(DML Top 20 Lists - Satire Comedy Films ranked)

Honorable Mention

They Live (1988), Director: John Carpenter, rated R for language, violence

Who are they? And what do they want?

Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George Flower, Peter Jason, Raymond St. Jaques, Jason Robarbs III

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum." - Nada

Why watch this? Aliens secretly living among us is wonderfully explained in this Carpenter sci-fi classic.

Plot Summary: A drifter called Nada stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses that reveal a horrifying truth about the world around him. He discovers that sinister, skull-faced aliens have infiltrated Earth and are using subliminal messages embedded in media to control and manipulate humanity. Empowered by this shocking realization, Nada embarks on a desperate mission to expose the aliens and awaken the unsuspecting masses.

Dad's Preview: I feel this is the last great John Carpenter film. It's good sci-fi, but a bit odd, as was the choice to cast wrestler Roddy "Rod" Piper in the lead role. Upon release, it was a box office failure with critics. Today however, it's critical re-evaluation is more favorable. Its plot: Aliens are among us, slowly infiltrating society until they can take over. Humans are easily controlled. This amps up the action as they start the battle to expose the aliens and save the world!

Alive Films, Larry Franco Productions;
Universal Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #20 Top

Don't Look Up (2021), Director: Adam McKay, rated R for language, nudity, drug use

Based on Truly Possible Events.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Melanie Lynskey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Look I'm just like all of you. I hope to God, I hope to... God that this president knows what she's doing. I hope she's got us all taken care of, but the truth is... I think, this whole administration, has completely. Lost. Their f'ing mind!" - Dr. Randall Mindy

Why watch this? Sci-fi satire at its nastiest. A comet comes. A government ignores.

Plot Summary: Two astronomers discover a massive comet on a direct collision course with Earth and must embark on a media tour to warn a distracted humanity of the impending apocalypse. Despite presenting undeniable evidence to the President and the public, their urgent findings are met with indifference, political apathy, and sensationalist media cycles. As the comet approaches, the duo struggles against a culture that prefers to ignore the truth rather than take action to save themselves.

Dad's Preview: On my second watch, I enjoyed this disaster film a lot more. Perhaps the first viewing was too disturbing... which, damn, this movie is that. I am now able to appreciate the dark humor that exists in many scenes: the power-hungry, manipulative President; the fake, quasi-femme-fatale News Anchor; the brilliant tech mogul who secretly knows he's is full of crap. As the threat of the comet heightens, the various characters drop the charades and become who they really are. However, the human race, as it unfortunately always does, ignores the truth and is responsible for its own destruction. There is a great cast here, all giving wonderful performances, but still, in the end, it leaves me disturbed.

Hyperobject Industries, Bluegrass Films;
Netflix

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #19 Top

Promising Young Woman (2020), Director: Emerald Fennell, rated R for language, violence, sexuality

Revenge never looked so promising.

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Adam Brody, Ray Nicholson, Sam Richardson, Timothy E. Goodwin, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Alli Hart, Loren Paul

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Who needs brains? They never did a girl any good..." - Cassandra

Why watch this? When a girl decides she's had enough, it's going to get real.

Plot Summary: Cassie, a medical school dropout haunted by a traumatic past, leads a double life as a secret vigilante who feigns intoxication to catch and confront predatory men. While managing her own grief, she embarks on a meticulous, dangerous campaign to exact revenge on those responsible for a past injustice involving her best friend. As her actions escalate, she is forced to confront key individuals from her past.

Dad's Preview: In one of the best revenge flicks in years, a woman goes full Alex Forrest against men who prey on drunken women at night clubs. She takes her serial-revenge to an art form and, honestly, these deceptive fellows haven't got a chance. Carey Mulligan really shines in this neo-noir thriller. Her low, purposeful voice is hypnotic. She is perfect in this role as a sexual vigilante on the edge of going too far. Frankly, her mental stability comes into question early on, and she just goes with it. It is tense and dreadful, as she works her way to resolution with the man who drugged and raped her best friend years ago.

LuckyChap Entertainment; Focus Features

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #18 Top

Jojo Rabbit (2019), Director: Taika Waititi, rated PG

An anti-hate satire.

Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Taika Waititi, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant, Alfie Allen, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You're not a Nazi, Jojo. You're a ten-year-old kid who likes swastikas and likes dressing up in a funny uniform who wants to be part of a club. But you're not one of them." – Elsa Korr

Why watch this? If it's hard to describe, chances are it's a good film - this one certainly is.

