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Best Comedic Performance

An Evening Comment Diversion / Dustin Rowles

Comment Diversions | June 4, 2009 | Comments (156)

This week’s evening comment diversions have all been devoted to acting performances, and I hate to break that up. So, tonight’s last acting-related diversion asks this: What is the best comedic performance by an actor or actress? Bit part, sidekick, or lead? Comedic actors often go unappreciated, but a really solid comedic performance is as hard or harder than effectively playing a dramatic character. And yet, the MTV Movie Awards are the organization that rewards it, and that barely even counts.

So what do you say? For my money, I’d have to go with a recent performance: Robert Downey, Jr. in Tropic Thunder probably would’ve won a best supporting actor Oscar in any year that he wasn’t pitted against Heath Ledger.


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Comments

Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein....there is none better.

Posted by: Rubble44 at June 4, 2009 8:34 PM

Leslie Nielsen in the Naked Gun Trilogy all of them solid.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at June 4, 2009 8:35 PM

Tim Blake Nelson as Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Actually, any of the three leads in that movie.

Posted by: Ling at June 4, 2009 8:37 PM

jenny mccarthy in dirty love

Posted by: gp at June 4, 2009 8:41 PM

Steve Martin in The Jerk.

Posted by: Wednesday at June 4, 2009 8:44 PM

Kristen Bell...Forgetting Sarah Marshall

and the entire cast of Rushmore...

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 4, 2009 8:44 PM

Since I'm told Alec Baldwin as Jack in 30 Rock doesn't fit the criteria, then I have to say Donald O'Connor in "Singin' in the Rain". Because there's a little extremely gay part of me deep inside that loves "Make 'Em Laugh"
*Runs up Wall*

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at June 4, 2009 8:46 PM

Much as I can't stand him now, Nic Cage in Raising Arizona was pretty damn good.

Posted by: Lainey at June 4, 2009 8:47 PM

The guy who did win that Supporting Actor Oscar: Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at June 4, 2009 8:48 PM

Jennifer Coolidge in Best in Show.

Posted by: naivehelga at June 4, 2009 8:49 PM

John Belushi in either Blues Brothers or Animal House; Dan Ackroyd in Gross Pointe Blank.

"I'll be blowing your fucking head off, I'll be blowing your fucking head off, I'll be whacking your fucking mind out when I come. Popcorn!"

Also Bill Murray in Ghostbusters. Classics all, people.

Posted by: slower lower at June 4, 2009 8:54 PM

Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein....there is none better.

You're a good man for that answer, Rubble.

Also worth mentioning is Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

Posted by: branded at June 4, 2009 8:55 PM

Because there's a little extremely gay part of me deep inside that loves "Make 'Em Laugh"

You know he did that in one take, right?

Posted by: lizzieborden at June 4, 2009 8:56 PM

Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

Posted by: battgirl at June 4, 2009 8:58 PM

Crap, I forgot about Bill Murray in Groundhog Day and Steve Martin in All of Me!

Posted by: Lainey at June 4, 2009 8:59 PM

Just makes the statement truer, Liz.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at June 4, 2009 9:03 PM

William Shatner in "Airplane 2", the one about the space shuttle. "There's no tower? Why the HELL doesn't anyone ever tell me about these things!?"


And really, Simon Pegg in Shaun Of The Dead.

Also -- and I realize I'm remembering just it being funny rather than the film itself, but, Clark Gable in It Happened One Night. Claudette Colbert too (it was her, right?)

Posted by: karstark at June 4, 2009 9:07 PM

Since we went with something new, how about something old? Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot. He delivered every golden nugget with perfect comic precision.

"Look at how she moves! It's like jello on springs!!"

Also, I love Gary Oldman in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead for his sheer clueless brilliance.

If this post is allowed, I will be surprised, since the others I tried to post this weekend have been censored. Even the nice one about how proud I was of my kid. Has something changed around here since I've been gone? (I used to post under the name "mezzomom")

Posted by: Young Grandma Ben at June 4, 2009 9:07 PM

Monty Python - "The Holy Grail"

Chico Marx - "A Day at the Races"

Clevon Little, Harvey Korman - "Blazing Saddles"

Posted by: UncleJR at June 4, 2009 9:11 PM

Haven't had time to read the whole diversion because I gotta split real quick so I'll just say:
1: Kevin Kline, A Fish called Wanda
2: Jack Black, High Fidelity.
3: More as I think of them.

btw, Birthday wishes are now being accepted. Thank you.

Posted by: Odnon at June 4, 2009 9:11 PM

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, no ladies with some funny actressin'? I'll have to think on that. Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles, perhaps? Or High Anxiety? Back to the men (although he did wear a dress briefly), I also have to say that Val Kilmer always makes me laugh as Madmartigan, no matter how many times I watch Willow.

Posted by: slower lower at June 4, 2009 9:16 PM

Randy Quaid and Chevy Chase in the Vacation Movies.

