Sweet and funny movies for my sweet and funny boyfriend.
June 19, 2014 6:23 PM Subscribe
I need recommendations for movies or shows to watch with my boyfriend, specifically lighthearted goofy comedies and musicals.
Some of his favorites are:
Grease
The Court Jester
The Man Who Knew Too Little
Zombieland
Crazy Stupid Love
The Wrong Mans
I don't know if you can ascertain any sort of pattern from the above or not! I'm thinking spoofy satires of thrillers with bumbling protagonists? I introduced him to Adventures in Babysitting and he really liked it. Unfortunately I tend to like darker comedies and horror movies with more bitter and twisted humor and his taste is definitely more lighthearted than mine. He also likes movies in which the protagonists are basically good guys and not anti-heroes- I showed him Peep Show and he couldn't connect with it because he thought the main characters were too selfish to identify with. I'm stumped at the moment. What should we watch next?
Some of his favorites are:
Grease
The Court Jester
The Man Who Knew Too Little
Zombieland
Crazy Stupid Love
The Wrong Mans
I don't know if you can ascertain any sort of pattern from the above or not! I'm thinking spoofy satires of thrillers with bumbling protagonists? I introduced him to Adventures in Babysitting and he really liked it. Unfortunately I tend to like darker comedies and horror movies with more bitter and twisted humor and his taste is definitely more lighthearted than mine. He also likes movies in which the protagonists are basically good guys and not anti-heroes- I showed him Peep Show and he couldn't connect with it because he thought the main characters were too selfish to identify with. I'm stumped at the moment. What should we watch next?
Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog!
posted by moxiedoll at 6:33 PM on June 19, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by moxiedoll at 6:33 PM on June 19, 2014 [3 favorites]
Beaten to the punch with Shaun of the Dead so here's my other go-to: Kung Fu Hustle.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:34 PM on June 19, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:34 PM on June 19, 2014 [4 favorites]
Little Shop of Horrors gives you sweet, funny and a musical.
posted by yoink at 6:35 PM on June 19, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by yoink at 6:35 PM on June 19, 2014 [3 favorites]
Hopscotch (starring Walter Matthau) is a fun and underrated movie that's a kind of spoof thriller, where we're definitely on the side of the protagonist the whole way through.
posted by yoink at 6:38 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by yoink at 6:38 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
The Princess Bride!
posted by Room 641-A at 6:48 PM on June 19, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 6:48 PM on June 19, 2014 [9 favorites]
The Coen Bros. The Hudsucker Proxy, maybe.
posted by brentajones at 6:49 PM on June 19, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by brentajones at 6:49 PM on June 19, 2014 [5 favorites]
First, foremost... Singing in the Rain. Bet he will love it. Then ding ding ding... That Thing You Do.
Dodgeball?
Valley Girl?
Star Trek IV?
Ferris Bueller
Spaceballs
UHF
White Christmas?
Apollo 13... Not a comedy but a ton of heart, uplifting.
He's just not that into you
The Wedding Singer
While You Were Sleeping
When Harry Met Sally or Sleepless in Seattle
Southern Belles
soapdish
Waitress
Saving Grace (UK)
Big Fat Greek wedding
The Birdcage
Big
Up
Princess and the Frog
Try a few screwball comedies ... My Man Godfrey, Bringing Up Baby, Midnight, The Awful Truth...
posted by mitschlag at 7:01 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Dodgeball?
Valley Girl?
Star Trek IV?
Ferris Bueller
Spaceballs
UHF
White Christmas?
Apollo 13... Not a comedy but a ton of heart, uplifting.
He's just not that into you
The Wedding Singer
While You Were Sleeping
When Harry Met Sally or Sleepless in Seattle
Southern Belles
soapdish
Waitress
Saving Grace (UK)
Big Fat Greek wedding
The Birdcage
Big
Up
Princess and the Frog
Try a few screwball comedies ... My Man Godfrey, Bringing Up Baby, Midnight, The Awful Truth...
posted by mitschlag at 7:01 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
The Man with One Red Shoe
Spies Like Us
Airplane!
Police Squad (tv show)
Top Secret!
The *original* Pink Panther
Mystery Men (I know most people hated it, but they are wrong)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Young Frankenstein and other early Mel Brooks, up to Robin Hood: Men in Tights
I haven't watched most of these in years, so caveats for probable racism and other stuff.
(Basically I only like comedies made before I was born or at least before I graduated college, apparently.)
You might also enjoy watching Studio Ghibli films together.
posted by wintersweet at 7:04 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Spies Like Us
Airplane!
Police Squad (tv show)
Top Secret!
The *original* Pink Panther
Mystery Men (I know most people hated it, but they are wrong)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Young Frankenstein and other early Mel Brooks, up to Robin Hood: Men in Tights
I haven't watched most of these in years, so caveats for probable racism and other stuff.
(Basically I only like comedies made before I was born or at least before I graduated college, apparently.)
You might also enjoy watching Studio Ghibli films together.
posted by wintersweet at 7:04 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Jeeves and Wooster, starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. You won't regret it.
posted by pseudonick at 7:09 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by pseudonick at 7:09 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Other older, classic movies would include Some Like It Hot, Modern Times, Harvey, Meet Me in St. Louis, Arsenic and Old Lace, Roman Holiday, Picnic, Sabrina, Footlight Parade, Day the Earth Stood Still (original), The Thing (original). The last two... One is very thoughtful and not violent, its on Netflix; the other is scary but has a lot of witty dialogue. Maybe Funny Girl. I doubt you can go wrong with Vincente Minelli's MGM musicals. The Clock, a hopeful drama he did with then wife Judy Garland is very, very sweet.
posted by mitschlag at 7:11 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by mitschlag at 7:11 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
if he likes Psych i bet he will like Brooklyn Nine Nine
posted by elizardbits at 7:18 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 7:18 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Came to recommend the Hudsucker Proxy as well.
Also:
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
Monsters Inc and Monster's University (probably the silliest Pixar movies)
Wreck It Ralph
My Cousin Vinny
Easy A
Waking Ned Devine
Breaking Away
posted by phunniemee at 7:20 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also:
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
Monsters Inc and Monster's University (probably the silliest Pixar movies)
Wreck It Ralph
My Cousin Vinny
Easy A
Waking Ned Devine
Breaking Away
posted by phunniemee at 7:20 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Yes to the original The Pink Panther, and also adding
A Shot in the Dark
Foolproof
Sneakers (a bit dated)
The Music Man
Bells Are Ringing
Born Yesterday
Almost Famous
Willow
Local Hero
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Addicted to Love
The Matchmaker
The Apartment
The Middleman (one season series)
Yes, try some of the old screwball comedies maybe, like Bringing Up Baby or It Happened One Night.
posted by gudrun at 7:28 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
A Shot in the Dark
Foolproof
Sneakers (a bit dated)
The Music Man
Bells Are Ringing
Born Yesterday
Almost Famous
Willow
Local Hero
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Addicted to Love
The Matchmaker
The Apartment
The Middleman (one season series)
Yes, try some of the old screwball comedies maybe, like Bringing Up Baby or It Happened One Night.
posted by gudrun at 7:28 PM on June 19, 2014 [2 favorites]
Raising Arizona!
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:43 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:43 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
Just came in here to heartily recommend Singing in the Rain and Breaking Away. They are absolutely the two movies that can make me smile under virtually any circumstances.
I also nth the original Pink Panther movies, Raising Arizona (though, being a Coen Bros. film, there's a bit of a dark streak to the goofy humor -- which I totally love, but just putting it out there in case you don't want any darkness in yourpeanut butter goofiness), and Princess Bride.
posted by scody at 8:11 PM on June 19, 2014
I also nth the original Pink Panther movies, Raising Arizona (though, being a Coen Bros. film, there's a bit of a dark streak to the goofy humor -- which I totally love, but just putting it out there in case you don't want any darkness in your
posted by scody at 8:11 PM on June 19, 2014
Shaolin Soccer
The Lady Eve
It Happens Every Spring
My Favorite Year
Blackadder (maybe not series 4 if you want to keep it light)
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 8:19 PM on June 19, 2014
The Lady Eve
It Happens Every Spring
My Favorite Year
Blackadder (maybe not series 4 if you want to keep it light)
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 8:19 PM on June 19, 2014
L.A. Story.
posted by DWRoelands at 8:38 PM on June 19, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by DWRoelands at 8:38 PM on June 19, 2014 [4 favorites]
The Jerk!
posted by Room 641-A at 8:40 PM on June 19, 2014
posted by Room 641-A at 8:40 PM on June 19, 2014
How about The Good Guys? Only ran for one 20-episode season, but, it's up on Netflix streaming now. Bradley Whitford does some great scenery chewing, and Colin Hanks was fun too.
On musicals, have you tried any Bollywood? One of my all-time favorite musicals (of any language) is Lagaan - it's great on so many levels. It's got the classic sports-movie underdog team plot, but it's also an allegory for defeating British rule, and there's a love story, and the music & dance is gorgeous. Also I Have Found It (Kandukondain Kandukondain) which is a re-telling of Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility. Gorgeous music again by A.R. Rahman.
posted by oh yeah! at 8:51 PM on June 19, 2014 [3 favorites]
On musicals, have you tried any Bollywood? One of my all-time favorite musicals (of any language) is Lagaan - it's great on so many levels. It's got the classic sports-movie underdog team plot, but it's also an allegory for defeating British rule, and there's a love story, and the music & dance is gorgeous. Also I Have Found It (Kandukondain Kandukondain) which is a re-telling of Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility. Gorgeous music again by A.R. Rahman.
posted by oh yeah! at 8:51 PM on June 19, 2014 [3 favorites]
Blacks Books
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:13 PM on June 19, 2014
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:13 PM on June 19, 2014
Steve Martin and Michael Caine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
posted by drlith at 9:31 PM on June 19, 2014
posted by drlith at 9:31 PM on June 19, 2014
Young Frankenstein
Blazing Saddles
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World
posted by Beti at 9:48 PM on June 19, 2014
Blazing Saddles
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World
posted by Beti at 9:48 PM on June 19, 2014
Support Your Local Sheriff is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. And it's funny-clever, not funny-gross or funny-stupid.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:27 PM on June 19, 2014
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:27 PM on June 19, 2014
So glad you asked this question - gives me a whole new list of films too!
The Heat
Strike! / All I Wanna Do
Robot and Frank
Mean Girls
Waking Ned Devine
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Disney's Hercules cartoon series
Stardust
My Cousin Vinny
ParaNorman
Charlie Bartlett
The Trotsky
Death at a Funeral
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Despicable Me (1 and 2)
Kinky Boots
Made in Dagenham
Rock n Rolla
Shoot 'em Up (Twisted humour, graphic violence, but it slays me, so who knows what he'd think!?)
Son of Rambow
Be Kind, Rewind
The Pirates - Band of Misfits
Whip It
These are some of the films that crack me up like crazy, and cause me to smack my partner's leg saying "Oh my god this is the best movie I have EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!!!" There are quite a few animated films on the list too - often a great choice. Admittedly, I'm not much of a critic, but your boyfriend and I have seem to have similar film tastes - hopefully this helps a bit!
P.S. As per phunnimee's suggestion, I watched Drop Dead Gorgeous tonight, and I'm sure my neighbours heard me laughing, I was guffawing super hard - it's a bit dark humoured, but over the top terribly wonderful!
posted by NorthernAutumn at 11:13 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Heat
Strike! / All I Wanna Do
Robot and Frank
Mean Girls
Waking Ned Devine
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Disney's Hercules cartoon series
Stardust
My Cousin Vinny
ParaNorman
Charlie Bartlett
The Trotsky
Death at a Funeral
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Despicable Me (1 and 2)
Kinky Boots
Made in Dagenham
Rock n Rolla
Shoot 'em Up (Twisted humour, graphic violence, but it slays me, so who knows what he'd think!?)
Son of Rambow
Be Kind, Rewind
The Pirates - Band of Misfits
Whip It
These are some of the films that crack me up like crazy, and cause me to smack my partner's leg saying "Oh my god this is the best movie I have EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!!!" There are quite a few animated films on the list too - often a great choice. Admittedly, I'm not much of a critic, but your boyfriend and I have seem to have similar film tastes - hopefully this helps a bit!
P.S. As per phunnimee's suggestion, I watched Drop Dead Gorgeous tonight, and I'm sure my neighbours heard me laughing, I was guffawing super hard - it's a bit dark humoured, but over the top terribly wonderful!
posted by NorthernAutumn at 11:13 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
Four Lions
posted by rhizome at 11:45 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 11:45 PM on June 19, 2014 [1 favorite]
Galaxy quest!
posted by meijusa at 1:52 AM on June 20, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by meijusa at 1:52 AM on June 20, 2014 [5 favorites]
Down with Love
posted by halcyonday at 2:06 AM on June 20, 2014
posted by halcyonday at 2:06 AM on June 20, 2014
Groundhog Day! One of my all time favorites.
posted by msbubbaclees at 5:23 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by msbubbaclees at 5:23 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
My Favorite Year! (mentioned above, deserves second mention)
I don't watch Peep Show either, but their other show, That Mitchell and Webb Look, is hilarious.
Also on Hulu:
Moone Boy (sweet and funny)
posted by Glinn at 5:29 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't watch Peep Show either, but their other show, That Mitchell and Webb Look, is hilarious.
Also on Hulu:
Moone Boy (sweet and funny)
posted by Glinn at 5:29 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
For TV shows: your interest in horror and his interest in good-guy light-hearted comedy mean that you need to watch "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel".
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:43 AM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:43 AM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
Safe Men is a really sweet, low-key comedy that I think is quite underrated. It's got some very witty, deadpan banter that I found gut-bustingly hilarious when I first saw it. I think fans of The Man Who Knew Too Little will like it.
Plus it's got some minor roles for Mark Ruffalo and Peter Dinklage, which is always nice.
posted by fryman at 6:34 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Plus it's got some minor roles for Mark Ruffalo and Peter Dinklage, which is always nice.
posted by fryman at 6:34 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
About a Boy isn't a musical, but the music is all by Damon Gough as Badly Drawn Boy, so there's a seamless quality to how it mixes the instrumental-only score with the songs, and how the lyrics of his songs compliment the scenes they're in.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:39 AM on June 20, 2014
posted by oh yeah! at 7:39 AM on June 20, 2014
The Prehistory of Future Folk is delightful: sweet, funny, scary, musical, suspenseful. Not necessarily in that order.
posted by scruss at 11:48 AM on June 20, 2014
posted by scruss at 11:48 AM on June 20, 2014
Soapdish, very sweet and extremely funny.
Earth Girls Are Easy, funny, goofy musical.
Lars and the Real Girl, not really a comedy, but very sweet, and slightly romantic, in an offbeat way.
Zero Effect, another one that's not really a comedy, but funny and very goofy.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 12:53 PM on June 20, 2014
Earth Girls Are Easy, funny, goofy musical.
Lars and the Real Girl, not really a comedy, but very sweet, and slightly romantic, in an offbeat way.
Zero Effect, another one that's not really a comedy, but funny and very goofy.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 12:53 PM on June 20, 2014
Tootsie
The Milagro Beanfield War
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 9:12 PM on June 20, 2014
The Milagro Beanfield War
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 9:12 PM on June 20, 2014
Truly oddball and funny musical: Happiness of the Katakuris
posted by M Edward at 9:47 PM on June 20, 2014
posted by M Edward at 9:47 PM on June 20, 2014
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Annie
Chicago
Hello, Dolly!
Amelie
Older Roberto Begnini films
Trading Places
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Royal Tenenbaums
Lost in Translation
posted by ostranenie at 3:57 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Annie
Chicago
Hello, Dolly!
Amelie
Older Roberto Begnini films
Trading Places
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Royal Tenenbaums
Lost in Translation
posted by ostranenie at 3:57 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Delicatessen, a movie I describe as: "this is why the French like Jerry Lewis."
posted by CincyBlues at 5:42 AM on June 21, 2014
posted by CincyBlues at 5:42 AM on June 21, 2014
Chungking Express
Also try the Jaques Demy musical diptych of Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort.
posted by rhizome at 10:04 AM on June 21, 2014
Also try the Jaques Demy musical diptych of Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort.
posted by rhizome at 10:04 AM on June 21, 2014
Thanks for asking this question!
The sweetest, most heartwarming, and funny, and also totally badass movie I saw in the past few years was The Intouchables (the French movie, there is another one with that title but I mean the French one).
It's in French, and you have to watch it with subtitles but it's so, so worth it. I own three copies because people keep borrowing it from me.
posted by M. at 11:17 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
The sweetest, most heartwarming, and funny, and also totally badass movie I saw in the past few years was The Intouchables (the French movie, there is another one with that title but I mean the French one).
It's in French, and you have to watch it with subtitles but it's so, so worth it. I own three copies because people keep borrowing it from me.
posted by M. at 11:17 AM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
> I'm thinking spoofy satires of thrillers with bumbling protagonists?
> He also likes the show Psych.
If he likes Psych I think he'd like Chuck.
If he likes Grease I think he might like Mama Mia.
posted by evilmomlady at 3:52 PM on June 22, 2014
> He also likes the show Psych.
If he likes Psych I think he'd like Chuck.
If he likes Grease I think he might like Mama Mia.
posted by evilmomlady at 3:52 PM on June 22, 2014
Oh and how can I forget one of my all-time favorites: A Fish Called Wanda
posted by evilmomlady at 3:58 PM on June 22, 2014
posted by evilmomlady at 3:58 PM on June 22, 2014
Seconding M.'s recommendation for The Intouchables. It's really great.
posted by scruss at 9:55 AM on June 24, 2014
posted by scruss at 9:55 AM on June 24, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by quincunx at 6:25 PM on June 19, 2014