Well, you can cross Summer Heights High off the list. Netflix have pulled it out of respect for BLM.

It's a bummer and while I was never a fan of a show like Little Britain, I really hope these shows don't get the Song of the South treatment.

Jun 10, 2020 17:15:23 GMT Big Pete said:

Well, you can cross Summer Heights High off the list. Netflix have pulled it out of respect for BLM.

It's a bummer and while I was never a fan of a show like Little Britain, I really hope these shows don't get the Song of the South treatment.

How is it disrespectful to BLM?   I don't get it.

Jun 10, 2020 17:23:46 GMT thereallt said:

Jun 10, 2020 17:15:23 GMT Big Pete said:

Well, you can cross Summer Heights High off the list. Netflix have pulled it out of respect for BLM.

It's a bummer and while I was never a fan of a show like Little Britain, I really hope these shows don't get the Song of the South treatment.

How is it disrespectful to BLM?   I don't get it.

Because Lilley portrays a polynesian character and that's disrespectful towards people of colour.

I don't mind pulling these shows for now, but I don't recall the SHH being disrespectful, if anything the character was sympathetic and Lilley's performance was great.

I think it's more guilty by association if anything. In another series Lilley did, he portrayed a Soulja Boy character which was reviled even at the time. I don't have a problem with that show being buried but SHH was one of the most celebrated shows in television history. We may as well cancel every episode of the Simpson that featured Apu while we're at it.

Sooo much to catch up on, and I'm so pissed off by/burned out because of work... that I'm taking a break during the workday to try to get caught up on some of the glorious PW things I've been missing out on and following along solely via the like button.

So glad this thread idea caught fire and generated so much discussion!

First things first, revisiting my initial list of "unbeloved comedies" I'd have to include (in no particular order):
- Masterminds
- Dinner of Schmucks
- 21 Jump Street
- 22 Jump Street (Wife loves this, likes it even more than the original)
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (does this count as a comdey?)
- Couples Retreat
- Four Christmases (hits close to home with both Wife's and my parentses being divorced)
- Robin Hood: Men in Tights (one of Wife's Top 5 favorite movies of all time)
- Birdcage (another one of Wife's Top 5 favorite movies of all time)
- Due Date (felt like a hybrid of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Hangover)
- Hall Pass
- Horrible Bosses
- We're the Millers
- Bad Moms
- A Bad Moms Christmas
- Me, Myself & Irene
etc. etc. etc.

Now let's start scrolling through the thread and multi-quoting/tag-spamming!

=====

First up, Mr. @ness:

Dig Joe Dirt, not sure I'd say I *LOVE* Joe Dirt... but for sure some quotable-as-hell lines/scenes. Dumb & Dumber is in a similar boat for me. Mini story: First time I watched D&D as a little kid, the scene where the bird's head fell off and the scene where Harry gets shot scared the SHIT outta me. As a kid, I was always more in the Ace Ventura and Mask camps... but over time have gravitated more toward D&D and Cable Guy, and appreciate them increasingly. Overall though, when it comes to JC, I'll be a ride-or-die Liar Liar & Truman Show guy for life.

Step Brothers was instant love, has maintained steady status as far as its standing in my mind, and is probably my favorite comedy work from either Farrell or Reilly and/or their joint projects.

CONFESSION: I've never seen Napoleon Dynamite in whole. Wife tried to get me to see it once, we ended up getting "distracted", think the same "distraction" kept happening on subsequent attempts... so I've really just never seen anything beyond clips and gifs. I guess llama musk is an aphrodisiac?

=====

Dr. Emperor:

Never seen or even heard of The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human, but by your description of it... sounds amazing, and definitely worth us checking out. Will update you if we ever do.

