Comedy is one of the most serious artistic manifestations that exists. Making other people laugh is one of the most difficult tasks that can be undertaken. But when it is achieved, the results are gratifying. And that's precisely what good laugh movies do.
From Charles Chaplin and Buster Keaton to Robin Williams and Jerry Lewis. The great actors who have dedicated themselves to comedy walk a fine line that separates the sublime from the ridiculous. The success of each of them (and many others) has always been in making humor with intelligence.
The most outstanding laugh movies
It is one of the most popular film sub-genres among audiences around the world. Comedy cinema is one of the ones that releases the most films every year.
The gold rushby Charles Chaplin (1925)
Selecting a film within the vast filmography of Charles Chaplin is not an easy task. The gold rush is one of his many outstanding productions from the 1920s, when silent cinema (or deaf cinema, as some prefer to call it) was in its maximum splendor.
Something happens with Maryby the Farrelly brothers (1998)
Bobby and Peter Farrelly are among the most successful laugh movie makers late twentieth and early twenty-first century. Also one of the most controversial. Starring Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon and a youthful Cameron Diaz, Something happens with Mary it is the highlight of his filmography.
meet the parents (My girlfriend's father) by Jay Roach (2000)
Robert de Niro After decades of being Martin Scorsese's bad boy, among other things, he found a new niche in laughs movies. Starring alongside Ben Stiller, The film was so successful that it led to two more installments: His parents (2004) with Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand joining the cast, and Now the parents are them (Little fockers) In 2010.
Eight Basque surnames, by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (2014)
Comedy cinema also sells well in Spain. To date, the highest grossing Spanish film in history in the national territory, with a collection of more than 56 million Euros. It had its sequel in Eight catalan surnames (2015), equally successful.
The machinist of La Generalby Buster Keaton (1925)
Along with Charles Chaplin, the American actor, producer, screenwriter and director Buster Keaton also made a career in the comic silent film. The machinist of La General it is his most celebrated film, despite the fact that it was a resounding failure at the box office and critics at the time of its premiere.
Sister Act: A Caring Nun, by Emile Ardolino (1992)
One of the most remembered musical comedies of the 90s. She owes her success to Whoopi Goldberg's talent and charisma, as well as her outstanding singing ability. The eternal Maggie Smith and Harvey Keitel are also in the cast.
Hangoverby Todd Phillips (2009)
"What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas." A bachelor party that goes particularly wrong, gives rise to the craziest situations. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis star. Worldwide box office success ending in a trilogy: Hangover 2, now in Thailand (2011) and R3sacon (2013)
Madagascar by Tom McGrath (2005)
In animated cinema there is also room for laugh movies. Since the 2000s, Dreamworks Animation has emerged as the most successful 3D animation production company for adults, (although without neglecting children's audiences).
Part of the success of productions such as Madagascar falls on the selection of the cast. In this case, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinckett Smith and Sacha Baron Cohen lend their voices to the protagonists.
It gave rise to two additional installments released in 2008 and 2012, as well as a questionable spin off: The Penguins of Madagascar (2014), all with the same success as the original film.
Shrekby Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jeisen (2001)
Before Madagascar, the film that broke the paradigms of animated cinema designed more for adult audiences than for children was Shrek. Oscar winner for Best Animated Film, Official Selection of the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. Mike Myers, Cameron Díaz, Eddie Murphy, John Litghow and Vicent Cassel provide the voice for the protagonists.
A much more successful sequel was released in 2004 (little more than 900 million dollars in world-wide collection). The original cast was joined by the voices of Antonio Banderas, Rupert Everett, John Cleese, Julie Andrews and Jennifer Saunders.
The diaryof Bridget Jonesby Sharen Maguire (2001)
Another romantic comedy, now with an English accent. Based on the famous novel written by Helen Fielding. Starring the American Renée Zellweger (whose selection was peppered with controversy for not being British), along with Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.
The nutty professorby Jerry Lewis (1963)
Before Jim Carrey, the king of Splapstic (a sub-genre of comedy based on exaggerated actions, blows, pain and lots of grimaces) was Jerry Lewis.
The nutty professor is partially based on the celebrated account The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
In 1996, Eddie Murphy starred in a successful remake, of which Lewis himself was a producer.
The Mask: Green Superheroby Chuck Russell (1994)
By the time of its premiere, Carrey already had a long career as a comedian, although this film marked a before and after in his professional career.
The plot of this film is based on Mike Richardson's comic of the same name.
Tedby Seth MacFarlane (2012)
One of those completely risqué laugh movies. Directorial debut for Seth MacFarlane, creator of the TV series Parent y American Dad. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and MacFarlane himself, who voices a controversial and foul-mouthed teddy bear that refuses to mature.
Make me laughby Judd Apatow (2009)
A comedy with a marked sense of drama. Framed within another variant of laugh movies: the "comedy message."
Starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, two of the most recognized comedic actors of recent years. Johan Hill, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana and Jason Schwartzman complete the cast.
Image sources: RTVE.es / SensaCine