Wondering what will have you laughing in your cinema seat this year? We've hand-selected these five little beauties for your comedy enjoyment...
One's a musical comprised largely of felt, two could just as easily have slotted in to our drama list, and one stars Vince Vaughn, but we promise that all five should have you laughing. Here they are then, Movie Reviews' top 5 comedy picks for 2012...
From Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman, the writing/directing team behind Juno, comes Young Adult, a comedy drama which reminds us all why Charlize Theron richly deserves the Best Actress Oscar she picked up for Monster.
Theron’s role in Young Adult, that of a recently divorced writer of teen fiction who returns to her home town and promptly goes about attempting to seduce her married former-high school sweetheart, is both monstrously enjoyable and painfully revealing.
Patton Oswalt, who will forever be in our hearts thanks to Ratatouille, stars as Theron’s character’s drinking buddy, with Morning Glory’s Patrick Wilson as the object of her desires. Young Adult comes to UK cinemas on February 3rd getting the year off to a quality comedy start.
Devoted fans of Alexander Payne’s Sideways, Election and About Schmidt, round our way a new Payne comedy drama is a thing worthy of celebration. The release of The Descendants at the end of the month then, will have us reaching for the iced party rings and fizzy squash.
George Clooney plays Matt King, a Honolulu lawyer whose wife has suffered a serious accident and whose children don’t much like him. So far, so not funny you might say, but Payne’s comedy dramas have never been filled with light, bright and bubbly fare, preferring to tackle the darker side of relationships. Early noises have been very positive on this one, and we’ll bring you our own review next week.
Based on Kaui Hart Hemmings’ novel of the same name, The Descendants comes to UK cinemas on January 27th.
Now this one shouldn’t take any convincing. Not only is it The Muppets, it’s also the film which brought out last year’s most enjoyable set of trailers. The marketing team behind The Muppets parodied Paranormal Activity 3,The Hangover 2, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and itself (in a twisty postmodern self-reflexive move worthy of TV’s Community). Fine work, it was agreed by all.
What’s more, Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie is the man behind the original songs in the comedy musical due out in the UK on February 10th.
As our friends stateside have had the pleasure of The Muppets since late November, trusted sources have assured us it’s ace. Come release date, run, don’t walk to your cinema.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s The Green Hornet may not have been their biggest success (that trophy has to go to 2007’s Superbad), but the duo behind Pineapple Express have proved themselves more than capable of delivering big laughs in the past. Their involvement is part one of our threefold logic for awarding Neighbourhood Watch a place on this list. Part two is the pitch: Neighbourhood Watch is The Burbs meets Attack the Block. Part three is the decision to cast one man: Richard Ayoade.
Maurice Moss from TV’s The IT Crowd and acclaimed director in his own right for last year’s Submarine, Richard Ayoadeis a bit of a hero of ours. News that he’s joined the cast of Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Vince Vaughn made it a must-see.
Saturday Night Live writer/director Akiva Schaffer is calling the shots and Neighbourhood Watch comes to UK cinemas on August 22nd.
Nero Fiddled (previously known as The Bop Decameron) continueswriter/director Woody Allen’s run of European-set comedies, and based on the fun of last year’s Midnight in Paris, we’re quietly optimistic about this one. Allen stars himself, alongside 30 Rock-favourite Alec Baldwin, The Social Network’s Jesse Eisenberg, Life is Beautiful’s Roberto Benigni, and Inception’s Ellen Page.
Comprised of four vignettes taking place in Rome, Nero Fiddled promises a natty script, entertaining performances and comes out in October. But after this one Woody, you’re going back to New York, right? Promise? Okay then.
Young Adult
Theron’s role in Young Adult, that of a recently divorced writer of teen fiction who returns to her home town and promptly goes about attempting to seduce her married former-high school sweetheart, is both monstrously enjoyable and painfully revealing.
Patton Oswalt, who will forever be in our hearts thanks to Ratatouille, stars as Theron’s character’s drinking buddy, with Morning Glory’s Patrick Wilson as the object of her desires. Young Adult comes to UK cinemas on February 3rd getting the year off to a quality comedy start.
The Descendants
George Clooney plays Matt King, a Honolulu lawyer whose wife has suffered a serious accident and whose children don’t much like him. So far, so not funny you might say, but Payne’s comedy dramas have never been filled with light, bright and bubbly fare, preferring to tackle the darker side of relationships. Early noises have been very positive on this one, and we’ll bring you our own review next week.
Based on Kaui Hart Hemmings’ novel of the same name, The Descendants comes to UK cinemas on January 27th.
The Muppets
What’s more, Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie is the man behind the original songs in the comedy musical due out in the UK on February 10th.
As our friends stateside have had the pleasure of The Muppets since late November, trusted sources have assured us it’s ace. Come release date, run, don’t walk to your cinema.
Neighbourhood Watch
Maurice Moss from TV’s The IT Crowd and acclaimed director in his own right for last year’s Submarine, Richard Ayoadeis a bit of a hero of ours. News that he’s joined the cast of Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Vince Vaughn made it a must-see.
Saturday Night Live writer/director Akiva Schaffer is calling the shots and Neighbourhood Watch comes to UK cinemas on August 22nd.
Nero Fiddled
Comprised of four vignettes taking place in Rome, Nero Fiddled promises a natty script, entertaining performances and comes out in October. But after this one Woody, you’re going back to New York, right? Promise? Okay then.