Some of our favorite things from Dinner for Schmucks are all of Zach Galifianakis's scenes, the misquoted famous lyrics (reminds me of how much I loved mixed metaphors), and the Swiss dude losing his "wife's favorite finger" during the climax. Wife and I quote "You may say I'm a dreamer... but I'm not" to each other all the time. To the point, we've debated making custom matching T-shirts with hers saying "You May Say I'm a Dreamer" and mine saying "But I'm Not" and then laughing hysterically at the idea of me wearing by shirt out in public without her wearing hers.

=====

UT:

Totally agreed on the subjectivity. I think it's a lot like music too in how much it depends on mood at the moment of viewing too. Also depends how hard other people are sucking a movie's dick too, in my experience... because I have a nasty little spite monster that lives deep down inside me, but has an easy exit escape route to get out and cause havoc whenever the whim strikes him.

ANYWAY...

Your Popstar recommendation was a 100% home run. LOVED it. And while we also enjoyed Borat, Wife and I could not stand Bruno and consequently/subsequently just have up on Sacha Baron Cohen entirely. In a similar vein, Jackass grew thin on me pretty fast to the point that the movies were dumb as hell by the time they came out. Bizarrely enough though, I still enjoy Failblog/FailArmy-type videos. Maybe it's just the fact that those fails are organic and unintentional? I dunno...

Speaking of MTV-originating dumb humor... Never really got or appreciated the Tom Green Show, and yet dug Freddy Got Fingered for whatever reason. Quote the Backwards Man line all the time to this day. Or am I conflating that with memories of Tom Green in Road Trip?

ANYWAY...

Stand-up is a-whole-nother ball o' wax, but as far as movies/TV shows go... I'm with you in enjoying Kevin Hart and not really getting Louis CK.

Onto your double post, I think British humor is just similarly subjective for me as far as being hit and miss. Some British stuff I get and enjoy... other stuff goes over my head. Maybe subsequent posts will jar my memory into recalling specific examples.

Australians as a people and culture are hilarious as hell to me, but I'm blanking on any movies/TV shows from the Outback to reference right now. Does Crocodile Dundee count?

=====

The Monty Python mention cues up some thoughts. It took a while for Holy Grail to grow on me, but I love it more and more the older I get and the more I rewatch. But other Monty Python movies... ehhh, feel like mega slogs to get into. And they don't seem funny. But didn't they have a TV show too? Like a skit show or something similar-ish to SNL? I feel like I recall seeing videos online of like young John Cleese and Hugh Laurie in skits that were actually pretty funny. So I'm guessing it's more just comedy being a hit/miss mixed bag than an American vs. British thing.

Never really gave Simon Pegg's stuff a shot aside from Paul. Liked Paul. So maybe should give Shaun of the Dead, etc. a shot?

=====

WHOA... Can't abide by the anti-Seinfeld stance taken by UT, even if I can acknowledge comedy is subjective. I also love Curb Your Enthusiasm, but don't watch nearly enough to match how much I love of what I've seen.

I'd have to put some though into ranking my favorite funniest actors. That's tough.

More disagreeable takes, as I love Wayne's World and dug Austin Powers (and So I Married an Axe Murderer, and Shrek) -- but Mike Myers has definitely been trending downward over time for me. Still love Wayne's World (sequel included!) though. We reallign on the Taika love. Taika is amazing. Someone I'm absolutely keeping my eye on ever since becoming aware of him thanks to Thor: Ragnarok.

=====

Role Models... thoroughly dug. Would take it over Dude, Where's My Car or any American Pie ten times out of ten (which isn't to say I dislike DWMYC or the AP series).

Another confession: never seen Dirty Work, and always confuse it with Screwed... which I have seen, and liked.

LOVE The Proposal and Waiting. Never seen the Waiting sequel. You forgot Van Wilder! Loved the first. Second, not so much.

=====

thereallt joins the conversation, and I'm as hit and miss with Mr. Bean as I am with Monty Python.

Agree on 80's Eddie Murphy being fucking hilarious. Post-80's Eddie Murphy has moments of greatness too, IMO. Bowfinger and Life jump to mind. And that Hercules dinner table scene from Nutty Professor feels all-time great still to me.

