Category Archives: Comedy

2011, Acceptable for teenagers, Acceptable Trash, Chick Flick, Comedy, Crude Talk, Embarrassing Father, Father-son relations, Gay theme, Happy ending, Love Story, Mostly About Sex, Mother-daughter relations, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Romance, Sex Scenes, Vulgar, Young Adult

No Strings Attached (2011)

From IMDB:

A guy and girl try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it’s not long before they learn that they want something more.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 48 minute comedy drama.

Want to relax and watch some vulgar, fun semi-trash? Have I got a film for you! It’s wonderful when there is absolutely nothing to take seriously in a move.

Natalie Portman (as Emma) and Ashton Kutcher (as Adam) are a nice, funny couple. Kevin Kline as Adam’s thrice-married father about to marry someone his son used to date also deserves a mention.

When I catch myself grinning while watching some scene, is that a positive recommendation or a lapse of judgement on my part?

 

2022, Ageing gay men, Amusing banter, Art as worthless fakery, Comedy, Divorce, Failed Marriage, Friendship, Gay theme, Husband leaves wife, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Real Estate Agents

Uncoupled (2022)

From IMDB:

Michael’s life seemed to be perfect, until his long time partner blindsided him after 17 years of being in long time relationship. He has to confront the nightmares of losing his soulmate and suddenly finding himself as a single gay man in his mid-40s.

From Netflix you can stream the 8 episodes of this gay-themed comedy about the difficulty of creating or maintaining relationships. Each episode lasts about 30 minutes.

Neil Patrick Harris plays Michael, a New York city real estate agent dealing in high-priced condominiums. His wealthy client Claire, played by Marcia Gay Harden, becomes an annoying buddy with whom he shares a history of rejection.

So-so comedy that depicts the problems of ageing unattached gay men.

 

2007, Acceptable for teenagers, Accidental Death, Amazon Prime, Amusing banter, Bathroom Humor, Blackmail, British Comedy, British Slapstick, Coarse manners, Comedy, Drug trip, Eccentric cast of characters, Embarrassing episodes, Exaggeration Comedy, Father-daughter relations, Gay theme, Good Brother - Bad Brother, Jealousy, Mother-son relations, Nudity, Often downright silly, Romance, Satire, Uncategorized

Death at a Funeral (2007)

From Amazon Prime:

As the mourners at a British country manor struggle valiantly to “keep a stiff upper lip,” a dignified funeral devolves into a hilarious, no-holds barred debacle of misplaced cadavers, indecent exposure, and shocking family secrets. This classic farce blows the lid off the proverbial coffin as “the film’s delicious comic flourishes are served up by an outstanding cast” 

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1.5 hour comedy film.

Although there is an American 2010 all-Black version of this film, the Amazon version is the British 2007 all-White version.

British slapstick is not for everyone. For example, there is at least one  outlandish scene (this one involving human excrement) that could seem distasteful.   Nor is it certain that the treatment of a gay theme from 15 years ago would be  completely acceptable in 2022. These days the extensive nudity will probably not raise an eyebrow.

Among the British actors that might seem familiar, there are:

  • Matthew Macfadyen (Howard’s End, MI-5) as the grieving son Daniel.
  • Peter Dinklage (the dwarf actor in Game of Thrones) as  Peter, who claims to be the lover of the deceased father.
  • Alan Tudyk (Arrested Development) as Simon, who spends most of the time in a drug-induced haze.
  • Rupert Graves (Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock ) as Robert.
  • Peter Vaughan (Maester Aemon in Game of Thrones ) as Uncle Alfie, who spends most of the time on the toilet.
  • Peter Egan ( Martin Hughes in Unforgotten) as Victor.

Possibly not as funny as Monty Python.

 

2010, Acceptable Trash, Amazon Prime, B-movie, Car Chase, Chase film, Comedy, Contract Killing, Everybody lies, Exaggeration Comedy, Extreme Violence as Comedy, Father-daughter relations, Frenetic, Government-hired assassin, Happy ending, Martial Arts, Mayhem, Mother-daughter relations, Physical fighting, Ridiculous plot, Romantic comedy, Ruthless Killer, Surprise Ending, Violent

Killers (2010)

From Amazon Prime:

Spencer Aimes (Ashton Kutcher) is just your average, undercover, government-hired super-assassin. When he meets Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl), he finds true love… Enjoying a picture-perfect marriage, Spencer becomes the target of a multi-million dollar hit. Now Spencer and Jen are on the run for their lives.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 40 minute complete film.

Why brood over Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine when you could waste some quality time watching this B+ rom-com violent piece of cinematic fluff?

Did I mention that this film is violent from start to finish?  However, as bizarre as it sounds, the constant shooting, car chases, and martial arts fighting are not to be taken seriously and are really part of the fun.

Tom Selleck plays Tom Selleck, which actually works well in this plot.

Moreover, everyone except the scores of dead people live happily ever after.

2021, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Acceptable Science, Allegory, Autistic Technocrat, Bizarre, Black humor, Comedy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cover-up, Depressing, Eccentric cast of characters, Exaggeration Comedy, Extramarital Affair, Farce, Government cover-up, Greed vs Common Good, Mayhem, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Often downright silly, Panic Attacks, Personal Betrayal, Political Satire, Satire

Don’t Look Up (2021)

From Netflix:

Two astronomers go on a media tour to warn humankind of a planet-killing comet hurtling toward Earth. The response from a distracted world: Meh!

