Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery

Yea baby! It's Shaggalicious. I'll be honest, I wasn't crazy about this Mike Myers vehicle when I saw it the first time. But I found myself thinking back and laughing at several funny scenes. I then rented it again ... and again, and now it's quickly on its way toward becoming a cult classic.

Austin Powers.com

Check your maturity at the door for this one, folks. It's not exactly Bill Shakespeare, far from it. The Ferrelly Brothers (Raising Arizona, Something About Mary) gave Jim Carrey a script and then just let him go. Carrey, as Lloyd Christmas, and Jeff Daniels, as Harry Dunn, are hysterical together as they make their way to Aspen to return a briefcase to Mary Sampsonite, er, Swanson. This movie has too many hysterical moments to mention, but suffice it to say, "I like it ah lot."

A darn close second. This movie features timeless performances by the late Ted Knight ("How 'Bout a Fresca?"), Bill Murray (above), Chevy Chase ("I like you Betty") and of course, Rodney Dangerfield ("Hey Whitey, nice hat!"). This movie documents the hilarious goings-on at Bushwood Country Club (where gambling is illegal), and quickly became a cult classic. Just once I'd like to play a round of golf without making a "Caddyshack" reference. Not in this lifetime.

Chevy Chase delivers a powerful performance in this, the second-funniest National Lampoon movie of all time. Clark W. Griswald and family trek across the country in the family truckster, and the laughs ensue. The sequel (European Vacation) really sucked, but they rebounded quite nicely with Christmas Vacation (although the kids kept changing). Still, the orginal was by far the best.

Who could forget this timeless classic, written by one of the same guys (Harold Ramis) who collaborated on Animal House. Bill Murrray and Ramis are magic together, with John Candy (Ox) delivering one of the finest performances of his career. And who could forget Sgt. Holka, the big toe? (Welcome to It'ly, gentlemen.) That was for you, Dave.

An underrated movie, but one featuring excellent comedic performances by Michael Keaton and Henry Winkler. Our heroes play two NYC morgue guys who become pimps (that old story, but it works!). Keaton is especially hilarious as Billy Blazejowksi (especially the scene in the barber shop "I wash my hands and feet of you!"). This movie also features a cameo by the young Kevin Costner (look for him next time).

Take er easy, Dude.  Not only does this movie supply its audience with a cornicopia of great quotes, it is just funny from beginning to end. 'Vere'z the money, Lebowski.' And I'm sorry, but any movie with Nihilists has to be funny.  That's a rule.  Anyway, Jeff Bridges is great as "The Dude." John Goodman gives what I think is the finest performance of his career, and Steve Buscemi and John Terturro shine in smaller parts. Throw in a couple of carpet urinators and the above-mentioned Nihilists, and let the laughter ensue.

Are you a pothead, Focker? ... The circle of trust. ...  I've got my eyes on you. ... Bolivian wormwood. ... Puff the Magic Dragon. ... I've quite simply LOST TRACK of the amount of quotes I use from this movie, which was absolutely hysterical. Who knew DeNiro could be funny?  As he was wacking guys or playing his various dramatic roles, I never saw this side of him, but he has the gift of comic timing, great facial expressions ... the whole package. Throw in a great performance from Ben Stiller, an unforgettable small performance by Owen Wilson, and it's just a great comedy from beginning to end.

This was an underrated movie that was suggested to me by a couple of friends, and thinking back on it, I just had to include it. A bunch of great lines came out of this movie, including: "My mother hung me on a hook once.  Once!" or the ramblings of Roman Moroni (You fargin' iceholes!), and the "grapevine" gag when Johnny is in prison is one of the funniest moments I've seen in a long time. Also, the priest walking Johnny to the electric chair was hilarious! Throw in a great performance by a well-cast Joe Piscopo, and this is just a great movie.

Truly one of my favorites, for a bunch of reasons. So many great lines -- and great cameos.  Billy Crystal, although on screen for only 5 minutes, is tremendous as Miracle Max ("True love is indeed the greatest thing, except maybe a mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, when the mutton is nice and lean.").  Wallace Shawn - "You fell for the one of the classic blunders. The first is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less known is this, never go in against a Sicilian, when death is on the line!" The funny lines just keep coming. Great performances by Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon and Christopher Guest cap off this wonderful comedy.

Naked Gun I

This is the finest work, in my opinion, by the people who brought you Airplane, Hot Shots, and the Police Squad TV series. It has so many hysterical moments, they defy listing here.  But the thing I like the most about it is the maturity of the entire film. Isn't that right, Mr. Poopy Pants?  And as if that wasn't enough, it features the best closing speech of any film, ever. "It's a topsy-turvy world Jane, and the problems of a couple of people probably don't amount to a hill of beans. But this is *our* hill. And these are *our* beans."  Pure genius!

How Leslie Nielsen didn't win an Academy Award for this role, I will never know.