=====

I'm losing steam, getting pulled back into work...

TO BE CONTINUED!

Coming back to this...

=====

Shootist with a good point about British stand up over movies or TV when it comes to comedy. Think I might throw myself into that boat. Love Jimmy Carr and Ricky Gervais, for instance.

=====

I think I saw some of Blackadder, AbFab, and Faulty Towers in college. They were... OK, but not wildly funny either. Maybe just a bad sample size?

Never heard of Peepshow, but Dr. Emperor does a good sell job with his description. Chalk that up as two intriguing prescriptions from the Good Doctor.

And then I just read how Doc Emp says he didn't make it sound very appealing... But I disagree. I think I like cringe humor? I might thrive on it even in my real life person to person interactions.

=====

Alright, rad's turn...

Agree to disagree on the following as needed:
- Walk Hard is underrated
- Old School is overrated
- Talladega Nights was overrated at first, but has grown on me over time
- Step Brothers is the best of the lot
(@ness, get PW News to confirm)

I watched Don't Be a Menace when I was way too young to get it, so didn't like it, and have never thought to circle back. Overall, I think Wayans are more hit for me than miss... So maybe I should revisit now.

Observe & Report sounded vaguely familiar, but then Big Pete & balls discussing it got me really confused... Like is it not a comedy? But then here you are comparing it to Paul Blart. Which was... Not so great. Unsure if I desire to check this one out, BUT. Speaking of Seth Rogan, I'd take The Interview ten times outta ten over Pineapple Express.

You & UT with the Seinfeld hate blows my mind. How can anyone hate Seinfeld!? Then again, I never saw the appeal of Big Bang Theory. With ya on That 70's Show though. Loved it. At least early seasons. Red & Kitty were my faves. Red was/is my dad, PI3. Just swap being a Korean vet with being a Nam vet.

=====

UT, I've never heard of Longshot. Pimp harder!

=====

Big Pete, if we're going favorite Rogan role it has to be either his cameo in Step Brothers OR him dominating as the perfect foil for gorgeous Zac Efron in Neighbors & Neighbors 2. Which reminds me, Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates... Needs more love. So good.

Holy shit... A Sam Rockwell/Jermaine Clements colab?! I'm all in. Love them both. A sci-fi send up reminds me of another beloved fave of mine and Wife's: Galaxy Quest. Sooo good!

Meanwhile, ashamed to admit it, but never checked out Flight of the Conchords... Don't know why. I presume I'd enjoy it?

I too hated Kung Pow upon my first (and only) watch. Are you suggesting I need to re-watch?

Happy to give you a secondary high.

=====

To be continued again!

Meatloaf isn't warm, so... Continuing to catch up!

=====

OK, getting hard to keep up with all this talk of British and Australian TV shows.

Skimming and skipping ahead. Sorry not sorry, ya limey bastards!

With iron maiden on loving John Cleese though!

=====

And then Baker-man continues to confuse me. I wonder if he caught a late series episode of That 70's Show? Because that shit is understandably pure shit. Then again, he does hate Office Space and Dodgeball... So...

Still practicing that heel turn, I guess.

=====

Strobe touching on interesting points per usual.

I too can't stand when they try to verbatim translate a successful British series into an American version. Gotta Americanize it, or else it just feels forced and inorganic. Otherwise, leave it straight up British.

Oh shit, good shout on OG Arrested Development and it being neck and neck with The Wire. I could get behind that stance. Loved OG AD.

Simpsons I loved as a kid but fell out on over time. I blame Wife, but also doesn't help they've been around FOREVER. How do you not overstay your welcome over 30+ years!? If WWE can't hold me that long... Presumably nothing can.

Shit, what? No! Not you too, Strobe - with the Seinfeld hate!? George Costanza is quite possibly the greatest TV character to ever exist.

Strobe redeems himself with an EXCELLENT shout on Kingpin. I 100% agree on it being the best roles/performances for both Murray and Harrelson. Even Quaid, tbh.

