgang Reitherman, rated G

Join the MERRIEST MENagerie in the world's best-loved legend

Starring: (the voice talents of:) Brian Bedford, Monica Evans, Phil Harris, Roger Miller, Andy Devine, Peter Ustinov, Terry-Thomas, Carole Shelley, Pat Buttram, George Lindsey, Ken Curtis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You know somethin', Robin. I was just wonderin', are we good guys or bad guys? You know, I mean, uh? Our robbin' the rich to feed the poor." - Little John

Why watch this? This Disney version of Sherwood Forest may be the very best.

Plot Summary: Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, the film follows the legendary outlaw Robin Hood as he, alongside his friend Little John and other allies, challenges the greed and tyrannical rule of Prince John, who has usurped the throne from his brother, King Richard. Robin Hood's cunning and skills are pitted against Prince John's schemes and the efforts of the Sheriff of Nottingham to capture him. Throughout their adventures, Robin Hood and his merry band strive to ease the burdens placed upon the impoverished townsfolk and restore justice to the land.

Dad's Preview: This Disney classic, from their first animated movie heyday, takes the age-old English story of the people's thief, Robin Hood, and goes hog wild creatively transforming the players into all sorts of animal characters. The result is near perfection. Robin Hood and Marion are foxes. Little John is a rotund bear (voiced wonderfully by Phil Harris). The evil Prince John is a (cowardly and arrogant) lion. The plot is true to legend, but the real pleasures within this film are the hosts of entertaining side characters that serve to spice things up: Marian's handmaiden, Lady Kluck, a bouncy hen; Prince John's advisor, the snake, Sir Hiss; the two hilarious vultures Trigger and Nutsy, who guard the paranoid Prince. To say they don't make films like this anymore is an understatement. The animation is pristine, the musical numbers are lovely, and the script is tight and funny. This family favorite will entertain even the fussiest child. Put it on and enjoy Disney at its best!

Walt Disney Prod.; Buena Vista Distribution

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #17 Top

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), Director: Tim Burton, rated PG

The Story of a Rebel and His Bike.

Starring: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, Judd Omen, Irving Hellman, Monte Landis, Damon Martin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I wouldn't sell my bike for all the money in the world. Not for a hundred million, trillion, billion dollars!" - Pee-wee Herman

Why watch this? It's childish, silly and mindlessly fun - sometimes, I just need that.

Plot Summary: Pee-wee Herman, a man with a childlike innocence and an extraordinary love for his bicycle, finds his world turned upside down when his prized possession is stolen. Determined to recover it, Pee-wee embarks on a whimsical, cross-country adventure, encountering a diverse cast of characters and comical situations along the way. His journey leads him to discover that his bike is being used as a prop in a film, setting the stage for a grand finale where he must retrieve it and face the consequences of his audacious quest.

Dad's Preview: Somehow I stumbled across the children's show Pee-wee's Playhouse on TV. I was in my late 20's, and instantly loved the colorful, creative show. Then Pee-wee's Burton film hit screens. You'll either get it, or you won't. It's goofy and innocent, but there is an underlying comedic sophistication. Mr. Herman, heart on his sleeve, teaches us this: Just be a nice, fun person to everyone you meet. And, eventually, everyone will like you. Love your neighbors and laugh a lot.

Aspen Film Society; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #16 Top

The Lego Movie (2014), Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, rated PG

The story of a nobody who saved everybody

Starring: (the voices of) Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Hey, I can be dark and brooding too - Guys, look, a rainbow!" - Emmet

Why watch this? A movie... using Legos... to make characters... and I love it. Wow.

Plot Summary: Emmet is an ordinary, rules-following construction worker in Bricksburg who is mistakenly identified as "The Special" – a prophesied hero destined to save the world. He is recruited by a group of Master Builders to stop the tyrannical Lord Business from using a super-weapon called the Kragle to freeze the entire Lego universe into eternal stasis. Despite being completely unprepared for such a task, Emmet embarks on an epic journey to prove that even an ordinary mini-figurine can be extraordinary.

Dad's Preview: There is no way a mature film critic such as myself can become emotionally involved with a bunch of Lego creations. That would be INCORRECT! It is so easy to enjoy this film. It's crazy, chock full of pop and comics references, witty... and so darn funny! Hats off to the script writers and animators. And Will Arnett may be the second best Batman voice in all of nerd-dome (nobody can touch Kevin Conroy's Batman). Here - Everything is Awesome - literally. Pew, pew, pew!

