Let’s just call today Funny Movie Friday. From a reader:
Dear Jonah:
Your post on Groundhog Day reminded me of a discussion I had recently with
some friends. “What are the best comedies of the 90’s or later? And why don’t they measure up at all to the 80’s?”
What the heck happened to movie comedy? Just look at the last 13 years, versus the 13 before that. The best we could come up with were Something About Mary, American Pie, the first Austin Powers and maybe Bowfinger. We didn’t remember Groundhog Day, but I agree it’s funnier than these, except maybe “Mary”.
Now look at 1977-1989:
Start with the Eddie Murphy movies (48 Hrs, Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America)
Then go to the other Bill Murray movies (Stripes, Ghostbusters, Caddyshack)
Remember when Chevy Chase was funny? (Vacation, Fletch, will you give me Spies Like Us and Three Amigos (I can’t turn them off when they’re on
cable))
How about (in alphabetical order) Airplane!, Animal House, Arthur, Big, The Blues Brothes, Bull Durham, Fast Times, A Fish Called Wanda, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, The Princess Bride, 16 Candles, The Sure Thing, This is Spinal Tap, Tootsie, Weird Science, When Harry Met Sally…
At 33, am I just getting too old, and don’t understand hip young comedy?
Probably, given that I don’t think my dad’s favorite comedies are all that
funny either…