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Originally Posted by Rain Man
I do think part of what imbeds a movie in our minds is how it compares to expectations. I saw Napoleon Dynamite completely blind right as it came out. I'd never even heard of it, and for some reason my wife and I went to see it just because we were in a moviegoing phase. So I had no expectations at all, and loved it as a result.
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Yep, 100%. I had a similar issue with another on your list in The Hangover. I spent months hearing about how funny the movie was, best thing since sliced bread, yada yada. I also missed that one in theaters so the hype just continued to build.
I finally watched it on DVD and I'm like.. "... That's it?"
In fairness, that one actually has really grown on me since that moment. That's one I'll pretty much always turn to if I find myself channel surfing.
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Originally Posted by Rain Man
Trading Places is a masterpiece of modern comedy. I still occasionally say something about the "GI Joe with the Kung Fu grip", even though no one gets the reference any more. I think most people would say that Coming to America was Eddie Murphy's peak, or maybe Beverly Hills Cop, but I think it's Trading Places.
I've never seen Friday. Looking at a plot synopsis, I can see why, because I'm typically turned off by plots that revolve around drugs. But hey, if Harold and Kumar can pull it off, I may have to give Friday a try. And I liked Chris Tucker.
I can appreciate Dumb and Dumber even if it's not near the top of my list. It's in the cateogry of those Leslie Nielson movies where the movie is 100 percent comedy with no attempt at being anything else. I think I prefer a little more meat on the plot bones.
It makes me realize that I have no Jim Carrey movies at the top of my list. He has a lot of movies that I've liked, but none that I've loved, other than maybe Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is a different animal.
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OK, lots of thoughts here:
I agree that Trading Places was the peak and it holds a special place in my heart. Just something about it. It's so perfect. Coming to America and Beverly Hills Cop are classics in their own right. Hell, I also loved The Golden Child, Boomerang, and Life. 80s/90s Eddie Murphy is in the Hall of Fame, for sure.
So.. fair warning. Friday is definitely a "black comedy" and I don't mean that in the classic sense. I'm black myself, I grew up around black people so the humor from the culture is all good to me. I know it's just not everyone's bag of tea. At any rate, I think it's great, as are the sequels Next Friday and Friday After Next. Ridiculous plots, classic characters, big name actors, extremely quotable (you've probably heard the expression "Bye, Felicia" at some point within the last 5 years or so- that line came from the original Friday). It's got everything I look for in a comedy.
You're right about Dumb and Dumber. I'd generally give extra points for "more meat on the bones", but sometimes I just like to put on a movie and laugh and I'm not sure any movie does that better than Dumb and Dumber. That 90s Jim Carrey had a direct line to my funny bone. Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, The Mask, The Cable Guy- all great.