Warner Animation Gp., DC Ent., RatPac-Dune
Ent., Lego System A/S, Lin Pictures,
Lord Miller Prod.; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #15 Top

How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Directors: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois, rated PG

What started as fire and fury will become friendship.

Starring: (the voice talents of:) Jay Baruchel, Randy Thom, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller, David Tennant

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Most people would leave. Not us. We're Vikings. We... have stubbornness issues." - Hiccup

Why watch this? It's a wonderful, action-filled tale about Vikings and air-borne dragons.

Plot Summary: Viking 101: They kill dragons - all of the many kinds. On the island village of Berk, chieftain Stoick the Vast, has a teen son, Hiccup, who is a wiz with creating mechanical devices, yet weak by dad's brawny standards. When Hiccup shoots down a rare Night Fury dragon, nobody believes him. After searching the nearby forest for the dragon's body, Hiccup finds the downed beast very alive and kinda friendly. Meanwhile, Stoick enrolls the lad in dragon-fighting class, as he once sails away to destroy the monsters' nests. Hiccup desperately seeks his dad's approval, but can he actually take a dragon's life?

Dad's Preview: This beloved animated treasure features misunderstood flying monsters, and the Scottish norse-folk, who have killed the beasts for as long as they can remember. There's also a loveable cadre of teenage Vikes who strive to be the best dragon-slayers. However, for me, the core of this film is a broken relationship between a father and his son. Once again, DreamWorks has put forth a delightful, high-quality children's film. It also should resonate with many adults, especially fathers who might have been too hard on their sons. But rest assured folks, in this colorful adventure, all will be put right by the end credits.

DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #14 Top

Galaxy Quest (1999), Director: Dean Parisot, rated PG

The show has been cancelled... But the adventure has only begun.

Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell, Enrico Colantoni, Missi Pyle, Jed Rees, Justin Long

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Never give up. Never surrender!" - Commander Taggart

Why watch this? ... it's a parody of Star Trek's campiness, and it has a heart of its own.

Plot Summary: The alumni cast of a canceled space opera television series, known for their roles on the spaceship NSEA Protector, find themselves stuck attending conventions and making other trivial appearances. However, their mundane lives are disrupted when they are approached by an alien race, the Thermians, who, having watched the old show, believe it to be real historical documents. The Thermians enlist the cast's help in battling a formidable reptilian warlord, forcing the actors to navigate a genuine interstellar conflict while pretending to be the heroes they once played.

Dad's Preview: An all-star cast makes this Trek parody a laugh-a-minute. I was pleasantly surprised by the comedic chops displayed by Allen and Weaver. Alan Rickman also slays it as the Spock-like alien character (who just happens to have a British accent). However, the big surprise for me wa Sam Rockwell, as red-shirted Crew Member #6, who is convinced he's going to die, because all red-shirts get killed in the TV episodes. He steals every scene!

Gran Via Productions; DreamWorks Pictures

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #13 Top

Finding Nemo (2003), Director: Andrew Stanton, rated G

71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water. That's a lot of space to find one fish.

Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen Degeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Stephen Root

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo." - Dory

Why watch this? Another home run for Pixar. It's creative, funny, warm, and inspirational.

Plot Summary: Marlin, a highly protective clownfish, embarks on a journey across the ocean to rescue his adventurous son, Nemo, after he is taken by a diver. Marlin teams up with Dory, a friendly but forgetful fish, and together they navigate a vast and perilous ocean encountering various sea creatures, while Nemo attempts to find his own way back home from a fish tank in a dentist's office.

Dad's Preview: This film is just so darn heartfelt. We quickly grow to love our adorably cute, damaged main characters. We likewise fall for each creature encountered along the journey - be them friendly sharks, surfer-dude sea turtles, stingy seagulls, or a group of tank-imprisoned fish called the "Tank Gang". Ellen Degeneres is hilarious as Dory, a lovable regal blue tang fish with short-term memory loss. Dive into the tank and enjoy the fun. "Shark bait! Ooh, Ha-Ha!"

Pixar Animation Studios; Buena Vista
Pictures Dist.

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #12 Top

The Blues Brothers (1980), Director: John Landis, rated R for language

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 (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 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

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #11 Top

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Director: Robert Zemeckis, rated PG

It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble.

