Are you looking for some new funny movies to make you laugh and take the edge off the daily grind? If so, I’ve put together a list of six films from 2010, all guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. Pop one of these into your DVD or Blu-ray player, and you’ll soon forget about all your responsibilities back in the real world.
Death at a Funeral – A remake of the 2007 British film, Death at a Funeral centers on two brothers (Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock) dealing with the death of their father. A whole cast of eccentrics show up for the funeral, including a guy (James Marsden) who accidentally took a hallucinogenic drug. But the topper is when a little person (Peter Dinklage reprising his role from the original) shows up, claims to be the secret lover of the deceased, and then tries to blackmail the family. The all-star cast includes Tracy Morgan, Danny Glover, Luke Wilson, Keith David, Zoe Saldana, and Regina Hall.
Date Night – Steve Carell and Tina Fey are a boring married couple who leave the suburbs and head into the city for a night out together. When they steal a no-show couple’s reservation at a restaurant, they soon find themselves held at gunpoint due to a case of mistaken identity. With nowhere else to turn, they seek help from a frequently shirtless security consultant (Mark Wahlberg) and slowly piece together a conspiracy involving a city official and a local crime boss. James Franco and Mila Kunis are outstanding in their brief appearance as a trashy and totally-in-love couple.
Lottery Ticket – After he wins the lottery, a young man (Bow Wow) must wait until after the July 4th weekend to claim his money. But when his neighbors find out, he’s forced to dodge everything from physical violence to seduction in order to keep his winning ticket worth $370 million. Also starring Ice Cube, Keith David, Naturi Naughton, Terry Crews, and Mike Epps.
Despicable Me – In this computer-animated tale, Steve Carell provides the voice of Gru, a supervillain who’s seen his better days. Resolving to steal the Moon, he gets three orphan girls to help him with his scheme. But something happens along the way, and the former bad guy finds himself growing attached to the adorable tots. Also featuring the voices of Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, Russell Brand, and Jason Segal.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story – After considering suicide, a 16-year-old kid (Keir Gilchrist) checks himself into a hospital for a one-week stay. While coming to grips with his fears and anxieties, he grows close to a number of patients, including a stressed-out father (Zach Galifianakis) and a teenager with a penchant for self-mutilation (Emma Roberts). While it may not sound like it, the film does a fine job of mixing serious subject matter with laugh-out-loud comedy.
Jackass 3D – Based on the popular MTV series starring Johnny Knoxville, this gross-out comedy begins with an introduction from Beavis and Butt-head, so you know it’s got to be good. The entire cast from the previous films returns, and they brave side-splitting pranks and stunts such as playing tether ball with an active beehive, using super glue to take off chest hair, pulling out a tooth with a Lamborghini, and launching Steve-O into the air inside a full port-a-potty. You may feel the urge to vomit at several points throughout the film, but fans of the series should eagerly come back for another helping of irreverent humor.
New funny movies come out all the time, so be sure to keep an eye on your favorite film website for the latest details. In the meantime, give the above selections a spin. I’ve seen each of the films listed, and I’m confident that there’s something for everyone (at least if you like to laugh).