Plot Summary: During World War II, a young German boy named Jojo, a devoted member of the Hitler Youth, discovers that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl named Elsa in their attic. Jojo, aided by his imaginary friend, a whimsical version of Adolf Hitler, must reconcile his deeply ingrained beliefs with this new reality. This unexpected encounter challenges Jojo's blind nationalism and forces him to confront the complexities of prejudice, love, and loss amidst a world gripped by war.

Dad's Preview: Uber-creative filmmaker Taika Waititi sets a comedy in Germany during World War II, AND, has a young boy receive frequent visits from the ghost of Adolph Hitler. What?! After that sentence, you want to know what I have been smokin', right? Yet, this film is delightful, engrossing, funny, and gut-wrenching. When the boy discovers a young Jewish girl hiding in his attic, he begins to realize that his idol, Adolph, might not be worthy of his adulation.

TSG Ent., Defender Films, Piki Films;
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #17 Top

I, Tonya (2017), Director: Craig Gillespie, rated PG

There's no need to have class when you have talent.

Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Caitlin Carver, Bojana Novakovic, Paul Walter Hauser, Bobby Cannavale, Mckenna Grace

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There's no such thing as truth. It's bullshit. Everyone has their own truth, and life just does whatever the fuck it wants." - Tonya Harding

Why watch this? The tragic story of Olympic ice skater Tonya Harding is compelling.

Plot Summary: This dark comedy follows competitive figure skater Tonya Harding, tracing her journey from a difficult upbringing to becoming an Olympic athlete. The film depicts the complexities of her relationships with her abusive mother and husband, which ultimately play a role in her rise and fall. Harding's legacy is defined by her involvement in the infamous attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan, leading to a major scandal and a lifetime ban from the sport.

Dad's Preview: This sports scandal rocked the world. As the facts were revealed, it became a surrealist's dream, a comedy of errors, class warfare played out on the ice. Tonya Harding, the product of abuse and poverty, out-works all her shortcomings to compete on the world stage (she was the first skater ever to complete two triple axel jumps in competition). Her competition is the pristine, perfect Nancy Kerrigan, USA's top skater. Tonya's husband, Jeff, make the dumbest decision of his life to "help" Tonya's Olympic chances. This excellent film stands as a mock-documentary black comedy, but it's also not a comedy at all. There were motivations at play that resulted in an innocent girl being hurt. Tonya, however, regardless of how involved she was in the plot, is a survivor, and Robbie portrayal of her is unforgettable.

LuckyChap Ent., beIN Media Group,
Clubhouse Pics, AI Film; Neon, 30West!

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #16 Top

Duck Soup (1933), Director: Leo McCarey, rated Approved

The fanciest dish of screams -- howls -- beauty and music ever concocted.

Starring: Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Louis Calhern, Edgar Kennedy, Raquel Torres

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought, I'd rather dance with the cows till you come home." - Rufus T. Firefly

Why watch this? This is one of the Marx Brothers' best films. It puts the "Z" in zany!

Plot Summary: The nation of Freedonia faces bankruptcy and accepts a loan from wealthy Mrs. Teasdale, who insists on appointing the eccentric Rufus T. Firefly as leader. This causes tensions to rise with neighboring Sylvania, whose ambassador attempts to usurp Firefly's position and influence Mrs. Teasdale, thereby threatening war between the two nations. Amidst the escalating conflict, two spies from Sylvania create chaos while supposedly attempting to steal Freedonia's war plans.

Dad's Preview: Groucho portrays the President of the mythical country of Freedonia. Zeppo is his secretary, while Chico and Harpo are spies for the neighboring country of Sylvania. As with most Marx Bros. films, the plot appears secondary to the madcap action and funny pratfalls that occupy the screen entirely. Back then, governmental criticism on film was frowned upon, but it is here, and the Marx Bros. wrapped it in satirical insanity. Critics today still consider this film to be their great masterpiece.

Herman J. Mankiewicz; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #15 Top

The Graduate (1967), Director: Mike Nichols, rated PG

This is Benjamin. He's a little worried about his future.

Starring: Ann Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross, William Daniels, Murray Hamilton, Elizabeth Wilson, Buck Henry, Norman Fell, Walter Brooke, Alice Ghostley, Marion Lorne

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"It's like I've been playing some kind of game, but the rules don't make any sense to me. They're being made up by all the wrong people. No. I mean, no one makes them up. They seem to have made themselves up." - Benjamin

Why watch this? College. Marriage. Protective Parents. Sometimes, it's too much.

