The Funniest American Comedies


   

The laughDB database is dedicated to the funniest comedy movies, stand-up comedy and TV series.

This section is for comedies from the USA. By default they are presented starting with the ones ranking highest on the laugh-o-meter, but you can also sort them by year, title or IMDB rating.


Funniest American Comedies sorted by Laugh-o-meter (descending) / page 16 of 25


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Jim Gaffigan Quality Time posterJim Gaffigan: Quality Time
      2019 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 7.6
      who was involved?

Although this show was entertaining to me, like all of Jim's sets that I've watched, I found it below his usual par. There were two reasons for that: (i) much of the early material seems to be recycled from previous shows, and (ii) the second half of the set features a long section with an endless series of jokes about horses. Jim himself acknowledged that this wasn't great material. Since he left it in, he must have had nothing better to fill the time, which bodes poorly for years to come —unless Jim returns to a more reasonable release rate: one tape a year really seems to be too much for him, or for any comedian for that matter.

All this being said, I was still more entertained than with much contemporary stand-up that comes my way, so please don't let this tepid review dissuade you.

(Last viewed: March 2020)

More About Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time:
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Fast Times at Ridgemont High posterFast Times at Ridgemont High
      1982 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This comedy explores the attitudes of a San Diego high school's pupils to relationships, drugs, study, work—and surfing. Although I found the movie funny, it didn't really make me laugh. But that's alright. First, for anyone who was approximately that age in the 1980s, the texture is a delight. Second, you'll recognize young actors who went on to have a long Hollywood career. The character of Sean Penn as a dopehead surfie dude might by itself make the movie worth a watch. (Last viewed: June 2017)

More About Fast Times at Ridgemont High:
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Ode to Joy posterOde to Joy
      2019 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Chuckle) | imdb: 6.4
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Prone to fainting when he experiences strong emotions, a man has managed to keep amorous relationship at bay from his life — until a woman decides they should go out.

Although on a comedy level the movie is rather bland, it's by no means hard to watch and will probably make you smile just enough to keep you awake if you have nothing better on your list for the evening.

(Last viewed: November 2020)

More About Ode to Joy:
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      laughDB's full page for Ode to Joy


Buffaloed posterBuffaloed
      2019 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A young lady tries to be the biggest scammer among the scammers. It was probably well-intentioned, but the main protagonist's shrill voice and acting didn't convince me, although I did manage to crack a few smiles and leave the tape on until the end.

(Last viewed: July 2020)

More About Buffaloed:
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Lost in AmericaLost in America
      1985 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 7.0
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A well-off advertising executive and his wife liquidate their assets to go "find themselves" by touring the United States in a mobile home. This isn't one of these comedies that make you laugh out loud, but I found the film funny and attaching. The authentic 1980s texture also appealed to me. It's a shame Albert Brooks has only directed a handful of movies. (Last viewed: August 2015)

More About Lost in America:
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      laughDB's full page for Lost in America


Cedar Rapids DVDCedar Rapids
      2011 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A naive insurance salesman who has never left his hometown finds himself having to swim with the sharks at a conference in the big smoke—Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This movie is more of a light-hearted take on middle-class working life in middle America than a "proper comedy" in the laugh-out-loud sense. It did not really make us laugh, but we enjoyed it. (Last viewed: May 2012)

More About Cedar Rapids:
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Detroit Rock City posterDetroit Rock City
      1999 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Chuckle) | imdb: 6.9
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

Four teenagers must defeat impossible odds to travel to Detroit to watch their favorite band. The cast was good, the plot was tight by comedy standards, the pacing was excellent. I don't think I laughed, but I was definitely entertained. Thumbs up!

(Last viewed: January 2019)

More About Detroit Rock City:
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Friday DVDFriday
      1995 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 7.3
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A day in the neighborhood of an African-American man who has just lost his job and gets caught in a misunderstanding over two hundred dollars a friend of his owes to a dope dealer. Apart from the slow start, I sometimes found it hard to watch because the shrill voices of two of the characters were hard on my ears—but it's a good movie. It's often fun and occasionally funny, but certainly not a laugh-out-loud comedy. More of an interesting watch with strong characters, where the humor makes the drama more bearable, in the footsteps of Do the Right Thing six years earlier. (Last viewed: September 2012)

More About Friday:
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      laughDB's full page for Friday


Heavyweights DVDHeavyweights
      1995 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 6.7
      wikipedia | who was involved?

