Many of the best comedy movies of the 1980s are the kind that can leave anyone with a smile on their face. The1980s produced plenty of feel-good movies, and these have only gotten more popular over the years as the era is now viewed through a nostalgic lens.
Comedy movies can be the perfect pick-me-up, especially old classics likeThe Naked GunandSpaceballs.These movies keep things light, making them wonderful for escapism and sheer enjoyment, which isn’t necessarily something that modern comedies deliver as often as those made in the ’80s.
After the last of the Monty Python movies, the group’s members sporadically worked together on other projects.A Fish Called Wandasees John Cleese and Michael Palin teaming up again for a classic British crime caper that evokes old Ealing comedies likeThe LadykillersandThe Lavender Hill Mob.
A Fish Called Wandaevokes old Ealing comedies likeThe LadykillersandThe Lavender Hill Mob.
While Cleese and Palin make up the British contingent,A Fish Called Wandais a great culture-clash comedy that also features Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis as two brash, straightforward American criminals. The result is abrilliant heist moviethat focuses on the aftermath more than the build-up, witha fresh twist on Monty Python’s irreverent brand of humor.
Perhaps the most impressive element ofAirplane!is the fact that it’s a parody movie that delivers a ton of laughs even if the audience have no knowledge of what’s being parodied. This is becauseAirplane!has a remarkably dense concentration of great jokes, most of which completely ignore the central conceit.For every gag that doesn’t land, there are ten that hit the spot.
10 Hilarious & Forgotten 1980s Comedy Films That Were Excellent
The 1980s produced some of the most influential and memorable comedies, but the popularity of a few films has unfairly dwindled in recent years.
Airplane!is endlessly quotable, but it also has a litany of great sight gags, funny performances and subtle jokes occupying every inch of the background. From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s surprising role as himself to timeless jokes like Ted’s “drinking problem,“Airplane!delivers more laugh-out-loud moments in its short runtime than most comedies could even dream of.
As an adaptation of a popular board game,Clueseems more at home in the modern cinematic landscape than it did in the 1980s, when its strange premise contributed to its dismal box office returns. Over the years,Cluehas become something of a cult classic, and not just for fans of the game.
Clueis a hilarious murder mystery, pitting a group of eccentric characters against one another to reflect the way that a game of Clue causes friends to accuse each other of murder in good jest. However, it takes its duty to the mystery genre seriously.Clue’s multiple endings are a stroke of genius, allowing audiences to carry on the fun of guessing and piecing things together while still providing answers to the mystery.
Ghostbustershas elements of romance, and it dips into questions of friendship, heroism and public service. However, it has little more than a passing interest in these themes.Ghostbustersis a straightforward sci-fi comedy that doesn’t pay much attention to traditional concerns over narrative and message, which helps explain why it’s such a nostalgic classic.
TheGhostbustersfranchise has never been able to recapture the magic of the original movie. Although the legacy sequels have their own charms, it’s hard to replicate the chemistry of the original cast and the sheer fun of watching them get wrapped up in a bizarre supernatural adventure.Bill Murray’s deadpan expression gets a good workout,while Dan Aykroyd is just as enjoyable as a zealous dweeb.
When Harry Met Sallyis one of the most intelligent romcoms ever made, thanks to a script by Nora Ephron that creates two realistic and relatable characters who bounce off one another perfectly. Harry and Sally’s love story doesn’t need any half-baked impediment like so many other romcoms. The twists and turns come from their personalities alone.
10 Comedy Movies From The 1980s That Have Aged Surprisingly Well
As society’s attitudes change, many older comedies fall out of fashion. However, some 1980s classics handle taboo topics with the utmost care.
When Harry Met Sallypaints a believable portrait of love, friendship, and growing up, and it manages to do so without losing sight of the movie’s humor.Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s effortless chemistry makes them the perfect coupleto spend a couple of hours with, and it’s enjoyable whether they’re confessing their love or simply joking around while running errands together.
Many of Mel Brooks' movies are the kinds of comedies which can put a smile on anyone’s face.Spaceballsis a hilariousStar Warsspoof that also takes aim at the entire sci-fi genre. In the same way thatBlazing Saddlespokes fun at Westerns andYoung Frankensteinsatirizes the tropes of the horror genre,Spaceballstakes shots atAlien,Star Trekand2001: A Space Odyssey.
Spaceballs offers up a quick-fire rate of gags, with Brooks himself stepping in to deliver many of the most memorable quotes. WithSpaceballsgetting a sequelto catch up with the recentStar Warsmovies, it’s a great time to watch the original, and John Candy’s comedies are always enjoyable.
Leslie Nielsen delivers a deadpan masterclass inThe Naked Gun.He plays the role of incompetent cop Frank Drebin with as much gravitas as he can muster, and he never treats the role with anything less than the utmost reverence.The Naked Gun’s comedy works so well because Nielsen sits in the eye of the storm with nonsense unraveling all around him.
The Naked Gungot two sequels, which came out in 1991 and 1994.
The Naked Gunis a loving send-up of hard-boiled detective movies, but it has plenty of ways of making its audience laugh. Beyond pure parody, it offers some hilarious slapstick, quick-witted wordplay and a steady stream of sight gags that can be picked up on a rewatch. Liam Neeson will put his comedy chops to the test in theNaked Gunreboot.
Many of Eddie Murphy’s funniest comedies came out in the 1980s, and they’re still worth watching.Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to Americaand48 Hrsare all movies capable of boosting someone’s mood, and the same can be said forTrading Places.Murphy stars alongside Dan Aykroyd in a brilliant fish-out-of-water comedy that gets the best out of both actors.
10 Best Feel-Good Movies From The Past Decade
An array of the last decade’s most uplifting and heartwarming films, featuring the works of Danny Boyle and James Gunn, among others.
Murphy’s exuberant, affable performance pairs nicely with Aykroyd’s exasperated sad sack act inTrading Places.The premise sets up a lot of jokes about the wild differences between the haves and have-nots in American society, butTrading Placeskeeps things light. Jamie Lee Curtis is also commendable as the third member of an unlikely trio.
The Meaning of Lifeoften gets overshadowed by the otherMonty Python moviesthat preceded it. WhileHoly GrailandThe Life of Brianare rightly discussed as among the very best comedies ever made,The Meaning of Lifestill deserves a lot of love. It’s even looser and more sketch-based than these other movies, as the Pythons try to answer the big question that their title poses.
Working almost like an anthology movie,The Meaning of Lifestitches together some hilarious vignettes that hark back to the days ofMonty Python’sFlying Circus.Highlights include the preamble about an insurance firm taking to urban piracy and a charming song about the awe-inspiring expanse of the universe. As always, Monty Python’s gleefully nihilistic stance suggests that if nothing really matters, it’s best to enjoy oneself.
Raising Arizonais one of thebest Coen brothers movies, and it set the standard for other crime comedies, likeFargoandThe Big Lebowski.It’s also notable as one of the duo’s first movies that has a distinct sense of place. The Coens have always had a fascination with regional American subcultures, and their vision of the Arizona desert is tied to biblical stories.
The Coens have always had a fascination with regional American subcultures.
Nicolas Cage is at his hilarious best inRaising Arizona.He turns on his goofy charms as a slack-jawed petty criminal who turns to kidnapping when his wife becomes desperate for a baby of her own. There’s a tender love story somewhere inRaising Arizona,but it struggles under layers of inept criminal behavior, cosmic retribution and glorious slapstick.
