By Ally Di Censo
All my life, I’ve been a complete movie nerd, from elementary school (Disney, anyone?) to middle school (enduring many films about people giggling at sleepovers) to high school (aha! My introduction to the classics!). College is different from all of this, though, because it is so specific. Even in my major, history, I have to choose whether I want to specialize in world, European, or American history. Why can’t I just focus on Events of the Upper Midwest Which Occurred Between February and March of 1948 and make my job a whole lot easier?
So as I entered college as a freshman, I contemplated what particular kind of movie fanatic to become. Should I don a black turtleneck, drink bitter coffee, and discuss minor films of the New Wave movement, or should I keep a notebook full of loose-leaf paper and direct short movies on the absurdities of college life that attain a cult status on campus?
As the weeks progressed, however, I discovered that, much like in high school, college students like a lot of different movies for a lot of different reasons, so there’s really no one way to be a movie lover. I think everyone can agree that laughter is one of the reasons we watch movies (and a funny movie does sound good around finals!), so I decided, as my first project as a college film buff, to compile a list of five very humorous movies. Lest you think that “good movies” are synonymous with “new movies,” I focused on films made before the year 1990 for this list. So rent these movies, laugh, and enjoy!
Duck Soup (1933). When it comes to old comedians, the Marx Brothers were definitely ahead of their time. It is no wonder that this film hardly made a box-office dent when it was first released but zoomed to popularity in the intellectual 1960’s. Duck Soup, a zany, anarchic film that doubles as an effective satire on politics and war, brims with witty dialogue and puns that come charging at you with rapid speed. Watch it and note how this early form of smart humor influenced comedy routines from Monty Python to Mystery Science Theatre 3000.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952). Of course, Singin’ in the Rain is one of the most beloved musicals of all time. But what differentiates it from other musicals is its ample use of humor, ranging from slapstick (Donald O’Connor’s astonishing “Make ‘Em Laugh” number) to sharp satire on the Hollywood film industry and the reality behind the personas of movie stars (watch for Jean Hagen’s Oscar-nominated performance as a vapid, irritating actress).If anything, the famous twirling-around-a-lamppost dance will make you smile.
Some Like It Hot (1959). Considering the date in which it was made, Billy Wilder’s famed comedy about two men who must disguise themselves as women after witnessing a crime provided a unique (and controversial) alternative to standard comedic fare. The strength of this movie derives not only from great performances by Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, but from the fact that it makes you laugh about everyday situations within the absurd situation it presents. This film also proves that the iconic Marilyn Monroe was a talented comedienne.
Annie Hall (1977). Most romantic comedies are not even remotely funny and ask audiences to believe that two beautiful, impossibly attractive people with high-powered professions in New York City would be single. Hand the genre over to a director like Woody Allen, though, and the film becomes a quirky, witty delight laden with references to pop culture and clever repartee to boot. Moreover, what makes this movie so endearing is that the characters are funny, flawed, and individualistic people we can recognize and identify with.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984). If you were to look up the word “parody” in the dictionary, This Is Spinal Tap would appear (not really, but it should). This spoof of heavy metal bands (Spandex pants-check. Bad hairstyles-check.) and the music industry, shot in documentary style, is so clever and realistic that one could be forgiven for mistaking Spinal Tap for a real 1980’s rock band. It offers a plethora of quotes (how many times have you heard the phrase “up to eleven?”), inside references to actual bands, and you grow to love the dim but sweet Spinal Tap.
