Comedy movies have long been loved by fans, sometimes regardless of their quality.However, there are some comedy movies, particularly from the last few years, that could not work, regardless of the talent attached to them. Some movies simply don’t know what kind of story they are telling. This makes it hard for the comedy to land in a meaningful way. Many comedies also try to do too much and the comedy ends up getting lost.
Some movies, likeThe Hottie and The Nottie, are deeply exploitative and use a tone that can barely be classified as comedic. Other movies, likeFrom Justin to Kelly, waste the talents of those involved. Terrible scripts, poor performances, and tone-deaf stories have plagued the worst comedies of the last 25 years. Ultimately, the worst of these movies showcase the worst of what comedic movies can become.
11’Swept Away' (2002)
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Swept Awayis a remakeof the iconic 1974 Italian movie of the same name. The original starredMariangela MelatoandGiancarlo Giannini. DirectorGuy Ritchiecast his then-wife,Madonna,as the protagonist in the remake. When the two main characters end up on an island, they find themselves falling in love. The movie is ultimately a stilted imitation of the original movie, which was deeply charming and romantic.
Swept Awayrepresents so many of the problems remakes can run into. Richie’s version failed to capture the charm and whimsy of the original. The remake missed so much of the emotional resonance that made fans connect with the original. While the movie may have been designed to showcase Madonna’s acting ability, it instead demonstrated Richie’s challenges in directing her specifically. The movie retains none of what made the original so sweet.
Swept Away
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10’From Justin to Kelly' (2003)
Directed by Robert Iscove
From Justin to Kellyis a musical romantic comedy starringAmerican IdolwinnerKelly Clarksonand runner-upJustinGuarini. The movie was made in the aftermath ofAmerican Idol’s inaugural season.From Justin to Kellyfeatures Clarkson and Guarini as fictionalized versions of themselves. The story itself is convoluted, and the songs do not showcase the talents of either of the two lead actors.
What makes this movie one of the worst comedies in the last 25 years is the fact that it fails to make anything of what could have been a sweet and fun premise.The script does the cast no favors and only highlights the fact that both of the leads are singers rather than actors.From Justin to Kellycould have been a silly and fun musical comedy. Instead, everything about the story feels like a slog, and there is hardly any comedy.
From Justin to Kelly
9’Gigli' (2003)
Directed by Martin Brest
Gigliis a romantic comedy starringJennifer LopezandBen Affleck. The movie was made at the height of “Bennifer”’s popularity and could have capitalized on the real-life romance of the two leads.Gigliis the story of two people who are caught up in mob drama but find a way to fall in love. This movie also gets dark very fast, and not in a fun way.Giglicould have leaned into dark humor to tell a romantic story.
Gigli isone of the worst comedy movies of the last 25 years because it is a convoluted story with stilted dialogue that doesn’t bother to access any of the natural charm of the two leads.The movie’s romantic story is a stretch at best and simply nonsensical at worst.Gigli’s comedic moments are few and far between, and are overshadowed by the movie’s many misguided attempts to be both a serious drama and an endearing love story.
8’Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2' (2004)
Directed by Bob Clark
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2is the sequel to the 1999 movie,Superbabies. The movie picks up where the first one left off, and further establishes the fact that babies can communicate with one another and know a lot of things one wouldn’t expect babies to know. The superbabies featured in this story become involved in a massive scheme cooked up by a media mogul. If this plot sounds far too heavy to be comedic, that’s because it is.
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2is one of the worst comedic movies of the last 25 years because it takes what should be a fun idea and makes it boring. The fact that it is deeply cringe-worthy could have worked in the movie’s favor. However, even the cringe falls flat. There is nothing of substance to make viewers appreciate any of the comedy.Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2has an objectively funny premise from the beginning, but this is never fully realized.
Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2
7’Epic Movie' (2007)
Directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer
Epic Movieis a parody movie that references such projects asThe Chronicles of Narnia,Harry Potter,Pirates of the Caribbean, TheX-Menfranchise, andCharlie and the Chocolate Factory. Rather than analyzing these well-known pieces of pop culture, the movie features a collection of scenes that can technically be classified as a movie when put together. This movie could have been a fun and silly mash-up of some of the most well-known franchises.
Unlike the best parody movies,Epic Moviemisses many opportunities to add anything new to the stories it is making fun of.Instead, the story simply combines characters from different franchises in a massive bundle of chaos that means nothing. The performances are wooden, and the jokes fly fast and furiously without being particularly funny. As a whole,Epic Moviecomes across as too mean to truly be considered a comedy.
