Outrageous Comedies for a Rainy Day

Role Models

First off, if you were a teenager in the 90s, the fact that The State is so heavily involved in this movie will be enough for you to enjoy it. If you were not a teenager during that time period, then sit back, relax, and enjoy a movie full of awkward moments and foul mouthed advice. Don’t go in expecting Shakespeare, just expect to laugh

Anchor Man

If you’re a lover of movie quotes, than you’ll love this movie. “I’m kind of a big deal.” Speaking of San Diego – “Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale’s vagina.” And then there’s my personal favorite “The arsonist has oddly shaped feet”. It’s an offbeat comedy that doesn’t apologize for being offbeat. It’s fantastic.

Ghost Busters

The original baby! Any time you get a chance to see Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd in the same movie, you do it. Granted, I haven’t seen this movie since I finished puberty, but my prepubescence was filled with laughs provided by the Ghost Busters.

Blues Brothers

While we’re on the kick of ex-Saturday Night Live stars in very funny movies, let’s go with The Blues Brothers. Jake and Elwood will keep you rolling, unintentionally of course. Their on a mission from God, and that’s all you need to know about the subject. I still get giddy when I see a couple of men dressed all in black with black hats and sunglasses.

Blazing Saddles

“Excuse me while I whip this out”. I’ve never been big on the ending and I’m not a huge fan of the song sequence, “I’m tired”, but overall, it keeps you laughing and it’s a good rental. Not to mention, Gene Wilder makes a really cute drunk.

Space Balls

Maybe it’s generational. Maybe it’s because I was one of the many children that grew up on the Skywalker legend. Maybe it’s because I’ve always harbored a crush on Darth Vader. I’m just not sure, but this is one of the funniest Mel Brooks films I’ve ever seen. They had me at Pizza The Hut.

Friday

Chris Tucker makes this movie. He is the reason to watch it again and again and again, as many of us have. “You got knocked the _____ out!”. I recommend watching it on Friday, right around 4:20 if you can.

Airplane

You cannot mention farce without delving into Airplane. This is Leslie Nielsen at his best. “And don’t call me Shirley”. Really, this is a full cast effort. I hate to say it, but I do quote Lloyd Bridges very frequently, “I chose the wrong day to give up sniffing glue”. If you don’t laugh at him or his very ebulant assistant, you at least have to laugh at Barbara Billinglsey talking jive.

Groundhog Day

This is one comedy I can watch again and again. It’s so well constructed that it’s frequently taught in film schools. I’ve had to read the screenplay twice for assignments. It’s one of the best constructed comedies there is.

Beetlejuice

I’m a sucker for comedies about death. Also, this is one of the few movies with a dance sequence that I thoroughly enjoy. Not to mention, being attacked by sculpture, out of sight. All I have to say is “Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!”

A Mighty Wind

I may be alone in this, but this is my favorite of the Christopher Guest movies. I think it’s because it’s such an ensemble piece and also because Eugene Levy’s character is so out there. I could watch him play that cracked out exhippie all day.

I know I’ve missed a ton of comedies. There were a few personal favorites I felt a little shy about gushing over. “Seems Like Old Times,” and “Caddyshack” are just two I could’ve spent multiple paragraphs on. This is just a spattering, a small taste of good movies to rent when you have some time to kill indoors. Feel free to let me know your favs as well.