THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
If you’re looking for something to turn on so you can turn your brain off, look no further.
Everyone knows that summer is the season of movie watching. Whether you’re going to the theatres or curling up on your couch at home, letting the world pass you by while you shovel popcorn into your mouth is one of the best parts of living in today’s society.
As the days get longer, the skies get sunnier and the weather gets warmer, we can’t help but be happier. So, to celebrate the joyous change in season and semester, what better genre of movie to watch than comedy?
Here’s a short list of some great (and underrated) comedy movies fit for almost any audience.
If you’re looking for a good women-led, senseless comedy, One of Them Days is the perfect movie for you.
Starring Keke Palmer and SZA—as she makes her acting debut—One of Them Days is a modern-take on a classic buddy comedy. It follows two best friends that are forced to race against the clock in an effort to make back rent money and avoid eviction any way that they can. Full of unrealistic hijinks, absurd escalations and rapidly-approaching deadlines, the two charismatic leads make this movie easily re-watchable. While it isn’t the most ground-breaking comedy on the list, it’s still a great movie you can watch with friends, or on your own.
If you’re into over-the-top action comedies with British charm and razor-sharp wit, Hot Fuzz is absolutely one to add to your list.
Starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Hot Fuzz is a hilariously exaggerated take on the buddy-cop genre. It follows an overly competent London police officer who’s reassigned to a suspiciously quiet countryside village—only to discover that behind the quaint exterior lies a dark (and increasingly ridiculous) conspiracy. With explosive set pieces, dry humor and a wildly dramatic third act, the film balances parody and homage in a way that makes it endlessly fun.
Craving a campy, over-the-top comedy with big ’90s energy and even bigger drama? Death Becomes Her is the outrageous cult classic that you’ve been sleeping on.
Starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as two vain, vengeful frenemies (with Bruce Willis as their bumbling in-between), Death Becomes Her is a gloriously unhinged tale about beauty, immortality, and the absolutely unglamorous side of eternal life. When both women take a mysterious potion promising youth forever, things quickly go off the rails. Full of iconic one-liners, ridiculous plot twists, and some delightfully dated special effects, this movie is dramatic, shallow, and way too fun not to watch at least once. Perfect for a girls’ night in or when you just want to watch beautiful people be extremely petty.
If you’re after a heartwarming, offbeat adventure with a side of dry humor and quirky characters, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the perfect film to brighten your day.
Starring Julian Dennison and Sam Neill, this charmingly eccentric movie follows a rebellious foster kid and his grumpy, wild uncle as they go on the run in the New Zealand wilderness. What starts as a simple escape from child services quickly turns into a hilarious and heartfelt journey of survival, bonding and accidental heroism. With its witty dialogue, stunning landscapes, and unique blend of comedy and emotion, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the kind of film that sneaks up on you, making you laugh and root for the two misfits every step of the way. It’s quirky, uplifting and perfect for when you want to see an odd couple take on the world.
Looking for a wild, high-energy comedy packed with epic chases, ridiculous car stunts, and legendary tunes? The Blues Brothers is the one for you.
Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as Jake and Elwood Blues, two ex-con brothers on a mission to save their childhood orphanage, this film is a chaotic symphony of music, mayhem and pure comedy gold. With cameos from legends like Aretha Franklin and James Brown, not to mention one of the most insane car chases ever filmed, The Blues Brothers is a love letter to soul, chaos, and brotherhood. Expect nonstop laughs, unforgettable music and a plot that’s secondary to the pure absurdity of it all.
It’s a cult classic that’s as heart-pounding as it is hilarious—perfect for anyone who loves a good retro comedy with a side of rock ‘n’ roll.
The Nice Guys is a fast-talking, fist-throwing, retro-fueled romp through the grimy glamour of 1970s Los Angeles. Ryan Gosling plays a hopelessly anxious private eye, while Russell Crowe is a no-nonsense enforcer with a surprising tender streak. When a missing girl, a dead porn star and a shady government conspiracy collide, the two are forced to reluctantly team up, leading to a whirlwind of comedy, thrills, suspense and mystery. Directed by Shane Black, this vintage-esque buddy comedy is packed with razor-sharp dialogue, slapstick moments and intense drama.
If you’re looking for a chaotic, low-budget, ‘90s comedy that’s absurd, endearing and starring Canadian icon Mike Myers, Wayne’s World might be what you’ve been searching for your whole life.
Starring Myers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth, two slackers with a public access TV show, big dreams and even bigger vibes, Wayne’s World is a cult classic. When a sleazy producer offers to take their show mainstream, things spiral into a hilariously weird tale of friendship, fame and selling out—with plenty of guitar solos, awkward dancing, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” headbanging along the way. Packed with iconic quotes, surreal asides and Gen X charm, Wayne’s World is the ultimate hangout movie.
Calling all gifted-children turned burnt-out-adults!
The Royal Tenenbaums is a portrait of a once brilliant, now broken family trying to hold it together, drenched in pastels. Directed by Wes Anderson at his most symmetrical, the film follows three former child prodigies—each a little washed up, weird and emotionally stunted—as they reunite under the crumbling roof of their childhood home. Gene Hackman plays the semi-estranged patriarch faking illness to get back in their lives, and things only get more dysfunctional from there. With a stacked cast—Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke and Owen Wilson, and Angelica Huston—an iconic soundtrack, and Anderson’s signature blend of melancholy and whimsy, The Royal Tenenbaums is as heartbreaking as it is hilarious and deadpan.
If you’re in the mood for a period piece that blends historical drama with dark, senseless comedy, The Favourite is the chaotic royal mess you didn’t know you needed.
Starring Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone, The Favourite is a wildly offbeat take on palace politics in early 18th-century England. It centers around two ambitious women vying for the affection—and political favor—of the frail and unpredictable Queen Anne. What starts as quiet manipulation quickly spirals into backstabbing, emotional warfare, and duck races (yes, really). Full of biting dialogue, absurd power plays and deadpan humor, the film thrives on the tension between elegance and pettiness. The banter and dynamics between the three leading ladies is an added bonus.
This Oscar-nominated stop-motion animated film is the perfect comedy for any audience—and it’s got the 100% Rotten Tomatoes score to prove it.
The movie follows the dynamic duo Wallace and Gromit as they face off with a familiar foe. From classic Wallace-and-Gromit banter to eerie foreshadowing and suspenseful confrontations, this movie does a great job of balancing humor and mystery. If you’re looking for a movie to sit down and watch with your family on one of the colder nights this summer, this is the one for you.