Epic Movie
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6’Disaster Movie' (2008)
Disaster Movieis another parody moviedirected byJason FriedbergandAaron Seltzer. The movie attempts to satirize the disaster movie genre and references such movies asTwister,Cloverfield, andThe Day After Tomorrow.Kim Kardashianstars in her movie debut. While the movie clearly tries to be funny throughout, the story comes across as particularly dark.Disaster Moviemisses opportunities to parody fantastic pop culture references and stick them in a fun disaster adventure.
Disaster Moviehad the opportunity to be a genuinely hilarious reflection on a genre that can get objectively silly. Instead, this is another example of a parody movie that throws references around for no reason and tries to make it a substitute for comedy.Disaster Moviealso makes a concerted effort to include particularly vulgar humor that feels wildly out of place in a movie that parodies a genre that can appeal to all ages.
Disaster Movie
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5’Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star' (2011)
Directed by Tom Brady
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Staris the story of a man-child, Bucky Larson (Nick Swardson).The movie was produced byAdam Sandlerand directed byTom Brady. The movie’s main character is the son of former adult film stars, and he makes it his life’s goal to follow in their footsteps. Bucky has next to no redeeming qualities and spends so much of the movie whining about something or other as he tries to achieve his dream.
What makesBucky Larson: Born to Be a Starone of the worst comedies made in the last few years is the fact that it is so grating. The premise of this movie could have lent itself to a funny adult drama. Instead, so much ofBucky Larson: Born to Be a Starcomes across as deeply juvenile. The protagonist is so unlikeable that it isn’t possible to appreciate any of the jokes that may have worked being delivered by literally anyone else.
Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star
4’Jack and Jill' (2011)
Directed by Dennis Dugan
Though he’s beloved, and for good reason, by legions of fans, it’s no secret thatAdam Sandlerhas appeared in some of the worst comedy movies in recent memory. And thoughPixels,The Ridiculous 6and more stand out as being uniquely painful, there’s one clear loser:Jack and Jill, which stars Sandler as male and female twins. It’s one of the laziest movies you’ll ever watch.
Jack and Jillis laugh free, and a little weirder the more you look at it. It cost about $80 million, and co-stars Oscar winnerAl Pacino. It’s also shot byHalloweenandJurassic ParkDPDean Cundey, but it still looks like garbage. What happened here?
Jack and Jill
Family guy, Jack Sadelstein, prepares for the annual event he always dreads–the Thanksgiving visit of his fraternal twin sister, the needy, and passive-aggressive Jill, who then refuses to leave.
3’Foodfight!' (2012)
Directed by Lawrence Kasanoff
Foodfight!is an animated adventure comedythat features the voices ofCharlie Sheen,Eva Longoria, andHilary Duff. The story features an anthropomorphized cereal mascot, Dex Dogtective (Sheen), who is tasked with fighting against the forces of an evil competing brand that is threatening to take over the supermarket Dex calls home.Foodfight!had the chance to be a poignant commentary on marketing in general but fails to live up to this potential.
Foodfight!could have joined the ranks of funny animated movies, some that aren’t particularly good, that adults enjoy. The movie’s excessive product placement also undercuts what is presumably supposed to be the story’s message, which is that brands can and do use their powers for evil.Foodfight!is another example of a comedy with an identity crisis, and it was made for no clear audience. This lack of soul makes it next to impossible to invest in any of the comedy.
Foodfight!
2’The Hottie and the Nottie' (2008)
Directed by Tom Putnam
The Hottie and the NottiestarsParis Hiltonas Cristabel, a teenager who is the object of a young man’s desires. When this young man, Nate (Joel David Moore), tries to connect with Cristabel, Cristabel refuses to go on a date with him unless he can find a date for her friend June (Christine Lakin). June is mocked throughout the movie since she is not considered conventionally attractive. The story that follows is a mean narrative that makes fun of anyone who doesn’t fit certain beauty standards.
What makes this comedy so terrible is the fact that it has an exploitative tone from the beginning.The Hottie and the Nottiecould have used comedy to provide commentary on the fact that women who are perceived as not attractive are ruthlessly mocked throughout their lives. Instead, the movie is an example of a piece of media that objectified Hilton, who had been harassed by tabloids from a young age.
