Top Comedy Movies of 2010

1. Date Night

Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. Perhaps the funniest TV couple in the movies. From the director that brought you Big, Fat Liar, Just Married, Night at the Museum, and Real Steel (No, I don't see a pattern either). I'm crediting the success with the actors and a pretty good, albeit nothing special, script. This being #1 is more due to lack of stand-out comedies in 2010.

2. Get Him to the Greek

Russell Brand plays himself well as always in a way that most people never fully embrace. Jonah Hill does everything he is asked to do solidly, although it would be fair to say he didn't add anything to his character to make him his own. There's a "what, was Seth Rogen busy" feel to the character. P. Diddy is always delightful when he doesn't take himself too seriously. It's also nice to see Elisabeth Moss out of the 60's.

3. Kick-Ass

Good description of the movie. The humor in this is very dark or crude and definitely not for everyone. The breakout star of this is definitely Chloe Mortez who has made quite a career out of alternating between kid's movies and playing the foul mouth kid in adult movies. It's amazing how many laughs the movie gets from people being mauled viciously. It goes a bit too dark toward the end, keeping it from being a pure comedy which is the only thing hurting it for the purpose of this list.

4. Easy A

Definitely a strong lead performance by Emma Stone who capitalized on that all the way to the A list in 2011. A fresh take on an old story. It relies a lot of that Juno-like lead and has a lot of archetypal characters (closeted gay friend, uber-Christian, slutty best friend) but uses them in a very satisfying way.

5. Toy Story 3

Definitely the biggest hit of the list. As always, Pixar meshes comedy with heart astoundingly well and makes something to be enjoyed by everyone.

6. Death at a Funeral

Tyler Perry, take notice. Mostly "diverse" cast, even using Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence who don't have a good movie between them in the last decade, and making something with broad appeal and actual jokes. An under appreciated movie, but quite solid in a year with a dearth of quality true comedies.

7. The Kids Are All Right

Barely a comedy. Kind of breaking my own rule by putting it here, but it had strong performances and was enjoyable Annette Bening and Julianne Moore do a great job (though Bening gets the edge in my book). Mia Was...Alice is convincing and the Incredible Hulk plays a sort-of D-bag well.


HONORABLE MENTION

She's Out of My League
All the casting of an Apatow comedy, but with none of the looseness. Good movie, but it was a de-fanged version of what it could've been.

Hot Tub Time Machine
Not since Dude Where's My Car? has a movie been so aware of how bad it was. For that, kudos.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
I think I am not hipster enough to enjoy a Michael Cera movie or something. On paper, I should like like this mix of quirky and good cast more but I just didn't.

Cyrus
Not as much a comedy as an experiment to see how awkward Jonah Hill could make John C. Reily feel.

Tangled
Light-hearted Disney. More for kids than adults (obviously), so not getting real consideration.