2010 has been a relatively funny year thus far, with quite a few comedies making their mark on the box office. Though some of the year’s funnier titles are admittedly coming out later in the summer, here are the ten funniest movies to be released thus far:
1. Get Him to the Greek
With Jonah Hill and Russell Brand leading the way, Get Him to the Greek succeeds on multiple levels. Directed by the same man who brought you Forgetting Sarah Marshall, this Nicholas Stoller film provides funny performances with a plot that works. It runs on the dry humor of Hill, with plenty of one liners to keep movie quoters afloat for the duration of the summer.
2. MacGruber
The big problem with most comedy films is that they rehash the same tired characters over and over. This film featured Will Forte, Ryan Phillipe and a great performance from Val Kilmer, adding something different in a tried and true comedy world. Though only slapstick humor, MacGruber was funny enough to satisfy audiences.
3. Death at a Funeral
Sometimes a movie’s deficiencies must be overcome by a great cast of actors. Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock qualify and their performance in this movie is what makes it great. The dialogue between Lawrence and Rock is classic, as they become the primary draw in this one.
4. Date Night
Any time Steve Carell is involved, expectations are going to be high. In Date Night, he and Tina Fey played the lead, and produced a moderately funny comedy. Carell himself was able to carry the action, as the plot left something to be desired. Performances from Ray Liotta and Mila Kunis were highly underrated and helped to round out the sophisticated comedy cast.
5. Greenberg
This Ben Stiller flick is a bit more nuanced, as it doesn’t bring the “in your face” comedy style for which he has become famous. Still, he is electric in his role as a down and out New Yorker, and the plot is funny despite hitting home for many viewers in today’s economy.
6. Cop Out
An early February release, Cop Out benefited at the box office from a lack of comedy alternatives. With former SNL funny man Tracey Morgan teaming up with Bruce Willis, there are some moments where the actors’ tension produces the humor. With an uncharacteristically funny performance from Sean William Scott to top things off, Cop Out was as funny as an overdone police movie could be.
7. Our Family Wedding
This film touched on many sensitive themes, including interracial marriages and cultural strife. Still, Forrest Whitaker delivers in his customary way, and Carlos Mencia is there to provide humor on the side. Anyone who has been through a wedding can enjoy the mishaps and hilarity that ensue when the pressure is so high.
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
This is a somewhat different comedy attempt, as it is an adaptation from an illustrated work. The work includes some real life adventures that just about anyone can relate to, which makes it especially funny at parts. Zachary Gordon also provides something of a come-out performance.
9. Hot Tub Time Machine
In typical fashion, many of the funniest parts of this movie were shown in the trailer. It was still good enough to produce laughs for a couple of hours, though. The idea behind the movie is somewhat cheesy, but the situations and performances are good enough. A guest appearance by Chevy Chase is what puts this movie over the top.
10. I Love you, Phillip Morris
Jim Carey’s latest film can be called many things, with funny and weird among those things. A racy film about a gay love affair and a con scheme, this one was not as popular at the box office as it should have been. Not surprisingly, it is Carey’s performance that powers this film.
