Have you ever gone through a day that you feel could have possibly been one of the worst days ever, then you pop on an exceptionally funny movie out of the blue, and it’s like poof, you’re suddenly falling over your living room floor laughing so hard to the point where tears are beginning to cover your face? This is the result of an innovative and strategically produced comedy, one that builds an arch and directly captures viewers during its lead-ins and stands the test of time.
Themed comedies are an essential, combining the laughter with elements of mysterious plots in a genre mash-up which helps the comedy breathe. Some of the best examples of this include the buddy-cop and detective comedies. One of the best aspects of a comedy centered around detectives is the lightheartedness that the characters bring to sometimes lighten the mood from serious subject matters. Another fun element of these films as a viewer is that they enable us to feel as if were assisting the characters in solving a whodunit. So even if it’s simply a two-hour break from reality or a bad day, you can still turn on your television and try out a couple of the funniest detective movies, ranked below.
5 White Chicks
Sony Pictures Releasing
Sure, this movie has generated its fair share of backlash since its release in 2004, not merely due to its content matter but because viewers felt it was a terrible movie (though some consider it to be subversively brilliant). Some of us, however, beg to differ. White Chicks is and always will be comedic gold for many people, full-stop, period. The two brothers Marcus (Marlon Wayans) and Kevin Copeland (Shawn Wayans) are FBI agents and, as a result of unsuccessfully wrapping up a drug bust, they are forced to escort socialites to the Hamptons, secretly using them as bait to capture a kidnaper. The girls bail once they learn the plan, as they most definitely should, leaving Marcus and Kevin to pose as the sisters and transform themselves from African-American men into a pair of blonde-haired white women. It’s obvious both Marlon and Shawn had to move from out of their comfort zones in order to play these female characters; the body movements, disturbing makeup and physical gestures will never not be flat-out funny, at least to some of us.
4 Murder Mystery
Netflix
Netflix’s hit Murder Mystery follows New York cop Nick (Adam Sandler) along with his wife Audrey (Jennifer Aniston) on vacation, as the couple travels through Europe to revive the spark in their marriage. A surprise invitation to board a billionaire’s yacht results in the two being framed for the elderly man’s murder, leading them to solve the case in order to clear their names. While some people were not the biggest Sandler fans prior to watching this, it was actually fascinating to see him and Jennifer Aniston bring back the kind of black-and-white, classic Hollywood style in this nostalgic comedy-mystery.
The dialogue is witty and raunchy at times but still manages to bring to life the modern day marital issues of questioning if you really know who you’re married to. From the excessive criminal pursuits authorities hatch in order to capture Nick and Audrey, along with the revelations one learns about the other, placing the state of their marriage in jeopardy, the marriage is put to the test and both seemingly re-learn the necessary traits to fall back in love, thanks to a little mystery-solving detective work. Murder Mystery’s executive producer’s consist of Charlize Theron and Jennifer Aniston, which helps reduce some of Sandler’s typical man-child shenanigans, proving that women should really run Hollywood at this point, or at least the upcoming sequel.
3 Knives Out
Lionsgate, MRC
Knives Out is a murder mystery through the perspective of nurse Marta aka the come-up queen (Ana de Armas), who ends up the sole owner of a large estate from a wealthy family after the patriarch passes. The sudden circumstances of acclaimed crime novelist Harlan Thrombey’s (Christopher Plummer) death is extensively investigated through the plot, as everyone in the dysfunctional family is a suspect.
A surprisingly massive success, Knives Out was so good that it warranted an immediate sequel, thanks to its scandalous twists and turns, shocking conclusion and top-notch performances from A-list actors Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis and Chris Evans, to name a few. This acts as a tale of ultra wealthy American elite and the importance of cultivating a financial path of freedom for oneself, non-reliant on anyone else, and yet never allowing this path to ruin one’s own morality.
2 Bad Boys
Sony Pictures
In Bad Boys and Bad Boys 2, police detectives Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and his partner, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith), are faced with the task of putting an end to the emerging drug rings based in Miami. Bad Boys For Life, the highest grossing film out of the entire franchise, follows Burnett and Lowrey as the two track down the wife and son of an imprisoned Mexican drug lord, on a mission to kill those involved in his trial and imprisonment.
This entire franchise is not only full-on red-faced funny, it’s also empathetic and observational in regard to the levels of humanity each character possess. Both Burnett and Lowrey display their characters weaknesses and flaws in a way that makes them more lovable, especially when they’re going back and forth with one another like brothers. Most brothers, after all, fight, take some time to cool off, then get back together, drive fast cars and walk away looking handsome in slow motion while cars blow up behind them.
1 Rush Hour
New Line Cinema
Rush Hour is the blueprint for all funny buddy-cop movies since its release, and the best one of the ’90s. Re-watching the first two Rush Hour films today can really reveal how weak so many typical detective-comedy films are today, and show how the great ones can find humor even in the most serious of circumstances. As the speculation around a possible Rush Hour 4 sequel intensifies, and whether these two iconic legends suit up for another production or not, audiences are still blessed with having the first three classic films at their disposal, brightening any bad day.
Rush Hour (1998), Rush Hour 2 (2001) and Rush Hour 3 (2007) all follow the dynamic duo of detectives Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and James Carter (Chris Tucker) as they fight organized crime around Los Angles, Paris and later Hong Kong. Again, the chemistry and apparent friendship developed between Tucker and Chan shines through, with their impromptu comedic back and forth proving to be organic and fun to watch, leaving viewers reeling for more.