Starring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer (voice), Joanna Cassidy, Kathleen Turner (voice)

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." – Jessica Rabbit

Why watch this? ... to watch, in awe, the genius it took to intertwine humans and cartoons into the same celluloid space.

Plot Summary: In 1947 Los Angeles, where cartoons and humans coexist, a private detective who loathes toons takes a case involving a rabbit toon star accused of murder. As the detective investigates, he uncovers a complex conspiracy that threatens the existence of Toontown, the animated metropolis where toons reside.

Dad's Preview: I am always a fan of something new and inventive, even if the effort sometimes falls short. This film is an example where expectations were exceeded. Director Zemeckis creates a 1950s-ish world where humans and cartoons co-exist, and it's business-as-usual. This is an easy film to love. It has all our favorite cartoon characters (Mickey, Donald, Daffy, Porky, etc.), zany slapstick bits, devious villains, a wonderful ending... and let's not forget naughtily-drawn bombshell, Jessica Rabbit.

Touchstone Pics, Amblin Ent., Silver Screen
Partners III; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #10 Top

Inside Out (2015), Director: Peter Docter, rated PG

Meet the little voices inside your head.

Starring: (the voices of) Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"We should lock the door and scream that curse word we know. It's a good one!" - Anger

Why watch this? This may be the most creative film yet from Disney and Pixar.

Plot Summary: An 11-year-old girl, Riley, moves with her family from Minnesota to San Francisco. The story explores the inner workings of her mind, where her emotions — Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust — live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley's brain, and guide her actions. As Riley struggles to adjust to her new life, turmoil ensues in Headquarters, leading Joy and Sadness on an adventure through Riley's mind.

Dad's Preview: The creators of this wonderful Pixar offering take us into the mind of a teenage girl, just as her simple, happy life is about go haywire thanks to a move from Minnesota to California. Her first day of school does not go well. Meanwhile, we are transported into her brain's control room. There, the five emotions, Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness, and Disgust, are in charge. Well, sort of. The emotions are voiced by some great stars. You will love this film, and its perspective, regarding how the mind works. You'll shed a few tears, as well.

Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #9 Top

Ghostbusters (1984), Director: Ivan Reitman, rated PG-13 for some language

Who ya gonna call?

Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I've only been with the company for a couple of weeks, but I gotta tell you: these things are real. Since I joined these men, I have seen shit that'll turn you white! – Winston Zeddemore

Why watch this? It may be the best SNL-cast film ever. It's delightfully creative and fun!

Plot Summary: Three eccentric parapsychologists are fired from their university jobs and decide to start a unique ghost removal service in New York City. As supernatural occurrences escalate throughout the city, they attract a growing clientele and become famous. They must ultimately confront an ancient entity threatening to unleash destruction upon the world.

Dad's Preview: I remember seeing this in a theater in Dimmitt, Texas. I was completely beside myself. It was way more sophisticated than I expected, especially from a couple of SNL lugnuts like Murray and Aykroyd. I realized that these guys were more than just TV comedians - they were real movie-makers, and the world was about to take notice. Once again, Sigourney Weaver shows that she can portray any role given and, with grace and strength, make it her own.

Columbia-Delphi Productions, Black Rhino;
Columbia Pictures

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #8 Top

Midnight Run (1988), Director: Martin Brest, rated R for strong language.

A tough bounty hunter. A sensitive criminal.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Well if you don't shut up, pretty soon you're gonna suffer from fistaphobia." – Jack Walsh to "The Duke"

Why watch this? The exchanges between Grodin and De Niro are priceless.

Plot Summary: Gruff bounty hunter, Jack Walsh, agrees to a seemingly easy job: retrieve a mob accountant from New York and bring him back to Los Angeles. However, the accountant, Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, turns out to be a demanding and eccentric individual with a fear of flying, forcing the two men on an arduous cross-country journey by various modes of transportation. As they travel, they are pursued relentlessly by the FBI, who want The Duke to testify against his former boss, and by the mob, who want to silence him permanently, all while facing off against a rival bounty hunter.

Dad's Preview: This is a superb buddy and/or road movie. It focuses on two polar opposite characters: one is a tough bail bondsman, Jack; the other, a meek, soft-spoken mob accountant known as "The Duke". Suffice it to say this film is packed with FBI agents, the Mob, car chases, and train rides. That said, I really enjoy the small scenes: scamming cash from Red's Bar, Jack's hurried visit to his estranged wife and daughter, and the film's perfect ending. What really impressed me was the humor, especially from non-comedic actors De Niro and Grodin - they play so well off each other.

