Expert: Barbara L. Baker - 1/20/2005

Question
Dear Prof. Baker,

My name is John Tummino.  I am an 11 year old boy.  I have the same interest in comedies as you (I love black comedy and political comedy and Brooks and Allan are hilarious).  Can you give me a list of some really funny movies (I don't care from what time period, just not silent ones).

Thanks,
John Tummino

Answer
Dear John:  First, thanks for your inquiry. You seem very bright for an 11 year old boy, and I'll try to answer your question as best I can (keeping in mind that what is funny to a person often depends on personal tastes, etc.).  The professor in me does urge you to give silent movies another chance (maybe when you are older), as some are quite funny.  

I'm limiting this list to U.S. movies, although some foreign comedies also are very funny.  I'm not sure what you have available in your area, so I'm including quite a few, listed in alphabetical order.  As you will see, in addition to satire, black comedy, etc., I also enjoy "stupid" comedy (slapstick and farce).

Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (1994)
Airplane! (1980)
American Pie (1999, although your parents may think it a bit too risque for your age)
Animal Crackers (1930; the Marx Brothers)
Antz (1998--a different role for Woody Allen!)
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944; black comedy)
Army of Darkness (1993)
Back to the Future (1985)
Bad Santa (2003; black comedy, but you probably should be older to see it since it is rated R)
Bananas (1971)
Beetlejuice (1988)
The Big Lebowski (1998, but again, you may need to be older)
Blazing Saddles (1974; but also R rated)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Bruce Almighty (2003, but again, may be too "adult")
Caddyshack (1980)
Cat Ballou (1965)
Cool Runnings (1993)
The Court Jester (1956)
Dr. Strangelove (1964; satire & black comedy)
Duck Soup (1933, the Marx Brothers)
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Ghostbusters (1984)
The Graduate (1967, but you might need to be older to really appreciate it)
Gremlins (1984)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Harold and Maude (1972)
High Anxiety (1977--Mel Brooks satire of Hitchcock films, so it helps if you've seen some of those)
Home Alone (1990)
Horse Feathers (1932, more Marx Brothers)
The Jerk (1979)
The Lady Eve (1941)
Liar, Liar (1997)
Love and Death (1975: Woody Allen, but it helps if you've read Russian novels and seen Bergman films)
M.A.S.H. (1970)
Men in Black (1997)
Mr. Mom (1983)
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
The Naked Gun (1988)
The Nutty Professor (either the original in 1963 or the 1996 remake)
The Pink Panther (1964)
Play it Again, Sam (1972; more Woody Allen, it helps if you've seen Casablanca)
The President's Analyst (1967; a political satire)
The Princess Bride (1987)
The Producers (1968; Mel Brooks)
The Road to Morocco (1942)
Ruthless People (1986)
School of Rock (2003)
A Shot in the Dark (1964)
Shrek (2002)
Sleeper 1973; Woody Allen)
Some Like it Hot (195)
Spaceballs (1987; Brooks again)
Stay Tuned (1992)
The Thin Man (1934)
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Tommy Boy (1995)
Toy Story (1995)
Twins (1988)
What's up, Doc? (1972)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Young Frankenstein (1974; more Mel Brooks)

This is not a full list of films I find funny, but I did laugh at all these.  I am aware of your age, which limited me somewhat (Because you said you like black comedy and political comedy, I did include some films geared to older audiences, but I have no idea if you can watch them, or if you should watch them!).  Also, I find a lot of British films very funny, not just Monty Python (but I do like them, too).