Plot Summary: Upon returning home after college graduation, Benjamin Braddock finds himself adrift and uncertain about his future amidst the expectations of his wealthy parents. He soon embarks on a clandestine affair with Mrs. Robinson, an older, married friend of his parents. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he begins to develop feelings for Mrs. Robinson's daughter, Elaine, leading to a complex and dramatic love triangle.

Dad's Preview: This wonderful dramedy stings with satire about the American way of life in the 1960s. Young folks were demanded to color in the lines and follow the rules. Then came Vietnam and Watergate, so young adults began to doubt, as divorce rates rose. Hoffman is superb as our young idealist, unsure and impressionable. Then he meets her. Oh, Mrs. Robinson, so devious is your seduction. Ann Bancroft deserved Best Actress award. This little rebellious film said a lot about our culture at that time. Perhaps we need to heed the lessons of its music and message: Don't listen to grown-ups. It was nominated for seven Oscars, winning only one for Mike Nichols as Best Director.

Lawrence Turman Prod.; Embassy Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #14 Top

This is Spinal Tap (1984), Director: Rob Reiner, rated R for language, crude humor

Prepare to crank those amps up to eleven

Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, June Chadwick, Tony Hendra, Bruno Kirby

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins

Why watch this? It's entertaining to watch these faux rock stars, and their screwed-up values.

Plot Summary: British heavy metal band Spinal Tap is on their ill-fated 1982 United States tour. The film chronicles the band's struggles with declining popularity, botched performances, and internal squabbles, offering a satirical look at the music industry. Ultimately, it captures the band's relentless pursuit of success despite numerous setbacks and their exaggerated sense of self-importance.

Dad's Preview: This is the original film that coined the term "mockumentary". Director Carl Reiner and the three lead actors: Guest, McKean and Shearer, immerse us into the world of '80's heavy metal rock and roll. It's as outrageous and over-the-top as the music it parodies. The band is about success and more, more, more - all with hilarious results. This same team of actors would go on to give us Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best In Show (2000) and several more fine films spoofing the odd aspects of our existence.

Karen Murphy; Embassy Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #13 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 Satire Comedy Films #12 Top

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983), Director: Terry Jones, rated R for language, violence, gore, crude humor, sexual situations, nudity

It took God six days to create the earth, and Monty Python just 90 minutes to screw it up.

Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Carol Cleveland, Simon Jones

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You always talk, you Americans. You talk and you talk and say 'let me tell you something' and 'I just wanna say this'. Well, you're dead now, so shut up!" - The Grim Reaper

Why watch this? If you don't mind a little fake blood, I recommend the segment called Live Organ Donors.

Plot Summary: This absurdist comedy explores the various stages of human existence from birth to death through a series of darkly humorous and often surreal sketches. The film delves into themes such as religion, sex, war, and the mundanity of everyday life, all with the unique and irreverent style of the Monty Python troupe. Ultimately, it offers a comedic and philosophical inquiry into the nature and purpose of life itself.

Dad's Preview: This Python offering is a series of skits pertaining to life, and humanity's search for the "why". If you are easily offended, then you might want move along. It pokes fun at everything... and everybody. It's absurdist satire at its most vitriolic. If you can get past that, it also happens to be extremely hilarious. Mature audiences ONLY!

Celandine Films, Monty Python Partnership;
Universal Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #11 Top

Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), Director: Stanley Kubrick, rated PG

The wild hot-line suspense comedy.

Starring: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull, James Earl Jones, Tracy Reed

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - President Merkin Muffley

Why watch this? This is THE great black comedy about the Cold War.

Plot Summary: In this Cold War satire, a paranoid US General unilaterally initiates a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. This forces the President, his advisors, and a British liaison officer to desperately try and recall the bombers before the situation escalates into global catastrophe. However, unforeseen obstacles and misunderstandings complicate their efforts to prevent a devastating worldwide nuclear exchange.

Dad's Preview: This film is often in the discussion for greatest dark comedy ever made. I do like it, but it's just too satirical for me. I guess I just don't think nuclear annihilation is that funny. From the film's standpoint, launching the bomb IS the point. This Kubrick project has an all-star cast, and features the brilliant Peter Sellers in several roles. The final scene, where Slim Pickens rides the missile, is a dark comedy scene for the ages.