From Netflix you can stream this 2 hour 18 minute long complete film.

According to Miriam-Webster, “allegory” is a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation.  In the case of this film, the news that a comet hurtling toward earth will destroy mankind, which a superficial world treats as “fake news” could possibly stand for climate warming (which the Master of the Republican party declared was simply a “Chinese hoax”) or for a pandemic (Why get vaccinated against some illness that will disappear in a day or so?).

Leonardo DiCaprio provides a splendid performance as Dr. Randall Mindy, an all too human scientist trying to warn the world but who succumbs to his sudden fame and the allures of the unbalanced Brie Evantee (played by Cate Blanchette).

Jennifer Lawrence plays an increasingly frustrated and exasperated Kate Dibiasky, Dr. Mindy’s gifted doctoral student.

As far as an over the top  (if not to say bizarre)  role as President Orlean of the USA  goes,  Meryl Streep is the perfect “air head.” She even wears a MAGA cap.

When the screen finally goes black, do not stop watching.  Credits rolling by on the screen are interrupted several times by continuations of the story.  Watch the fatalistic silliness right up to the very end.

Is this depiction of a threatened end of the world really a comedy?

2012, Amusing banter, Barely Acceptable Trash, Bullying, Career Competition, Comedy, Crude Talk, Disrespect toward women, Eccentric cast of characters, Flirting, Happy ending, Kanopy streaming, Nudity, Outrageous Behavior, Pratfalls, Revenge, Romance, Vulgar

Demoted (2012)

From Kanopy:

The producer of American Pie presents a hilarious look at what happens when two mid-level sales associates are DEMOTED to the company secretarial pool.

From Kanopy you can stream this 95 minute piece of funny, barely acceptable trash.

Today it seems there are no holds barred on what salacious things you can say out loud in a film.  Needless to say the film was rated Restricted for crude (to say the least) language.

David Cross, who played Tobias Funke in “Arrested Development”, was the only actor I recognized. As a hapless villain he is quite successful.

If nothing else recommends the film, at least it is funny and has a happy, sappy ending.

I LOVE TRASH!

 

2009, Action sequences, Amazon Prime, Amusing banter, Career Competition, Comedy, Complicated, Corporate Espionage, Plot twists, Romance, Surprise Ending

Duplicity (2009)

From Amazon Prime:

Two ex-government agents turned rival industrial spies have to be at the top of their game when one of their companies prepares to launch a major product. However, they distract each other in more ways than one.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this  2 hour 5 minute complete film.

You have probably already seen this somewhat old romantic romp featuring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.

Just plain complicated fun.

2021, Acceptable for teenagers, Comedy, Crude Talk, Eccentric cast of characters, Korean, Korean Culture, Mother-daughter relations, Netflix Streaming, Offbeat, Somewhat trashy, University Politics, Vulgar

The Chair (2021)

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From Netflix:

With the department facing budget cuts and low enrollment, Ji-Yoon vows to make some changes as chair while one professor struggles to keep it together.

From Netflix you can stream the only season of this academia comedy. Each of the 6 episodes lasts 30 minutes.

Sandra Oh as Ji-Yoon Kim plays the first Korean chairperson of the English department at small Pembroke College.  In this position she must play politics while managing a flock of eccentric, unruly, and most very aged professors. Indeed she has her hands full.

Welcome vulgar soap operatic relief from more violent entertainment.

1996, Amazon Prime, Amusing banter, Art theft, Boating, Bumbling Detective, Comedy, Pratfalls, Unloved Child

Two If By Sea (1996)

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From Amazon Prime:

A couple steals a Matisse painting on contract. They manage to escape the police. The sale takes place 4 days later on an island. Things don’t go as planned.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 35 minute comedy.

When you just want to relax and have a few laughs you cannot beat a Sandra Bullock movie.  Pratfalls always provoke a belly laugh from me even though I should not fall (get it?) for such nonsense.

However, here and in many of her films there is some amount of seriousness.  In “All About Steve”  she is encouraged to accept her very different personality. In “Two If By Sea” she works to convince her professional thief of a boy friend to go straight, talk meaningfully to her, and get a job.

What a relief such films can be!

2009, Acceptable for teenagers, Amazon Prime, Comedy, Deaf person, Eccentric cast of characters, Happy ending, Hopeless Love, Journalist, Newspaper Culture, Outrageous Behavior, Pratfalls, Quirky, Sight Gags

All About Steve (2009)

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From Amazon Prime:

The Proposal’s Sandra Bullock, Oscar nominee Thomas Haden Church, and The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper star in a hilarious tale of a woman who, after falling hard for a guy, thinks they’re an item; unfortunately, he thinks she’s stalking him!

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 38 minute comedy film. Hurry, because this riot of a film leaves Amazon on November 1, 2021.

Sandra Bullock’s Mary Horowitz creates crossword puzzles for a newspaper. She is a walking and constantly talking encyclopedia of assorted factoids. Her script must have been difficult to memorize because it truly is non-stop and exhausting to hear, let alone recite.

What makes the film fun to watch are the pratfalls.  Ignore the beginning encounter between Mary and Bradley Cooper’s Steve in his auto where Mary naively throws herself at Steve, because that is not in keeping with the rest of the film.

Both Kathy and I could not stop laughing.