• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Were the 80s the golden age of comedy films?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bananafactory

Banned
I'm trying to think of another decade that has given us more classics, though I guess the 2000s are still too recent for a lot of those to be considered "classic" in the same sense, and personal taste will likely come into play here too

But I mean, the 80s gave us the likes of the Bill Murray and John Hughes school of films:

Stripes
Ghostbusters
Caddyshack
Sixteen Candles
Pretty in Pink
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The Breakfast Club
Planes Trains & Automobiles

As well as stuff like:

Blues Brothers
National Lampoon's Vacation & Christmas Vacation
Lethal Weapon
Airplane!
Raising Arizona
Beverly Hills Cop
Trading Places
Back to the Future
A Christmas Story
Beetlejuice
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Spaceballs

I'm sure there's more I left off. I know there's still good comedy being made today, but when I look at my comedic DVD/Blu Ray collection it just seems like this decade makes up the majority of them.

What do you guys think?
 
F

fritolay

Member
Yes, and the golden age in general. 90's were the next best decade.

I was thinking today, what is the last really good comedy released? I can't think of one recently.
 
B

bananafactory

Banned
fritolay said:
Yes, and the golden age in general. 90's were the next best decade.

I was thinking today, what is the last really good comedy released? I can't think of one recently.
Click to expand...

I dunno, I enjoy dumb stuff like 21 and 22 Jump Street. There's still funny movies today, I just feel like they don't have the lasting impact on me that these ones did. Maybe that's nostalgia at play, maybe not.
 
MrCunningham

MrCunningham

Member
Early 1980's was mostly dominated by the SNL and Second City alumni. The later half of the decade was dictated by John Hughes. It was a good decade for comedy, but I feel like the first half of the '80's was generally better than the second half.
 
D

dekline

Member
The 80s didn't have the cornetto trilogy.

I also think In the Loop was 2000s.

fuck and the big lebowski was late 90s.

forgot Galaxy Quest.

Wait....Spinal Tap was 80s!

how could I forget MP and the holy grail, classic 70s flick.

I guess my point is...Maybe....kinda. I find these movies more hilarious than most of what you have in the op, but Fast Times, Christmas Vacation, Airplane, PT&A, and Raising Arizona are goddamn hilarious.
 
W

wanderingprostheyltite

Member
For the 80s you forgot this OP? Bow your head in shame

edit: Princess Bride is pretty legit too.

This_is_Spinal_Tap-129984257-large.jpg
 
MrCunningham

MrCunningham

Member
I saw This is Spinal Tap again a few weeks ago. It still holds up. And not only that, it really was ahead of its time, it did the whole mocumentary/ handicam thing long before it was ever a fad. Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean are comedy geniuses. So much subtlety too.
.
 
E

Extra Sauce

Member
fritolay said:
Yes, and the golden age in general. 90's were the next best decade.

I was thinking today, what is the last really good comedy released? I can't think of one recently.
Click to expand...

Black Dynamite, Team America and Anchorman are all post-2000 and I think they are some of the best comedies of all time.
 
D

Doc Az

Neo Member
I think the 80s were a pretty strong decade for film in general, I mean, for horror it was fantastic too, and don't get me started on the action films that decade gave us.

...although of course it did give us some real shit.
 
W

wanderingprostheyltite

Member
CordellC said:
My baby fits me like a, flesh tuxedo...
Click to expand...

The greatest song ever made

FriedConsole said:
Just watched it last week and laughed my ass off. The one thing good getting old is that you forget watching a movie and you can experience it again for the first time again.
Click to expand...

Hurray for memory loss!

MrCunningham said:
I saw This is Spinal Tap again a few weeks ago. It still holds up. And not only that, it really was ahead of its time, it did the whole mocumentary/ handicam thing long before it was ever a fad. Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean are comedy geniuses. So much subtlety too.
.
Click to expand...