Man, I really resented that Judd Apatow run in real time. Virgin (good), Superbad (best), Knocked Up (meh), Forgetting Sarah Marshall (alright), Pineapple Express (meh), Step Brothers (great), Funny People (worst), Get Him to the Greek (best surprise). Agree on Walk Hard being underrated. Same for Semi Pro.

I've never really explored the Best in Show/Christopher Guest gang's stuff, but wonder if I'd like it as I've recently been discovering I love Eugene Levy's Schitt's Creek TV show.

=====

To be continued again!

A big thing I forgot to mention and something we could maybe even make a completely entirely different thread for, butttt....

Movies so bad that they're good.

I have a personal holy trinity, though I admit one of the three is lackluster and pretty overrated these days: The Room, Troll 2 and Miami Connection. The Room has definitely aged poorly and is a chore to sit through anymore, really, but it's so culturally and personally relevant in this sense that I still keep it listed there for the time being. I highly suggest watching Troll 2 and Miami Connection if you haven't; they're the pinnacle of golden trash.

Jun 7, 2020 14:08:07 GMT UT said:

That 70's Show is a great shout rad , that show was brilliant for a solid 5 or 6 seasons. It fell off a cliff but criminally underrated in terms of great sitcoms.

Observe and Report is a solid shout too.

Still need to pimp Longshot , it's gotten good reviews but not sure it's hit the rounds yet. Love that fucking movie.

It's all Randy Pearson's fault. Fucking hate that guy. Hyde's porn-stache, also. And don't even get me started on Fez + Jackie -- Get the fuck outta here with that nonsense. Not only that, but Fez turns Jackie down at first? Fantasy land bullshit. Anyone out of Fan Fic could have wrote a better final season. But yeah, I really blame Randy Pearson... I'll never forgive Josh Meyers Cousin Oliver-ass.

I haven't watched Longshot yet but seeing that Rogan's in it I'll definitely have to give it a watch.

Jun 7, 2020 14:54:11 GMT Emperor said:

Mighty Boosh is absolute trash, and I never got the hype for Shaun of the Dead or any of the Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright brand of comedy.

rad gave a shoutout to Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. Even in the UK this show is ultra-obscure, yet I come across a surprising number of foreigners who are aware of the show. No idea how. Maybe it's the Richard Ayoade link from IT Crowd, a much more popular show. Anyway, great show.

I can't even tell you how I stumbled onto it at first, possibly through a friend? That's funny that over here on the other side of the pond we may have more love for it than even the Brits themselves. I love the outside scenes that are clearly model hospitals; adds to the goofiness and makes me feel like I'm watching some wacky, twisted British version of Mr. Rogers or Davey & Goliath. Definitely underrated in my book.

Not sure who said it but Mighty Boosh really declines after Season 1/2. It's not a perfect show for me, hit or miss even sometimes. But I'll defend Shaun of the Dead to my dying days. Hot Fuzz is hot trash though, and Ed is... well, fucking Ed.

Jun 8, 2020 4:02:54 GMT Baker said:

I always pop when rad returns to PW. I've viewed him as our Terry Funk for a long time. He's not around much, but he always delivers the goods when he is here. Then I saw this....

Terry Funk of PW. That's fucking awesome.

Jun 8, 2020 4:02:54 GMT Baker said:

To further heat up this burgeoning blood feud, I can't stand That 70s Show. 0/10. Would not watch again.

Heel turn = complete, lol. Seinfeld is the cut-off point for me and Gen-X it seems. I often feel like I'm not too far behind them because I grew up as a kid in the 90's and ended up loving a lot of the music and media from that time period, but then they bring up Seinfeld and shit gets real.

For the record -- Kramer was awesome until he went all Randy Marsh in the comedy club. He was half the reason I ever watched that show, I forgot to say.