Posted by: Dristan at June 4, 2009 9:16 PM

I'm a huge fan of Cary Grant, so I'd go with The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer, Bringing Up Baby, or Arsenic and Old Lace.

Posted by: bonnie at June 4, 2009 9:17 PM

John Belushi in Animal House
Cheech in Up In Smoke
Bill Murray in Groundhog Day
Peter Sellers in Dr Strangelove
Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop

Posted by: John W at June 4, 2009 9:21 PM

Happy birthday, Odnon!

I like Jack Black, though I'd go with his Tenecious D performance. Also, Neil Patrick Harris was pretty damned funny in Harold and Kumar (well, both movies, actually).

However, I think my vote has got to go to the dude who played Blinkin in Robin Hood: Men In Tights (IMDB tells me he's Mark Blankfield).

Posted by: meaux at June 4, 2009 9:21 PM

I was going to try to come up with something original, but I gotta give it up where it's due:

Bill Murray for Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day
Steve Martin in All of Me.

As for supporting roles, let's go for Gene Wilder in Blazing Saddles, and Jack Black in High Fidelity.

Posted by: logar at June 4, 2009 9:21 PM

kevin kline in a fish called wanda
the marx brothers in animal crackers
reese witherspoon in election
bill murray in ghostbusters

Posted by: kelley at June 4, 2009 9:26 PM

karstark>> It was Claudette Colbert and I love her and Clark in It Happened One Night. One of my all-time favorite movies and comedic performances.

The other one coming to mind is Donal Logue in Just Like Heaven. I was fooled into thinking that was a decent movie the first time I saw it, and I think it was because of him.

Posted by: kelsy at June 4, 2009 9:30 PM

Christ Elliot in "Cabin Boy". It inspired me to join the navy...but alas I ended up on the Roosevelt instead of the Filthy Whore.

Posted by: Diablo at June 4, 2009 9:31 PM

Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black

Yes, really. He's hysterical.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at June 4, 2009 9:34 PM

Steve Carell in The 40 Year Old Virgin. He wasn't necessarily the single funny thing in the movie, he was just so good and such a fine actor when portraying the role of a sweet man who has never had sex.
Second Place: Jason Mewes in the Kevin Smith movies. Classic, classic stuff.

Posted by: Kamikaze Feminist at June 4, 2009 9:39 PM

How about Rhys Ifans in Notting Hill?

There's something wrong with this yogurt.

Posted by: mswas at June 4, 2009 9:41 PM

ooh and John Lovitz in A League of Their Own

Posted by: mswas at June 4, 2009 9:42 PM

Totally agree with Optimus on Donald O'Connor and with karstark on Simon Pegg in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Paul Rudd in pretty much anything. He's some kind of awesome, but most recently in Role Models which was fantastic fun.

Posted by: Kelli at June 4, 2009 9:43 PM

I couldn't even look at the mexican kid in Napoleon Dynamite without laughing. I'll give it to Steve Martin in The Jerk or pretty much everyone in Office Space though.

Posted by: becks at June 4, 2009 9:44 PM

Kevin Kline and Joan Cusack in In and Out.

Posted by: slower lower at June 4, 2009 9:45 PM

Second the vote for Jack Lemmon in "Some Like it Hot". That man just put so much joy into that performance.

Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day" from modern movies. Just a perfect role.

Happy birthday, Odnon!

Posted by: figgy at June 4, 2009 9:46 PM

Almost forgot; Steve Buscemi in Con Air.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at June 4, 2009 9:47 PM

Cary Grant in "His Gal Friday"
Eddie Murphy in "Trading Spaces"
Tim Curry in "Clue"
Christina Ricci in "The Addams Family"
Gary Cole and Stephen Root in "Office Space"
William Powell and Myrna Loy in "The Thin Man"

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at June 4, 2009 9:48 PM

Thirding Jack Lemmon.

Also

Dick Shawn as Lorenzo St. Dubois in The Producers, for this scene alone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkYBJId7WZs

Funniest thing I've ever seen.

Posted by: sansho1 at June 4, 2009 9:54 PM

Since women seem to be underrepresented in this category, I'll offer Bernadette Peters in The Jerk, Lily Tomlin in Flirting with Disaster & 9 to 5, Madeline Kahn in pretty much every movie she was ever in, Holly Hunter in Raising Arizona & Broadcast News, Betty White in Lake Placid and Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame.

Kind of sad, but I can't think of any movies in the last few years that featured a woman in a great comedic role.

Posted by: Lainey at June 4, 2009 9:56 PM

I'm going to go completely off the board here and say Chris Evans in Not Another Teen Movie was outstanding.

And also that the South Park guys were really excellent in Baseketball.

Posted by: Eep at June 4, 2009 9:58 PM

In the female category, Anna Faris in just about anything (though in fairness I haven't seen her very latest stuff). I'm a shameless fan, what can I say?

Posted by: Eep at June 4, 2009 9:59 PM

Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride. When he takes off running down that hallway, I lose it every time.