A Summer camp where overweight kids normally have a great time turns into hell when a new owner bent on promoting his weight-loss program takes over. I like Ben Stiller when he plays nice guys (as in Meet the Parents), but I don't enjoy his performance when he plays nasty roles, which he too often does. There's nothing wrong with watching this movie once if you're in the mood for light entertainment. The kids are fun and there's a lot of smiling—but no laughing, at least for me. In the Summer camp movie category, Meatballs is probably an upgrade, as would be Wet Hot American Summer. (Last viewed: September 2012)

More About Heavyweights:
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      laughDB's full page for Heavyweights


Ted posterTed
      2012 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 6.9
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Since childhood, a grown man has been best friends with his teddy bear, who came to life when he made a wish long ago. The incredibly crass teddy bear is now becoming a wedge between the man and his girlfriend. This was a good idea (maybe), and if the idea of a foul-mouthed teddy bear is all you need to stay entertained for the length of a movie, you will love this. I laughed once and smiled a good deal, but overall this formula didn't really work for me. (Last viewed: June 2015)

More About Ted:
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      laughDB's full page for Ted


A Christmas Story DVDA Christmas Story
      1983 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 7.9
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

This family classic is a charming, enjoyable watch, but if you're expecting hard laughs you'll be disappointed. Desperate to receive a "Red Rider BB gun" at Christmas, a boy makes clumsy attempts to convince the adult figures who are determined to keep him away from a dangerous toy. The literate voice-over narration by the boy's grown-up version contrasts delightfully with the boy's inept efforts to express himself. Well worth a watch. (Last viewed: June 2013)

More About A Christmas Story:
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      laughDB's full page for A Christmas Story


Scrooged DVDScrooged
      1988 | USA | Laughs: 3.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 7.0
      wikipedia | who was involved?

I love Bill Murray, and you see a lot of Bill Murray in Scrooged. But for most of the movie, Bill looks like he's wondering "What am I doing in this movie?" It was very loud. I laughed once. Do yourself a favor and skip this one. (Last viewed: December 2011)

More About Scrooged:
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      laughDB's full page for Scrooged


Three Fugitives DVDThree Fugitives
      1989 | USA | Laughs: 2.9 (Just Awful) | imdb: 6.2
      wikipedia | dmoz | who was involved?

A terrible remake of the decent 1986 French comedy The Fugitives for North-American audiences—by the original director, Francis Veber, who has committed the best (The Dinner Game) and worst of comedies. On the very day of his release from a five-year jail term, a hardened bank robber (Nick Nolte) gets taken hostage by an inept amateur. Nick Nolte is a poor replacement for Gérard Depardieu, but at least he has a presence… Whereas in comparison to Pierre Richard (a wonderful "clown"), the amateur robber is a big zero. (Last viewed: April 2012)

More About Three Fugitives:
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      laughDB's full page for Three Fugitives


Between Two Ferns: The Movie posterBetween Two Ferns: The Movie
      2019 | USA | Laughs: 2.8 (Chuckle) | imdb: 6.1
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This mockumentary purports to document a road trip undertaken by Zack Galifianakis and his crew to save his TV show, whose trademark is the obnoxious manner in which he interviews celebrities. Nothing to write home about, but made me smile.

(Last viewed: October 2019)

More About Between Two Ferns: The Movie:
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After Hours posterAfter Hours
      1985 | USA | Laughs: 2.8 (Chuckle) | imdb: 7.7
      wikipedia | who was involved?

When After Hours came out, it was marketed in a way that didn't appeal to me. But it's one of those movies that are worth waiting 35 years for. First, it doesn't show its age. Second, I'm sure I enjoyed it more than I would have in 1985, thanks in no small part to my pathological nostalgia for the 1980s, which were home to all of my teenage years.

This is a New York movie, and its plot is an exemplary sample of the "impossible chase" scenario. A young man goes downtown around midnight, and gets caught into a spiderweb of impossible situations from which his only desire is to escape and go home.

It's not very funny at first, and the movie certainly doesn't fit into the laugh-out-loud genre, but I found myself chuckling more and more as events get increasingly ridiculous and the main character keeps battling on, with bravado, to get to the end of that impossible night.

If you're younger I have no idea what you might think of it, but if you're at all open to watching a movie that predates the internet and the mobile phone, I'd suggest giving it a try. It was, after all, directed by Martin Scorcese, and I say that even though I've never been one of his unconditional fans.

(Last viewed: December 2019)

More About After Hours:
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      laughDB's full page for After Hours


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