Comedy Movies You Need To See – Chuck’s Top Five

Anchorman, the Legend of Ron Burgundy. Will Ferrell is fabulous as 70’s egotistical, chauvinistic TV anchor surrounded by the “Action News” team. The team consists of a fashion oriented field reporter, a goofy sportscaster, and a mentally challenged weatherman. They all lose it when a female co-anchor played by Christina Applegate joins the team. Having worked in the media for a while. I’ve known people in real life that could play these parts!

The Hangover. Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach GalifianakisWhen this film was released last year if became an instant comedy classic. Shot on a budget of 35 million, it has grossed over 467 million! Capitalizing on the phrase “what goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, this movie is funny from start to finish. But it was the reverse order of the movie that is brilliant. With their memories erased by drugs and alcohol, the boys are forced to figure out what happened the night before by reconstructing the evening. It’s not until the very end of the movie that a series of photos put all the pieces together!

Office Space. Based on the Milton comic series by Mike Judge of Beavis and Butthead fame. This movie was not a box office success, but has become a huge cult film favorite. Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) is a disgruntled programmer at Initech, a software company plagued by burocracy and excessive management. He sets about stealing fractions of money from the company via a software scheme that back fires. It really captures the humor in corporate America.

The Big Lebowski. The dude abides! A brilliant film from the Coen brothers with an all star cast. Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi. In a case of mistaken identity, the dude must deliver a ransom for a millionaire whose wife has been kidnapped. In my mind it’s John Goodman who steals this movie. Playing a Vietnam Veteran with a quick temper he sees’s conspiracies behind everything!

Blazing Saddles. My first introduction into the mind of Mel Brooks. I watch it over and over and never get tired of it. Every scene is hilarious. Playing off the theme of an old western of building railroads and stealing land from Native Americans. It stars Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder. But I think its Harvey Korman's brilliant comedy in the role of the villain Hedley Lamarr that makes the movie.