Hawk Films; Columbia Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #10 Top

Best in Show (2000), Director: Christopher Guest, rated PG-13 for language, sexual topics

Some pets deserve a little more respect than others.

Starring: Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I went to one of those obedience places once... it was all going well until they spilled hot candle wax on my private parts." - Buck Laughlin

Why watch this? ... it's an oddball comedy about oddballs, and it's so rewardingly humorous.

Plot Summary: This story follows a quirky group of dog owners and their beloved canines as they compete in the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. It highlights the eccentric personalities and relationships of the participants in this competitive world. Through a series of interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses, we see the various preparations, anxieties, and comical situations that arise on their journey to win "Best in Show".

Dad's Preview: This is such a wonderful effort from the warped minds of Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. It follows the strange cult of the Dog Show circuit and the quirks of show canine owners. Present are over-obsessive yuppies, the gay power couple, the old country boy and his bloodhound - just to name a few. As they enthusiastically compete for the grand prize, there are plenty of laughs for us to chew on. So "Sit!"... and enjoy this spoof comedy.

Castle Rock Entertainment; Warner Bros.

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #9 Top

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Director: James Whale, rated Approved

She breathes, sees, hears, walks -- but can she love?

Starring: Boris Karloff, Elsa Manchester, Colin Clive, Ernest Thesiger, Valerie Hobson, Gavin Gordon, Douglas Walton, E. E. Clive

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Yes, I know. Made me from dead. I love dead... hate living." - The Monster

Why watch this? This Universal monster film dared to have a sense of humor. Bravo!

Plot Summary: This sequel Frankenstein (1931) follows Dr. Henry Frankenstein as he attempts to abandon his life-creating experiments. However, he is pressured by his eccentric mentor, Dr. Pretorius, and threatened by his creation, the Monster, into constructing a female companion for the Monster. Frankenstein eventually agrees and embarks on the task of creating the Bride, facing the consequences of his ambition and the Monster's desire for companionship.

Dad's Preview: With the original film, director James Whale gave us a monster unlike any other. With the sequel, he offers a better blend of horror and cynical humor. The result is one of the best Universal monster productions ever made. It's scary, funny, outrageous, and exciting. It also appealed to a much larger audience. Karloff returns as the monster, and the wonderful Elsa Manchester makes her brief appearance as his wide-eyed, terrified bride.

Carl Laemmle Jr.; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #8 Top

Being There (1979), Director: Hal Ashby, rated PG for language

Life is a state of mind.

Starring: Peter Sellers, Shirley McLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart, Than Wyenn, David Clennon

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden." - Chauncey The Gardener

Why watch this? It's a creative story about powerful men who see simplicity as wisdom... which it is.

Plot Summary: A simple gardener, Chance, is forced to leave the only home he has ever known after his employer's death. Having only ever see the world through television and gardening, his quaint observations are misinterpreted as profound wisdom by those he encounters in the outside world. Through a series of miscommunications and societal projections, he finds himself becoming an influential figure in Washington politics. Chance even gets the ear of the U.S. President.

Dad's Preview: This tale skirts the borderline between what is and what people want to believe. Nominated for two Academy Awards, I feel this film is its generation's Forrest Gump (1994). As a film pre-viewer, I ask that you be patient, and let this slow-burn film develop. Your reward will be a thought-provoking film ending, and perhaps a little added wisdom.

Lorimar Productions; United Artists

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #7 Top

RoboCop (1987), Director: Paul Verhoeven, rated R for language, gory violence

Part man. Part machine. All cop.

Starring: Peter Weller, Karen Allen, Daniel O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, Miguel Ferrer, Robert DoQui, Ray Wise, Paul McCrane, Lee de Broux

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Let me make something clear to you. He doesn't have a name. He has a program. He's product." - Bob Morton

Why watch this? It's an excellent sci-fi film about a possible future of law enforcement.

Plot Summary: In a crime-ridden future Detroit, the Omni Consumer Products (OCP) corporation privatizes the police force, seeking to implement their advanced robotic officers to control the city's rampant criminal activity. When police officer Alex Murphy is brutally murdered by a gang, OCP uses his body to create RoboCop, a cyborg law enforcer programmed to serve the public trust. As RoboCop patrols the city and fights crime, memory fragments of his past life as Alex Murphy begin to resurface, leading him on a path to investigate his own death and the corruption within OCP.