City Lights Films; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #7 Top

The Gold Rush (1925), Director: Charlie Chaplin, rated Approved

"The Picture I Want to Be Remembered by." -Charlie Chaplin.

Starring: Charlie Chaplin, Georgia Hale, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Malcolm Waite, Henry Bergman, Jack Adams, Frank Aderias

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I thought you was a chicken!" – Big Jim McKay, as his hunger causes him to see things

Why watch this? The entire film showcases Chaplin's non-verbal comedic genius.

Plot Summary: During the Klondike Gold Rush, the little tramp ventures to Alaska seeking fortune, facing harsh conditions and other prospectors. He becomes entangled with a successful, but memory-addled, prospector named Big Jim and a fugitive known as Black Larsen. Amidst the struggle for survival, he falls for a dance hall girl and strives to win her affection, despite a rivalry with another suitor.

Dad's Preview: This is one of, if not the best, of Chaplin's "Little Tramp" silent films. These masterpieces were a combination of small intimate interactions to craft an elaborate comedy scene. Chaplin, as the tramp, portrays a starving prospector trying to survive. He winds up in a mining town and falls for a dance hall girl who barely knows he exists. She initially makes fun of him around her friends. Still, he dreams of her, yet, she does not return his affection. Critics have long lauded this as a comedy classic. I certainly agree.

Charlie Chaplin; United Artists

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #6 Top

Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Director: Taika Waititi, rated PG-13

Thunder Will Reign.

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I don't hang with the Avengers anymore. It all got too corporate." - Thor

Why watch this? This takes the Thor story in a fresh, and funnier, direction. I instantly loved it.

Plot Summary: Imprisoned on a distant planet, Thor must escape a gladiatorial contest against the Hulk to return to Asgard. Upon his return, he faces his powerful and ruthless sister, Hela, who seeks to destroy his home world and its civilization. To save his people, Thor must confront Hela and prevent the cataclysmic event known as Ragnarök.

Dad's Preview: Kevin Feige, to keep new ideas coming, decided to turn Thor over to upstart, quirky, director Taika Waititi. It proved to be a wise move. This film is bright, light and so much more fun than the second Thor film. Our blonde hunky Asgardian hero is transported to a slave planet, where he unexpectedly encounters an old friend... The green, raging Hulk, who has been missing. After a massive battle in the gladiator arena, the two devise a plan to get themselves back home to Earth, and back to the Avengers.

Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #5 Top

Toy Story 2 (1999), Director: John Lasseter, rated G

The Toys Are Back in Town.

Starring: (the voice talents of) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Annie Potts, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Wayne Knight

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You never forget kids like Emily, or Andy, but they forget you." – Jessie

Why watch this? I really do like this film more than the original; it digs deeper.

Plot Summary: During a yard sale while Andy is away at summer camp, Woody is stolen by a toy collector hoping to sell him to a museum. This forces Buzz Lightyear and Andy's other toys to embark on a rescue mission to find Woody and bring him back home. Woody, meanwhile, learns about his history as a collectible from a famous television show and meets other toys from his past, making him question where his loyalties lie.

Dad's Preview: Everyone loved the first Toy Story (1995). So did I. This has all that, plus it's more poignant. Perhaps I feel this way because my kids grew up and left home. Of course, we're happy for them, but I'd be lying if I did not cast occasional thoughts back to when they were young and we were a contained family, taking on the world. Here, Andy is growing up, too. Perhaps he has outgrown Buzz and Woody. Nothing could be more painful for a toy. Then comes along the energetic Jessie, a toy in Woody's collector set. She's been there and knows that kids hurt you, and toys need to stick together. Get out a box of hankies, cause you're gonna need 'em.

Pixar Animation Studios; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #4 Top

Tremors (1990), Director: Ron Underwood, rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence, mild gore

The monster movie that breaks new ground.

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Bobby Jacoby, Tony Genaro, Ariana Richards, Richard Marcus

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Run for it? Running is not a plan. Running is what you do when a plan fails!" - Earl

Why watch this? Gigantic, underground, man-eating worms! That's a hard YES for me.

Plot Summary: Set in the remote desert town of Perfection, Nevada, two handymen, Val and Earl, decide to leave their dull lives. Before they can depart, strange tremors and a series of mysterious deaths suggest a dangerous threat lurks beneath the surface. Along with other residents, including a seismologist and a survivalist couple, they must fight to survive against unseen, giant creatures that hunt by sensing vibrations.

