7 Funniest Films of the 21st Century

Lists

30 Dec

There’s no better form of escapism than watching a film, and there’s no better type of film that achieves that than comedies. We have an innate desire to feel sadness, horror and shock in films, but perhaps the best feelings a film can offer is glee from a consistency of humour. Assuredly, a great deal of comedies that have come out of the 21st century so far are packed with laughs and talented actors. Since humour is arguably the most subjective film genre, every list will contain titles that will bore you or make you cringe. However, given the variety of comedies we’ve been blessed with over the last twenty years, you can rest assured that at least one of these films will get you wheezing, whether it be because of silly slapstick humour, pitch black comedy, American humour, British humour, or talented casts.

Game Night (2018)

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams’ comedic duo deliver laugh after laugh as their characters, Max and Annie, attempt to find Max’s brother - whom they originally thought was kidnapped as part of a staged murder mystery game night. The plotline itself offers opportunity for humour-packed situations, which the directors deliver with fast-paced and fun comedy taking place over a single night. The game night motif is kept throughout the film, with Max and Annie’s friends competitively working against each other to find the brother. Through clever directing, the filmmakers pack multiple game references throughout the film; like when they play “hot potato” with a faberge egg and “operation” as Annie attempts to remove a bullet from Max’s back. It’s like watching a group of people playing a game with real-life, extreme consequences that only get worse as they get closer to uncovering the “mystery”.

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Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgendy (2004)

Will Ferell’s knack for silly humour shines as an anchorman who becomes infatuated with an uninterested anchorwoman. His arrogance and ego make for hilarious gags as he attempts to win her over in ways that only ensure failure and humiliation. The massive supporting cast of comedic talent - Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Christina Applegate, Fred Armisen, and Seth Rogen - set the bar for these gags as top-notch.

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In Bruges (2008)

One of the milestones of comedic genius is the ability to blend depressingly bleak themes with hilarious comedy, which is what Martin McDonagh’s black comedy In Bruges achieves. After a job goes sideways, hitmen Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) hideout in a Belgian city. Heavy themes of morality, fate, and remorse are balanced with hilarious experiences after Ken is told by his boss to kill Ray. Colin Farell deliveres McDonagh’s clever and witty dialogue brilliantly as a sarcastic pessimist, which is contsnatlty clashing with the positivity of Ken.

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Mean Girls (2004)

Directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey, Mean Girls masterfully satarises the pressures of high school. When Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) joins a clique of shallow and popular girls called the Plastics, she starts conspiring with another group to sabotage their image. From putting foot cream in Regina George’s (Rachel McAdams) facial cream to tricking her into eating chocolate bars that cause extreme weight gain, the many successes and failures of this plan bring about a hilarious viewing experience. The way the Plastics’ brattiness reacts to these situations is what elevates the comedy.

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Shaun of The Dead (2004)

What makes Edgar Wright’s films stand out from many modern comedies is his talent for comedic directing. Many comedies feel like actors simply doing funny things on screen while reusing the same directing tropes (like a pop song playing over a montage of the city the film takes place in despite it having nothing to do with the story). Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead uses creative montages, cuts, and camera angles to create a film of pure comedic brilliance. The other thing that separates Shaun of The Dead from other comedies is that it uses typical rom-com tropes but places them in an absurd situation where zombies have taken over. It’s often said that American comedy comes from eccentric people in normal situations, while British comedy is normal people in eccentric situations - which makes this clash of everyday problems with a zombie apocalypse the epitome of British humour. Despite all the films strengths, it wouldn’t feel complete without the hilarious duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost create.

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Superbad (2007)

Most people can relate to the struggles of getting alcohol underaged, but the best comedies exaggerate relatable situations to create humour. Superbad achieves this through Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan’s (Michael Cera) journey to get their hands on some alcohol, which lands them in situations more troubling than the ones before. What makes a comedy movie stand out from mediocrity are memorable side characters. Officer Michaels (Seth Rogen) and Officer Slater (Bill Hader) are certainly memorable as cops who prefer fun over protecting the law.

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The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

A list about comedy films wouldn’t be complete without at least one film directed by Judd Apatow. He changed the face of comedy films during the early 2000s by giving talented actors the opportunity to improvise rather than relying solely on a script. This proves effective in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, where Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, and Elizabeth Banks deliver their characters hilariously in awkward situations. Rather than simply being a crass and unfunny sex-comedy, The 40-Year-Old Virgin has something to say while still maintaining a continuous flow of laughs.

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