Smart dumb movies
August 22, 2023 10:48 AM Subscribe
What movies are smart and dumb at the same time?
The two examples that come to mind for me are Legally Blonde and Sorry to Bother You (which - before I read any reviews or chatter - I just walked out of saying - 'Was that stupid or smart??')
I recognize this question is highly subjective, but would like recommendations that feel both 'smart and dumb' to you - and I'm interested to hear why!
The two examples that come to mind for me are Legally Blonde and Sorry to Bother You (which - before I read any reviews or chatter - I just walked out of saying - 'Was that stupid or smart??')
I recognize this question is highly subjective, but would like recommendations that feel both 'smart and dumb' to you - and I'm interested to hear why!
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. It's a wildly silly movie with many, many low-brow jokes, but is simultaneously such a devastatingly accurate parody of the Oscar-bait biopic film formula that it may have forever broken the genre.
posted by joelhunt at 10:58 AM on August 22, 2023 [15 favorites]
posted by joelhunt at 10:58 AM on August 22, 2023 [15 favorites]
Shaun of the Dead fits the bill for me. It's full of dumb people, but it's so damned clever.
Tremors is questionable, but it's a straight up monster-of-the-week B-movie done extremely well.
Is The Mummy smart/dumb? Roger Ebert said "There is hardly a thing I can say in its favor, except that I was cheered by nearly every minute of it.". The movie has the line "Are we talking about THE Hamunaptra?" which is so brilliantly stupid it leaves me speechless.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:00 AM on August 22, 2023 [14 favorites]
Tremors is questionable, but it's a straight up monster-of-the-week B-movie done extremely well.
Is The Mummy smart/dumb? Roger Ebert said "There is hardly a thing I can say in its favor, except that I was cheered by nearly every minute of it.". The movie has the line "Are we talking about THE Hamunaptra?" which is so brilliantly stupid it leaves me speechless.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:00 AM on August 22, 2023 [14 favorites]
I think that some more crass movies operate like that. Blazing Saddles has a lot of bathroom humor, but also some amazing commentary about race and capitalism.
Idiocracy is similar, especially when one of the quotes I hear most often from people is "it's what plants crave". Shaun of the Dead. Life of Brian. I think Groundhog Day was considered a stupid comedy when it first came out.
Comedies are great at pointing out hypocrisy, but letting us laugh at it at a distance.
posted by typetive at 11:01 AM on August 22, 2023 [12 favorites]
Idiocracy is similar, especially when one of the quotes I hear most often from people is "it's what plants crave". Shaun of the Dead. Life of Brian. I think Groundhog Day was considered a stupid comedy when it first came out.
Comedies are great at pointing out hypocrisy, but letting us laugh at it at a distance.
posted by typetive at 11:01 AM on August 22, 2023 [12 favorites]
A lot of Paul Verhoeven’s filmography seems to fit this. I haven’t seen all his movies, but the run from RoboCop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Showgirls, Starship Troopers, to Hollow Man, all have this appearance of being a pretty silly popcorn movie, but just beneath the surface is either outright satire/parody or other explorations. RoboCop, for one, is extremely subversive (and outright hilarious if you understand that), and somehow people still don’t realize Starship Troopers is supposed to be a farcical sendup of fascist war propaganda.
posted by General Malaise at 11:10 AM on August 22, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by General Malaise at 11:10 AM on August 22, 2023 [13 favorites]
I hadn't expected to feel as positively about Cocaine Bear as I do. I've recommended it as "better and smarter than it has any right to be." And that's taking into account I'm not a slasher-movie type of person.
posted by sardonyx at 11:12 AM on August 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 11:12 AM on August 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
In the thriller space, Blood Simple jumps to mind. Brilliant thriller about incredibly dumb people that scratches some of this itch.
For SF, Prometheus , though I think a lot of people would say it's just dumb.
Horror has a million, but Paul Morrissey's Blood for Dracula is a grand example.
And in the sheer WTF arena (my favorite genre), there's The Holy Mountain and Greaser's Palace. Most of Robert Downey Senior's body of work really.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:16 AM on August 22, 2023
For SF, Prometheus , though I think a lot of people would say it's just dumb.
Horror has a million, but Paul Morrissey's Blood for Dracula is a grand example.
And in the sheer WTF arena (my favorite genre), there's The Holy Mountain and Greaser's Palace. Most of Robert Downey Senior's body of work really.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:16 AM on August 22, 2023
And to skip to an entirely different era and genre, I absolutely love Support Your Local Sheriff. Support Your Local Gunfighter isn't quite as good, but if you're watching one, you may as well watch them both (before heading to Australia).
posted by sardonyx at 11:16 AM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 11:16 AM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Raising Arizona
It's a zany, dumb comedy full of hijinks about stealing a baby, and that never stops being true. It's also deeply heartfelt and charming. It's insightful and cutting about the prison system, living low income, and the unattainable lie of the American Dream. Every single word of the movie is shrewdly hilarious.
posted by phunniemee at 11:18 AM on August 22, 2023 [20 favorites]
It's a zany, dumb comedy full of hijinks about stealing a baby, and that never stops being true. It's also deeply heartfelt and charming. It's insightful and cutting about the prison system, living low income, and the unattainable lie of the American Dream. Every single word of the movie is shrewdly hilarious.
posted by phunniemee at 11:18 AM on August 22, 2023 [20 favorites]
I think the first Wayne's World might actually qualify; the jokes are Very dumb and arguably so are all of the characters, but it's a very sharp portrayal of a specific place and time. Wayne has to see and atone for some real douchebag attitudes toward his friend and his girlfriend, Garth has to learn to assert himself. It's also saying a lot about selling out and corporate influence, which of course it then undercuts by the multiple endings in which the characters all Talk About What They Learned.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:19 AM on August 22, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:19 AM on August 22, 2023 [8 favorites]
Strange Brew is a comedy with some plot elements and names derived from Hamlet. I'm not sure it ever crosses the threshold to "smart" per se, but you don't generally find any Shakespeare in lowbrow comedies.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 11:20 AM on August 22, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 11:20 AM on August 22, 2023 [7 favorites]
Real Genius, perhaps. Even The Princess Bride.
posted by humbug at 11:22 AM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by humbug at 11:22 AM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Spring Breakers
Drop Dead Gorgeous
River's Edge
Weird
Half-Baked
Waiting for Guffman
Trippin'
(Also seconding Walk Hard)
posted by Rykey at 11:25 AM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Drop Dead Gorgeous
River's Edge
Weird
Half-Baked
Waiting for Guffman
Trippin'
(Also seconding Walk Hard)
posted by Rykey at 11:25 AM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Both Crank movies and all three Transporter movies. Perhaps the entire oeuvre of Jason Statham, now that I think of it ...
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:27 AM on August 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:27 AM on August 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
Clueless for sure!
posted by jeszac at 11:35 AM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by jeszac at 11:35 AM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Barbie. I love how it managed to have both a scene based around the corniest possible masturbation double-entendre and an entirely heartfelt, true feminist monologue.
posted by ActionPopulated at 11:37 AM on August 22, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by ActionPopulated at 11:37 AM on August 22, 2023 [10 favorites]
Hot Fuzz
posted by synecdoche at 11:37 AM on August 22, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by synecdoche at 11:37 AM on August 22, 2023 [9 favorites]
In the thriller space, Blood Simple
Raising Arizona
It's a zany, dumb comedy full of hijinks about stealing a baby
I think the Coen Brothers do this as a general genre. Smart movie populated by very dumb people is kind of their thing - in addition to the above, I'd put Barton Fink, Big Lebowski, Hudsucker Proxy, O Brother Where Art Thou, Hail Caesar!, Intolerable Cruelty, Burn After Reading, quite a bit of Ballad of Buster Scruggs
posted by LionIndex at 11:41 AM on August 22, 2023 [8 favorites]
Raising Arizona
It's a zany, dumb comedy full of hijinks about stealing a baby
I think the Coen Brothers do this as a general genre. Smart movie populated by very dumb people is kind of their thing - in addition to the above, I'd put Barton Fink, Big Lebowski, Hudsucker Proxy, O Brother Where Art Thou, Hail Caesar!, Intolerable Cruelty, Burn After Reading, quite a bit of Ballad of Buster Scruggs
posted by LionIndex at 11:41 AM on August 22, 2023 [8 favorites]
Another horror example: Malignant. It very smartly serves up some dumb fun. If you’re in tune with the schlock horror vibe, you’ll love it.
posted by ejs at 11:42 AM on August 22, 2023
posted by ejs at 11:42 AM on August 22, 2023
This Is Spinal Tap -- the characters are all ridiculous caricatures, but played by amazing improv actors that paint a vivid portrait of the ridiculous music industry.
posted by credulous at 11:45 AM on August 22, 2023 [14 favorites]
posted by credulous at 11:45 AM on August 22, 2023 [14 favorites]
Thinking of Barbie, I kind of thought that Josie and the Pussycats Movie was the underappreciated predecessor to it. It had the smart and stupid thing going on with its tongue in cheek roast of consumerism and the music industry, and a choice performance by Tara Reid playing the ditsiest ditz (If I could go back in time, I'd want to meet Snoopy!) and the boy band Du Jour. Plus, a killer soundtrack. So stupid, so smart, so good.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:45 AM on August 22, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by urbanlenny at 11:45 AM on August 22, 2023 [10 favorites]
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
posted by Faintdreams at 11:48 AM on August 22, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Faintdreams at 11:48 AM on August 22, 2023 [6 favorites]
Oh oh ooooooo ! Limitless is probably the Apex of smart/dumb movies !
posted by Faintdreams at 11:56 AM on August 22, 2023
posted by Faintdreams at 11:56 AM on August 22, 2023
Face/Off .. ?
Actually most of Nicholas Cage's back catalogue might fit the criteria.
The Two National Treasure films should do !
posted by Faintdreams at 12:02 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Actually most of Nicholas Cage's back catalogue might fit the criteria.
The Two National Treasure films should do !
posted by Faintdreams at 12:02 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
What We do in the Shadows!
posted by chuke at 12:07 PM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by chuke at 12:07 PM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Airheads. It is, on the one hand, completely idiotic. (See, e.g., the Clydesdale scale, one of the most criminally unappreciated lines in film history, which isn't even one of the dumbest lines in the movie.) But there's some record industry inside baseball that, if you were interested in the music industry in the early to mid 90s, makes for pretty good laughs. But you really have to be familiar with that setting in order for it to mean anything. Otherwise it just comes off as a stupid caper comedy.
I think Good Morning Vietnam is a little more serious than you're looking for, but it intersperses the serious stuff with the Robin Williams bits enough that at least some people don't realize they're watching a fairly serious movie. Or at least, they realize it while watching but then forget it was a serious movie after it's over.
The original White Men Can't Jump probably doesn't hit either the highs or the lows you're looking for, but it's a movie where you might not be able to determine whether it's smart or dumb after the first time you watch it. I haven't seen the remake, but from what I've heard, it's definitely dumber than the original.
American Psycho and Fight Club are both comedies. A lot of people consider them "dumb" movies (mostly because they're about whiny, entitled white men), but if you're one of those people, watch them again expecting comedy, and you'll see them completely differently. They're hilarious. Maybe not if you're a big Jared Leto fan, I guess. Note that American Beauty sometimes gets lumped in with these two, but I don't think it's a comedy. At least, I don't find it funny upon rewatching, which makes it a whiny movie about a middle-aged entitled white man, so yeah, avoid it.
Seconding Clueless, which I think most people now know is a Jane Austen adaptation, but is also itself quite charmingly written and acted, a fact that's easy to overlook when most of the characters are acting like idiots for most of the film. On the topic of Austen-inspired movies, Metropolitan clearly sees itself as a smart film, and it is, but the subject matter is also quite dumb, if you think about it. It's kind of the opposite of Legally Blonde.
posted by kevinbelt at 12:29 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
I think Good Morning Vietnam is a little more serious than you're looking for, but it intersperses the serious stuff with the Robin Williams bits enough that at least some people don't realize they're watching a fairly serious movie. Or at least, they realize it while watching but then forget it was a serious movie after it's over.
The original White Men Can't Jump probably doesn't hit either the highs or the lows you're looking for, but it's a movie where you might not be able to determine whether it's smart or dumb after the first time you watch it. I haven't seen the remake, but from what I've heard, it's definitely dumber than the original.
American Psycho and Fight Club are both comedies. A lot of people consider them "dumb" movies (mostly because they're about whiny, entitled white men), but if you're one of those people, watch them again expecting comedy, and you'll see them completely differently. They're hilarious. Maybe not if you're a big Jared Leto fan, I guess. Note that American Beauty sometimes gets lumped in with these two, but I don't think it's a comedy. At least, I don't find it funny upon rewatching, which makes it a whiny movie about a middle-aged entitled white man, so yeah, avoid it.
Seconding Clueless, which I think most people now know is a Jane Austen adaptation, but is also itself quite charmingly written and acted, a fact that's easy to overlook when most of the characters are acting like idiots for most of the film. On the topic of Austen-inspired movies, Metropolitan clearly sees itself as a smart film, and it is, but the subject matter is also quite dumb, if you think about it. It's kind of the opposite of Legally Blonde.
posted by kevinbelt at 12:29 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
re Spinal Tap, I always like to note that "It's a fine line between stupid and clever" can be a profound epigram when you think about it.
posted by ovvl at 12:33 PM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by ovvl at 12:33 PM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Shakes the Clown. The appearance by Florence Henderson in the opening scene lets you know this movie is going to be something special.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 12:34 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 12:34 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Mel Brooks films? Packed with tons of clever references and jokes, but also just dumb puns and sight-gags. (On preview, I see that someone already mentioned Blazing Saddles.)
Similarly the Naked Gun movies.
posted by AndrewInDC at 1:01 PM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Similarly the Naked Gun movies.
posted by AndrewInDC at 1:01 PM on August 22, 2023 [5 favorites]
Maybe Shoot 'Em Up. Random guy rescues a woman with a baby from some crooks. Random guy happens to be a championship marksman. Crooks are very determined to shoot it out with Random Guy and things don't work out well for them. Extra points for the shoot out in mid-air, the fight in a damned gun factory and the utility of carrots. It's very dumb and very clever at the same time.
posted by SPrintF at 1:33 PM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by SPrintF at 1:33 PM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bad Santa. Extremely trashy and immature comedy, but there's also somehow an ineffable depth to it, and to it's comedy in particular.
posted by so fucking future at 1:36 PM on August 22, 2023
posted by so fucking future at 1:36 PM on August 22, 2023
I just gave Tenet another try after not really thinking highly of it when it was new 3yrs ago and kinda came to appreciate it in this sense. It's dumb in that the plot is such a hackneyed cliche of spies vs. an evil Russian billionaire with a magical doomsday device. But ignore that for the paper thin cover story it so obviously is (the main character literally calls himself The Protagonist!) and there's a very fun twisty action - time travel story with a small group of players moving forward and backward over the course of a week or so trying to out maneuver one another.
posted by mannequito at 1:38 PM on August 22, 2023
posted by mannequito at 1:38 PM on August 22, 2023
Hudson Hawk.
Also n'thing Walk Hard. If Elvis and Buddy Holly are the Cain and Abel of rock and roll, Bruce Springsteen is Zachariah, Iggy Pop is Methuselah, and, of course, Neil Young is the wise prophet Ezekiel, then what does that make Dewey Cox?
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 1:52 PM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also n'thing Walk Hard. If Elvis and Buddy Holly are the Cain and Abel of rock and roll, Bruce Springsteen is Zachariah, Iggy Pop is Methuselah, and, of course, Neil Young is the wise prophet Ezekiel, then what does that make Dewey Cox?
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 1:52 PM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Galaxy Quest is a thing of brilliance which is not only smart dumb but unexpectedly moving.
Some may consider these just plain dumb, but for me they work:
Zoolander
Dude, Where's My Car
Earth Girls are Easy
posted by Athanassiel at 3:19 PM on August 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
Some may consider these just plain dumb, but for me they work:
Zoolander
Dude, Where's My Car
Earth Girls are Easy
posted by Athanassiel at 3:19 PM on August 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
I know I have a whole bunch of other examples rattling around in my brain somewhere, but please check out Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar - it went way beyond anyplace it needed to for an enjoyable daffy comedy, and I'm grateful for that. I'm sad that more people haven't seen it.
posted by queensissy at 3:48 PM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by queensissy at 3:48 PM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Joe Vs. The Volcano
posted by kapers at 5:48 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by kapers at 5:48 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion!
posted by lizard music at 6:07 PM on August 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by lizard music at 6:07 PM on August 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
After watching Barbie, the first movie I thought of was I Heart Huckabees
posted by perhapses at 8:09 PM on August 22, 2023
posted by perhapses at 8:09 PM on August 22, 2023
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure ends with George Carlin delivering a punch line that would be reserved for a post-credits scene these days.
posted by I paid money to offer this... insight? at 8:38 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by I paid money to offer this... insight? at 8:38 PM on August 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Boogie Nights - smart movie about several dumb people (including the lead character) that feels like a dumb movie at first but upon further reflection you realize is actually pretty smart
Tenet - a movie that thinks it's smart but is actually kinda dumb
Top Gun: Maverick - a very dumb movie that was incredibly smartly made (ok, maybe stretching the intent of "smart" here but it really was a masterpiece of the genre)
Wet Hot American Summer - smart dumb comedy (also, 21 Jump Street)
The Grand Budapest Hotel - dumb smart comedy (also, Scott Pilgrim)
Magic Mike - you think it's gonna be soooo dumb, but nope, it's smart as hell
posted by mhum at 10:07 PM on August 22, 2023
Tenet - a movie that thinks it's smart but is actually kinda dumb
Top Gun: Maverick - a very dumb movie that was incredibly smartly made (ok, maybe stretching the intent of "smart" here but it really was a masterpiece of the genre)
Wet Hot American Summer - smart dumb comedy (also, 21 Jump Street)
The Grand Budapest Hotel - dumb smart comedy (also, Scott Pilgrim)
Magic Mike - you think it's gonna be soooo dumb, but nope, it's smart as hell
posted by mhum at 10:07 PM on August 22, 2023
Wait, I'm not so sure if Grand Budapest was a comedy at all. Was it comedic or was it merely whimsical? Much to consider...
posted by mhum at 10:32 PM on August 22, 2023
posted by mhum at 10:32 PM on August 22, 2023
Speaking of Nic Cage, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent fits the bill I think. It's a buddy action film at heart but with loads of winks and nods to Hollywood tropes and Cage's "nouveau shamanic" ouevre.
posted by goo at 3:09 AM on August 23, 2023
posted by goo at 3:09 AM on August 23, 2023
I'm pleased to add: Top Secret. It is definitely both smart and dumb.
posted by Acari at 7:08 AM on August 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Acari at 7:08 AM on August 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
posted by girlmightlive at 1:53 PM on August 23, 2023
posted by girlmightlive at 1:53 PM on August 23, 2023
Smokey and the Bandit
posted by mostly vowels at 4:19 PM on August 23, 2023
posted by mostly vowels at 4:19 PM on August 23, 2023
Most Steve Martin comedies must qualify for this. I’ll go for Bowfinger.
posted by tomcooke at 4:36 PM on August 23, 2023
posted by tomcooke at 4:36 PM on August 23, 2023
Response by poster: Watched Magic Mike for the first time tonight. Made me both dumber and smarter. Did not disappoint.
posted by latkes at 9:28 PM on August 23, 2023
posted by latkes at 9:28 PM on August 23, 2023
Mockumentary series instead of a movie, but Cunk on Earth.
posted by mark k at 10:32 AM on August 24, 2023
posted by mark k at 10:32 AM on August 24, 2023
Magic Mike XXL is way dumber and way smarter than the first one. (Don’t watch the third.)
posted by kapers at 11:27 AM on August 25, 2023
posted by kapers at 11:27 AM on August 25, 2023
Glass Onion: a Knives Out Mystery - a smart take on dumbness
posted by mhum at 6:25 PM on September 4, 2023
posted by mhum at 6:25 PM on September 4, 2023
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posted by latkes at 10:53 AM on August 22, 2023