Dad's Preview: I cannot say enough about Kevin Bacon. In Animal House (1978) I hated him as a snobby frat boy. He has since earned my respect. He certainly is a hard-working actor. This monster film hits the right blend of horror/gore, action and comedy from start to finish. Scientifically it's preposterous, so don't waste your time trying to make it make sense. Just go with it. Fred Ward also shines as Bacon's hillbilly sidekick, Earl. The two become unlikely protectors as giant worms threaten a small, desert hamlet. Despite the topic, the film is well-done and very fun to watch.

No Frills Prod., Pacific Western Prod.;
Universal Pictures

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #3 Top

Time Bandits (1981), Director: Terry Gilliam, rated PG

... they didn't make history, they stole it!

Starring: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Ian Holm, Katherine Helmond, Michael Palin, David Warner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"God is not interested in technology... He's obsessed with making the grass grow and getting rainbows right. Look at what he spends his time on: Forty-three species of parrot! Nipples for men!" - Evil

Why watch this? It's a fantasy comedy. Plus most of the Monty Python players have roles!

Plot Summary: Kevin, a young boy fascinated by history, is unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical adventure through time when a group of thieving dwarfs escape into his bedroom through a time portal. The dwarfs, former employees of the Supreme Being, have stolen a map detailing all of the time holes, which they use to jump through different eras to steal treasures. Pursued by both the Supreme Being and the powerful Evil Genius, Kevin joins the dwarfs on their journey, encountering various historical figures along the way.

Dad's Preview: Written and directed by the creative mind of Monty Pythoner Terry Gilliam, this magical journey takes us to many places in both history and fantasy, each populated by a cast of quirky characters. You will wonder, "Did this film's creator do some mushrooms?!" We witness Napoleon's madness, an Ogre with a backache, and heck, even Sean Connery battles a towering Minotaur! David Warner is excellent as the personification of evil. It's witty, imaginative fun for the whole family.

HandMade Films; HandMade Films Dist. Ltd.

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #2 Top

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, rated PG for mild violence, rabbit-induced gore

Sets the Cinema Back 900 Years!

Starring: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Connie Booth, Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes, Bee Duffell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #22 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Rabbit Hole of Monty Python and the Holy Grail

"We better not risk another frontal assault. That rabbit's dynamite!" - King Arthur

Why watch this? This irreverent, Medieval comedy from Python is legendary.

Plot Summary: King Arthur gathers his Knights of the Round Table and is instructed by God to embark on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Their journey is filled with absurd and surreal encounters, including taunting French soldiers, the Black Knight, a killer rabbit, and the Knights Who Say Ni. The film follows their individual and collective misadventures as they brave various obstacles in pursuit of the mythical relic.

Dad's Preview: This may seem adolescent, but I am certain there is genius within some offensive comedies. Said genius is on par with classic films, the likes of Casablanca (1942), Pulp Fiction (1994), Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010). However, critics will always dismiss these gems as "in poor taste", "vulgar" or "you need therapy". I get it - not classy enough... One too many jokes about flatulence. Fie! What a disservice! Holy Grail is entertaining from start to finish. It will always make ME laugh, and therein lies its genius.

Python Pictures, Michael White Prod., National
Film Trustee Co; EMI Films

Top 20 Adventure Comedy Films #1 Top

Up (2009), Director: Pete Docter, rated PG

The greatest adventure is just getting back home.

Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #35 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Up

"My name is Dug. I have just met you, and I love you." - Dug

Why watch this? I feel-good story that requires your imagination and suspension of belief.

Plot Summary: Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, embarks on a journey to the wilds of South America in his house, lifted by thousands of balloons, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He unintentionally takes along a stowaway and young Wilderness Explorer named Russell. The unlikely duo encounters adventure, strange creatures, and a surprising revelation about Carl's childhood hero on their journey towards Paradise Falls.

Dad's Preview: In a crowded stable of excellent Pixar-Disney films, this one stands out for me. Perhaps it's Carl, the grumpy old man looking to get away from a world that doesn't want him any more. Maybe it's Russell, the cheeky, plump young Boy Scout trying to earn his merit badges. It could be Dug, the delightful dog who is enabled "talk" thanks to a voice modulator. Combine these quirky characters with a high-flying, creative premise, and you have a winner in my book. It packs a punch, too - You'll be bawling before the opening credits have finished rolling.

Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures