Jedi
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The answer to your question is much more complicated than you might think. Note the following:
By the 1930s, the comedy genre had become generally screwball comedy (physical and slapstick humor suited to the silent screen) or romantic comedy genre with the likes of Max Linder, Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Harold Lloyd, Mack Sennett, and Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, and the Marx Brothers. Buster Keaton in The Navigator (1920) was one of the first introduce the refined physical comedy that focused on minimal but effectively focused humor based on the economy of expression (later adapted by Bill Murray in Lost in Translation (2004)). In 1925, Charlie Chaplin offered The Gold Rush that incorporated a love story with his comedy, the genre that would inevitably become a staple of the industry. His surrealistic dream sequence he used to great effect and simple props provided a minimalist physical humor while also introducing the early dichotomy of sharing both comedy and shades of drama hinting towards one of the more substantive developments of comedy that is just recently getting more serious attention. Buster Keaton improved on his physical technique of comedy in The General using difficult, mechanical precision in his stunt gags. The Marx Brothers put together a scattered brained script to create Duck Soup in 1933, including the use of satirical narrative to advance the comedy while W.C. Fields entered with It's a Gift in 1934 to great affect sparring with an infant partner that would foretell of "Big" with Tom Hanks in a complete reversal with an infant adult (1988) and became a character unto himself much like Bill Murray became (but has since successfully moved on to more dramatic roles). The same year, romantic comedy had its big debut with "It Happened One Night" starring Clark Cable and Claudette Colbert, two reluctant strangers, one a sensationalist journalist looking for a story and rich heiress who loses her money who fall in love while sharing a motel room pretending to be man and wife. A second romantic comedy two years later in 1936 follows a similar plot with "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur capturing the popular audience. Yet it is with Charlie Chaplin and his "Modern Times" (1936) that comedy is introduced to the serious sociological impact of technology on society, considered one of the masterpieces of comedy of all time.
More romantic comedies followed in 1937 with "The Awful Truth" that paired Cary Grant and Irene Fisher, in 1938 with "Bringing Up Baby" that starred Cary Grant (a zoologist) and Katharine Hepburn (being chased by another rich woman with a leopard).
The multitude of comedy films available to the public by the 1990s was triple or quadruple that of action-adventure films as well as the genre having broadened itself to morph itself into blended genres, at least eight – however, the comedy drama was the most refined and cinematically the most sophisticated of them all.
Examples of Comical Movies (without recommendations with their IMDb ratings)
Adventure
Adventures of Ford Fairlane, The (1990) 5.2/10 (4188 votes) Air America (1990) 5.2/10 (3839 votes)
Cops/Mobsters
Another 48 Hrs. (1990) 5.1/10 (4640 votes) Dick Tracy (1990) 5.7/10 (10095 votes) My Blue Heaven (1990) 6.0/10 (3369 votes) Freshman, The (1990) 6.5/10 (3829 votes)
Horror/Thriller
Arachnophobia (1990) 6.1/10 (8710 votes) Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) 5.8/10 (7906 votes) Tremors (1990) 6.9/10 (9790 votes) Edward Scissorhands (1990) 7.7/10 (27507 votes)
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Back to the Future Part III (1990) 6.7/10 (25136 votes)
Comedy Romance
Bird on a Wire (1990) 5.3/10 (5152 votes) Bonfire of the Vanities, The (1990) 5.0/10 (4196 votes) Pretty Woman (1990) 6.6/10 (23685 votes) Mermaids (1990) 6.3/10 (4307 votes) Green Card (1990) 6.0/10 (5227 votes)
Family
Look Who's Talking Too (1990) 3.7/10 (6902 votes) Kindergarten Cop (1990) 5.8/10 (13648 votes) Home Alone (1990) 6.4/10 (22009 votes) Problem Child (1990) 4.0/10 (3216 votes) 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990) 4.5/10 (3106 votes)
Young Adult
Cry-Baby (1990) 6.0/10 (4211 votes)
Western
Young Guns II (1990) 5.8/10 (4384 votes)
Other
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) 5.4/10 (8234 votes) Pump Up the Volume (1990) 6.8/10 (6108 votes) Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) 7.4/10 (5104 votes) Wild at Heart (1990) 7.0/10 (9680 votes)
My Favorite Comedy Theatrical/Television Movies 1. Mama Mia!!! (2008). A near perfect musical for the baby-boomer generation that is pure refreshing, uninhibited entertainment, with great comedy and choreography, along with an award-winning singing, acting performance by Meryl Streep. Nine out of Ten Stars. [Reviewed 7/24/08]. - Musical comedy.