It definitely does, holds up supremely well under repeat viewings. For those that haven't heard it find the blu ray or dvd with the commentary track where they're in character, it's incredible.
 
kunonabi

kunonabi

Member
Yeah, 80's is certainly tops for comedies among other things. Honestly 70-80s is probably my favorite period for movies in general.
 
B

BlueTsunami

there is joy in sucking dick
Music, and film... Maybe not fashion

I feel the 80s were able to portray genuine emotions without the irony, or sarcasm that were inundated with now. The downside being that some pieces were straight up corny.
 
R

robotrock

Banned
Hot Fuzz is the greatest comedy of all time. Zoolander might be second. Being John Malkovich is probably the third greatest comedy, but that's 90s!

Not sure if I agree about the 80s being the best decade for comedy, but it's really good. I think I've enjoyed 2000-2010 more if you include Shaun of the Dead, Anchorman, Superbad, Black Dynamite,The Royal Tenenbaums, Adaptation, Team America, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Borat, and Tropic Thunder.

Hot Fuzz might actually be the greatest movie of all time.

edit: In Bruges, Idiocracy, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Napoleon Dynamite (not sure how I forgot this classic)
 
B

Bodacious

Banned
Firemind said:
The F40 is the GOAT, son.
Click to expand...

Yeah, well 99% of us back then were admiring the F40 while driving 132hp pieces of rusty shit with broken turbos or little Japanese microboxes that make a modern Corolla look like a Benz S-class. Consumer grade cars in the 80's were horrible.

McDonald's fries were about 1000x better than now though.


I remember going out with friends to see Eddie Murphy "Raw." The movie theater sign said:

RAW
NUTS
BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED
 
M

Mrmartel

Banned
I'm not sure when it started. Maybe with the American Pie flicks (Even those films had some heart to em). But Modern comedies rely too much on raunchy/vulgar jokes and scenes. I watch a good number of comedies from the 80s with my nieces. Couldn't watch anything with them made recently. I think since 2000 the best comedies have been the Shawn of the Dead trilogy (I forget it's other name).

Plus the comedy is super safe, other than all the cum and shit gushing all over the place. Monty Python esque comedy couldn't be duplicated now.

That being said I'm actually drawn to kids comedies. Some of those animated movies are hilarious.
 
B

bananafactory

Banned
Mrmartel said:
I'm not sure when it started. Maybe with the American Pie flicks (Even those films had some heart to em). But Modern comedies rely too much on raunchy/vulgar jokes and scenes. I watch a good number of comedies from the 80s with my nieces. Couldn't watch anything with them made recently. I think since 2000 the best comedies have been the Shawn of the Dead trilogy (I forget it's other name).

Plus the comedy is super safe, other than all the cum gushing all over the place. Monty Python esque comedy couldn't be duplicated now.

That being said I'm actually drawn to kids comedies. Some of those animated movies are hilarious.
Click to expand...

I think the raunchiness was still present then, (many of the films I listed have nudity and profanity) but it seems movies often go for more shock value today which is why they are maybe pushing the boundaries a bit more in that regard
 
C

Currygan

at last, for christ's sake
bananafactory said:
Curious, what would you say is a better decade for them?
Click to expand...

the 50s for example
Sabrina, The Ladykillers, Father of the bride, Around the world in 80 days, Some like it hot, The Lavender Hill Mob, I'm All Right Jack and so on. Or the 30s. Or the 2000s (Hot Fuzz anyone?) Or the 70s. The 80 certainly had an enormous number of (mostly American) comedies, some of them are true gems like Tootsie or Trading Places, but it doesn't come close imho
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

  • Locked
Ghostbusters Review Thread [Certified Fresh - 75%]
57 58 59 60 61
3K
351K
Bad Trip replied
  • Locked
15 Films to See in July (what are you watching?)
37
5K
cj_iwakura replied
  • Locked
15 Films to See in December (what are you watching?)
2 3
108
12K
lunchtoast replied
  • Locked
Harold Ramis dead at 69
7 8 9 10 11
511
43K
Shaneus replied
  • Locked
list of Celebrity deaths so far this year
43
6K
Permanently A replied
Top Bottom