Jun 9, 2020 11:44:15 GMT Emperor said:

Parks and Recreation overtook Peep Show as my favourite sitcom. I'm on the final season now;. It's just brilliant, practically flawless, and every character is amazing. Lionheart thinks it's a poor man's The Office. Never seen that, so I wouldn't know. Brooklyn 99 has that goofy SNL-vibe to it which I normally find off-putting, but for me reason I quite like this particular show.

THANK YOU. I was so mad at myself for not even mentioning it...

I've literally watched P&R five times through, twice with my current girlfriend. It never gets old for me. I just so happened to be watching NBC about a month or two ago and geeked out when they did the Coronavirus-aid get-together and we got to hear "Lil' Sebastian" live one more time.

I still miss him in the saddest fashion, DAMMIT!!! It's the other way around btw: The Office is the poor man's Parks & Rec.

Another one I forgot to mention was mXc, the original and much superior version of Wipeout. I found it the other day on one of the free TV apps on my Roku and about had a damn heart attack of nostalgia. Found Crank Yankers, too -- I've been in mid-2000's comedic heaven lately.

Somebody remind me to come back to this thread if I don't post again in it tonight. I have lots of opinions! But first I need to speed along PW's Favorite Wrestler Countdown.

A big thing I forgot to mention and something we could maybe even make a completely entirely different thread for, butttt....

Movies so bad that they're good.

I have a personal holy trinity, though I admit one of the three is lackluster and pretty overrated these days: The Room, Troll 2 and Miami Connection. The Room has definitely aged poorly and is a chore to sit through anymore, really, but it's so culturally and personally relevant in this sense that I still keep it listed there for the time being. I highly suggest watching Troll 2 and Miami Connection if you haven't; they're the pinnacle of golden trash.

Give Manos:The Hands of Fate a watch. It makes The Room look like an art house film.

My personal king of bad movies though is this

Jun 11, 2020 1:23:31 GMT Baker said:

Somebody remind me to come back to this thread if I don't post again in it tonight. I have lots of opinions! But first I need to speed along PW's Favorite Wrestler Countdown.

Reminder!

I too hated Kung Pow upon my first (and only) watch. Are you suggesting I need to re-watch?

Absolutely not.  :lol:

I just enjoy the Zucker Brother gag a minute comedies and Kung Pow is so unapologetic that it was a gutbuster...when I was younger. I haven't thought about the movie in years, but a well-timed reference will usually get a pop.

Speaking of mediocre comedy movies!

Ready To Rumble is a guilty pleasure. A lot of wrestling fans hated it because it 'disrespected' the business but it's like a low effort Wayne's World with a fun support cast. Rose McGowan is smokin, I constantly think of that Martin Landau line 'Sal Houdini wanna wrestle' and Melanie Paxson was Wife material. If I ever feel nostalgic for 1999, it works as a nice time capsule.

Another movie that fits that vibe is Scooby Doo. I remember being pleasantly surprised this was like an Addams Family style adaptation and not just a straight Scooby Doo mystery. It had that time capsule appeal to it, but it also has a great cast as well. Matthew Lillard was born to play Shaggy and Linda Cardallini as Velma gave everybody a nerd fetish. Apparently it was based on a James Gunn script which made sense and I was all in on the Scrappy Doo bashing. It was also filmed on the Gold Coast, so like the Condemned and Daybreakers it gets that local bonus.

Jun 11, 2020 2:29:41 GMT 🤯 said:

Jun 11, 2020 1:23:31 GMT Baker said:

Somebody remind me to come back to this thread if I don't post again in it tonight. I have lots of opinions! But first I need to speed along PW's Favorite Wrestler Countdown.

Reminder!

Baker-man!

Never seen half baked.

Surprising maybe? I know.

Jim Breuer or however you spell it is one on my "OK as standup only" guys.

I forgot about Blockers being this good and heartfelt

But it's on right now

And John Cena is a more talented actor than Hulk Hogan.

Rock and Batista, TBD

Half Baked is getting in my top 30 for 100. Looooooove that shit, although it's been many years since I've seen it.