2. The Women (2008). Hits right on delving into the light comedy-drama of contemporary women of today's generation. Bringing together a powerful ensemble cast of well-known female actresses, this movie explodes with an entertaining but fascinatingly real essence of contemporary women dealing with business and relational issues. [Reviewed 9/27/08]. Nine out of Ten Stars. Romantic comedy.
3. Moliere (2007). A French produced period comedy drama that provides laugh at in a layered movie about the comedy actor who must disguise himself at a rich man's estate and deal with a love interest at the same time. A strongly emotive movie with is both sophisticated and funny as well as seriously sad and happy. 9/10. Reviewed 2/19/08. Romantic Comedy.
4. The Matador (2005). Pierce Brosnan stars in this dark comedy action thriller drama about an assassin who begins having panic attacks and his unusual relationship with a businessman played by Greg Kinnear. This is a well-balanced, well-performed movie that has a fine triple twist ending along with a rarely strong comedic element in such a dark movie. 9/10. Cops/Mobster Comedy.
5. The Incredibles (2004). The most delicious, socially relevant and dazzling uses of contemporary state of the art animated movies of the best. The brings home the art of the possible and captures the supreme essence of animation at its best. IMDb #73. Animated/Family Comedy.
6. Being John Malkovich (2000). An surrealistic, fantasy expose into the inner mind. IMDb #243. Other comedy.
7. Prime (2005). Likely the most wittiest, funniest and most sincere romantic comedies of the year. Starring Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep, has Meryl, a therapist, seeing Uma who begins a love relationship with Meryl's son in the movie. [Reviewed 10/29/05]. Romantic comedy.
8. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Science Fiction/Fantasy comedy.
9. Music and Lyrics (2007). A has been pop star played by Hugh Grant ends up with his substitute plant watering help played by Drew Barrymore in this very funny romantic comedy in an attempt to create a more contemporary musical number of a teen singer sensation. 9/10 [Reviewed 2/18/07] [Originally ranked 156 as of 2/25/07 - moved up now #105 5/2/08]. Romantic comedy.
10. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985). Bittersweet romantic comedy.
11. Sweet Little Sunshine (2006). One of the best little surprises of 2006, this fun, entertaining R-rated family comedy-drama delights, saddens, and enlightens on a trip of a family to send a little girl to a beauty-talent show. [Reviewed 8/30/06]. Family comedy.
12. The Truman Show (1998). Fantasy comedy.
13. Like Water for Chocolate (1992).
14. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). IMDb #217. Action/Adventure comedy.
15. Chocolat (2001).
16. Amelie (2002).
17. Calendar Girls (2003).
18. La Grande Seduction (2003). A tiny island is in need of a full-time doctor if it is to lure a much needed company to the island.
19. Roman Holiday (1953). IMDb #203. National Film Registry movie.
20. Finding Nemo (2003).
21. Lars and the Real Girl (2007). Ryan Gosling stars in this sensitive family drama about a private young man who attempts to come to terms with his life with the help of a full-sized female doll. 8/10. [Reviewed 11/18/07].
22. Get Smart (2008). A groundbreaking, rough around the edges, sophisticated, underplayed adventure comedy in this Steve Carell helmed movie that reprises the television series. 8/10. [Reviewed 6/21/08]. Action/Adventure comedy.