Dad's Preview: In this shockingly violent film there are two competing companies striving to secure financial backing to create a "robotic policeman". One company creates a full robot. The other creates a cyborg - part machine, part man. When the Robocop experiences lingering memories, it causes a conflict between his company's implanted directives and a desire to protect humanity. Peter Weller is compelling as the RoboCop. Another strength of the film is its villains, played delightfully by Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith and Miguel Ferrer.

Arne Schmidt; Orion Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #6 Top

Blazing Saddles (1974), Director: Mel Brooks, rated R racial language, sexual innuendo

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.

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #5 Top

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), Director: David Zucker, rated PG-13 for language, crude humor

If you see only one movie this year...you ought to get out more often.

Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalbán, George Kennedy, O. J. Simpson, Susan Beaubian, Nancy Marchand, Raye Birk, Jeannette Charles

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"It's true what they say: Cops and women don't mix. It's like eating a spoonful of Drano. Sure, it'll clean you out, but it'll leave you hollow inside." – Frank Drebin

Why watch this? To laugh... A lot. It's non-stop.

Plot Summary: Lt. Frank Drebin of Police Squad investigates the attempted murder of his partner, Nordberg. This investigation leads him to uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Los Angeles. Frank must work to thwart the assassination attempt, find out who shot Nordberg, and manage his romantic entanglement with Jane Spencer, the assistant to the suspicious businessman Vincent Ludwig.

Dad's Preview: I thought the silly Airplane! (1980) was entertaining with its puns and goofy skits and sight gags. It also starred straight-faced Leslie Nielsen. Why Naked Gun impacted me so differently I cannot guess, but I love this film. It is a spin-off from a failed TV show that was surprisingly cancelled after 8 episodes. Nielsen plays dead-pan police Lt. Frank Drebin. He bumbles his way through every scene with hilarious skill (or lack of). Every gag and funny line feels new. You'll find it hard to stop laughing. I DO recommend the two sequels - they are almost as funny as the original.

Robert K. Weiss; Paramount Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #4 Top

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Director: Frank Capra, rated: Approved

Stirring - In the seeing! Precious - In the remembering!

Starring: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, Beulah Bondi, Harry Carey, Eugene Pallette

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #34 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

"You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause!" - Senator Jefferson Smith, Tenn.

Why watch this? ... an idyllic young Senator finds himself attacked by corruption.

Plot Summary: Idealistic young man Jefferson Smith is unexpectedly appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill a vacant seat. Initially, Smith is seen as easily manipulated by corrupt political figures, including his state's powerful political boss and even his childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. However, when Smith proposes a national boys' camp that interferes with a corrupt land scheme, he finds himself in a fight for his ideals against the powerful forces of political corruption.

Dad's Preview: Nobody plays the underdog like Jimmy Stewart. This is the second Stewart-Capra collaboration. Every American should watch this, and ask yourself, "What do I stand for?" Am I pulling for the young Tennessee senator, Jefferson Smith, who still believes is fair government, helping common citizens? Or do I relate more to the senator who takes bribes from bullying businessmen? Well? I choose Jeff Smith, and a government of the people by the people and for the people. This is a MUST SEE!

Frank Capra; Columbia Pictures

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #3 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 Satire Comedy Films #2 Top

Office Space (1999), Director: Mike Judge, rated R for language, crude humor

Work sucks.

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.

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

Top 20 Satire Comedy Films #1 Top

The Truman Show (1998), Director: Peter Weir, rated PG

The World is Watching

Starring: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ed Harris

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented, it's as simple as that." - Christof

Why watch this? This is a masterpiece for director Peter Weir and star Jim Carrey.

Plot Summary: Truman Burbank is an average man who lives a seemingly normal life in a picturesque town. Unknown to him, his entire world is a meticulously constructed set, and everyone he knows – his family, friends, and neighbors – are actors in a globally-televised reality show called The Truman Show. As strange occurrences begin to disrupt his routine, Truman slowly starts to question the reality of his existence and seeks to discover the truth about his life.

Dad's Preview: This is exactly the kind of reality-bending film that attracts me. Truman is the unknowing star of a TV show about his fabricated life. He lives in a bubble, all his interactions are with actors. This "project" is the vision of the mysterious Christof. There is so much wrong with this concept, but hey, the ratings are through the roof. Truman starts to wonder about his life, and wants more. It's creative, brilliant and deeply thought-provoking. Carey dials down the zany antics and it really pays off.

Scott Rudin Prod.; Paramount Pictures