I liked Blockers in a 1 and done sorta way.

Cena as an actor. WAS SO DISAPPOINTED he only had a cameo in Daddy's Home 2. Wanted more of the interaction there.

Ted 1 & 2
Probably don't get nearly as much love as they deserve. Mark Walhberg is a very underrated comedic actor. 

And even Family Guy stirs up some heated debate on whether the show is good or not. The early seasons justify why the show was cancelled, but after it's revival, there's some gold in there. 

Jun 11, 2020 23:55:56 GMT @ness said:

Half Baked is getting in my top 30 for 100. Looooooove that shit, although it's been many years since I've seen it.

I liked Blockers in a 1 and done sorta way.

Cena as an actor. WAS SO DISAPPOINTED he only had a cameo in Daddy's Home 2. Wanted more of the interaction there.

He's the best part of Trainwreck

Also, Baker, last reminder

Jun 12, 2020 3:04:22 GMT 🤯 said:

Also, Baker , last reminder

lol Thank you, sir. You are truly a scholar and a gentleman. I won't forget to chime in. But not right now. Gotta finish my Brock write up first.

Jun 12, 2020 3:08:11 GMT Baker said:

Jun 12, 2020 3:04:22 GMT 🤯 said:

Also, Baker , last reminder

lol Thank you, sir. You are truly a scholar and a gentleman. I won't forget to chime in. But not right now. Gotta finish my Brock write up first.

Acceptable excuse. I shouldn't throw stones. Glass house, n'at.

I find different senses of humour fascinating, especially with demographics.

I’ll see so many boomers post stuff like this and I’ll roll my eyes




Meanwhile my friend sent me this and I couldn’t stop laughing






I thought Freddy Got Fingered was hilarious, Eric Andre’s new movie “Bad Trip” is hilarious and sadly got swept under the rug due to Covid19.

Oh yes. Impractical Jokers,

Jun 13, 2020 16:27:24 GMT UT said:

Oh yes. Impractical Jokers,

Someone interrupted you mid thought? :lol:

Jun 13, 2020 18:08:14 GMT Emperor said:

Jun 13, 2020 16:27:24 GMT UT said:

Oh yes. Impractical Jokers,

Someone interrupted you mid thought? :lol:

No my phone decided for me that’s all I needed to post. Then I was too lazy to go back and edit it.

Impractical Jokers is consistently some of the best comedy out there though. A credit to the guys to bring they to a pretty dated style.

Just found out Problem Child has a 0 on Rotten Tomatoes...the fools.

Jun 11, 2020 1:14:42 GMT rad said:

But I'll defend Shaun of the Dead to my dying days. Hot Fuzz is hot trash though

I love Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (and Spaced while we're at it) and find it hard to separate them. See them as a package of greatness and The World's End is just good and no more. I think Hot Fuzz might have one of the elite scripts of any film, nearly everything is set up and paid-off beautifully.

I just rewatched a film that I hadn't seen in over 10 years and did not remember much of - Top Secret! This is another that is more in the overlooked category. It is the film that ZAZ did after Airplane! and Police Squad! (the TV series pre-cursor to The Naked Gun) and it is not far away from those classics. Val Kilmer makes his film debut and is great, showing such presence and star quality. So many funny lines, sight gags and a few scenes that are more ambitious than anything else I've ever seen from them. It is just so wonderfully bizarre as well. Val Kilmer is essentially Elvis, who has Beach Boys-like hits about skeet shooting, and ends up joining the French Resistance for a World War II movie escape plan inside East Germany, which somehow seems to be run by the Nazis.




Then you just have this fantastic scene that was shot backwards, with the joke being that Swedish sounds like backwards talking, and you can't help but wonder if it influenced David Lynch's black lodge scenes in Twin Peaks.



Fun fact: the cast of Peter Cushing's face that was taken to make his giant eye here was what was scanned in to allow them to make the CGI version of him for Rogue One.