23. WALL*E (2008). A creative innovation in animation using a solid script that requires substantially less dialogue and vastly more difficult physical, visual communication of ideas in this meaningful movie about loneliness, simple emotions and ideas about this only remaining robotic waste collector on earth who accidentally discovers (even unknowingly) the key to the fate of humanity. Eight out of Ten Stars. [Originally ranked 192 as of 12/22/08]. Science Fiction/Fantasy comedy.
24. Death to Smoochy (2002). A strange dark comedy starring Robin Williams who seeks revenge after being fired from a children's show. 8/10.
25. Connie and Carla (2004). One of the more difficult performances of women acting as men acting as women. This movie captured the humorous and sensitive nature of the sexes along with a delightful David Duchovy straight man.
26. Mostly Martha (2001). [Remade in 2007 starring Catherine Zeta Jones, "No Reservations].
27. Love Actually (2003). An ensemble cast centered during Christmas in England with couples dealing with their relationships in this comedy drama.
28. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). One of the biggest comedy hits of 2002.
29. Tropic Thunder (2008). An adult comedy (R-Rated comedy circuit acts made into a movie with special effects). This no-holds barred comedy offends and satirizes, emotionally packs a thought-provoking punch at times about actors who believe in they are in war movie when they encounter real drug lords in an Asian Country where the movie is being shot. A risky, cultish movie that misses a few times but makes up for its daringly fresh comedy acts. [Reviewed 8/21/08]. Eight out of Ten Stars.
30. Swing Vote (2008). A comedy-drama about one man's vote (Kevin Costner) to decide the U.S. President that is a meaningful statement on American politics while at the same time offering a poignant depiction of a daughter who carries adult responsibilities and a flawed man who has yet to find himself and his place in his daughter's life. [Reviewed 8/3/08]. 8/10.
31. My Date With Drew (2004). A compelling, funny, tense, documentary about one man's attempt to get a date with Drew Barrymore. A movie with heart. Nine out of Ten Stars. Reviewed 6/2/06.
32. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005). Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star as assassins married to each other in this bitingly funny, unusual romance comedy. Reviewed 6/12/05. Second viewing, the freshness and the spontaneity, excitement wear off somewhat but still retains its specialness. Previously ranked 165 (6/15/05). Action/Adventure Comedy.
33. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003). A deliciously beautiful performance and locale for Diane Lane directed by Audrey Wells to create a romantic comedy about a recently divorced woman who impulsively buys a villa in Italy. One of the most concise, interesting, and professional director's commentary on the DVD [reviewed 2nd time 01/01/06. Originally 119, but rated lower to 172 for its more pedestrian rendering second time around, nevertheless quite viewable but without the original intrigue relational intensity].
34. Ghost Town (2008). British Actor Ricky Gervais captivates in a difficult comedian, jackass role and pulls it off in this funny and delightful romance comedy about a dentist who died briefly and can now see ghosts. [Reviewed 9/21/08]. 8/10.
35. The Perfect Man (2005), this Hillary Duff, Heather Locklear daugther-mother vehicle does an excellent and powerful job in a light and entertaining, dramatic way highlight the dilemma of being a single mother who runs away from bad relationships and how her daughter unwittingly sets her up with the perfect man with both tragic but worthwhile results. [Reviewed 7/1/05].
36. The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003). Teen comedy starring Hilary Duff and a case of mistaken identity in Rome.
37. Charade (1963). The romantic comedy classic starring Gary Grant and Audrey Hepburn who search for a mystery treasure left by Hepburn's character's deceased husband while staving off the badguys. IMDb #215.
38. Ghost Busters (1984). One of the classic horror-comedy films created. Bill Murray stars with a great cast developing one of the most original, visually dazzling comedies of the 1980s and captured the imagination of a generation. Science Fiction/Fantasy comedy.
39. Waitress (2007). Keri Russell portrays a waitress who loves to bake pies, finds herself pregnant with a not so nice husband in this comedy-drama that is charming in its brilliant humorous and delicious movie. 8/10. [Reviewed 6/11/07].
40. Down With Love (2003). A great tribute to the 1950 Doris Day romantic comedy movies.
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