Posted by: AMT at June 4, 2009 10:01 PM

Seriously, we're this far and nobody's mentioned John Goodman in The Big Lebowski yet?

Posted by: Opie Curious at June 4, 2009 10:08 PM

I gotta go with Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. I would also give a shout-out to Chevy Chase in Fletch. "Can I borrow your towel? I just hit a water buffalo with my car..."

Posted by: Chase at June 4, 2009 10:12 PM

OH,OH!! How could I have forgotten Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove? (Or just about everybody else in that movie, come to think of it...)

Posted by: Young Grandma Ben at June 4, 2009 10:12 PM

Tim Curry in Clue. Actually Madeline Kahn as well- " Yes. Yes, I did it. I killed Yvette. I hated her, so much... it-it- the f - it -flam - flames. Flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl-"

That movie is extremely underrated.

Posted by: Mrcreosote at June 4, 2009 10:13 PM

I gotta second Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride.
"I don't think that word means what you think it means..."

Posted by: dirt monkey at June 4, 2009 10:14 PM

Steve Carell- "Anchorman".
Christoper Guest- "Waiting for Guffman".
Woody Allen -"Annie Hall".

Posted by: carlcarlson at June 4, 2009 10:19 PM

..and Peter Falk in
"Murder By Death" and "Pocket Full Of Miracles" .

Posted by: dirt monkey at June 4, 2009 10:29 PM

Catherine O'Hara in "Thank You for Your Consideration"

Hell all of Guest's troupe is hands down awesome in my book.

Posted by: grace b at June 4, 2009 10:30 PM

Every single actor/ess in Big Lebowski... except Tara Reid.

Posted by: ugh at June 4, 2009 10:32 PM

Anna Faris in Just Friends. Seriously. Think about how much more that movie would've sucked if she didn't go balls-to-the-wall in her role. Every freakin' line out of her mouth is about ten times funnier than it has any right to be. (She's similarly MVP in The House Bunny, but what a terrible terrible film.)

Rachel Weisz in The Brothers Bloom. Again, imagine how much that movie would have been deflated if the role weren't played perfectly.

Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Nemo. Perfect casting to the character, and she nailed it.

I think all of the Mean Girls are good, but Lacey Chavert knocked it most out of the park. Seriously - read that script and you'll be surprised how much of the humor comes from the delivery instead of the lines themselves.

Posted by: whatBENwatches at June 4, 2009 10:37 PM

Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now.

Posted by: Dylan at June 4, 2009 10:45 PM

I agree with so many of these, and in the interest of not repeating any, here's what I thought of:

Hugh Grant - Four Weddings & a Funeral (actually, everyone's hilarious in that movie, except Andie McDowell, the human equivalent of pocket lint)

Gene Wilder - Young Frankenstein

Val Kilmer - Real Genius

Emile Hirsch - The Girl Next Door

Owen Wilson - Zoolander

Ruth Gordon - Harold & Maude

Lizzy Caplan & Daniel Franzese - Mean Girls

These are people who never fail to make me laugh, no matter how many times I watch these movies.

Posted by: Melissa at June 4, 2009 10:45 PM

Genny: YES! He is genius.

In the female category....Jennifer Coolidge in "Best in Show". Oh, man...every little thing she does in that movie just kills me.

And I gotta second Ellen DeGeneres in Nemo. One of the best voice performances ever.

And Jodie Foster in Maverick.

Posted by: figgy at June 4, 2009 10:47 PM

The entire cast of The Impostors.

Posted by: Bistro at June 4, 2009 11:01 PM

People, can we toss in some villains because Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves was hilarious!

Posted by: Four Eyes at June 4, 2009 11:05 PM

Barbadoslim
I agree with your choice of Leslie Nielsen although I would have chosen Police Squad! over any Naked Gun
Leslie's deadpan is a little bit sharper, and there's more chemistry between him and the chief. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFynjrjZG_w

Posted by: Sunsneezer at June 4, 2009 11:13 PM

Madeline Kahn in anything she ever did. But especially Young Frankenstein, Clue, and High Anxiety. History of the World was good, too. ''Do I have any openings this man might fit?"

Posted by: Gabs at June 4, 2009 11:25 PM

Curry in Clue is a great one, ditto Kahn.

So is Patinkin in Princes Bride.

It's a Disneyfied version, I know, but Curry and Platt were both great in The Three Musketeers.

If you're into improv, Guest in This Is Spinal Tap is a great choice.

Posted by: Eep at June 4, 2009 11:33 PM

I think all of the Mean Girls are good, but Lacey Chavert knocked it most out of the park. Seriously - read that script and you'll be surprised how much of the humor comes from the delivery instead of the lines themselves

--which one was she?

Posted by: karstark at June 4, 2009 11:35 PM

Actor: John Belushi, "Animal House"

Actress: Susan Sarandon, "Bull Durham"

Duo: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, "His Girl Friday"

Cast: Spinal Tap, "This Is Spinal Tap"

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 4, 2009 11:36 PM

Hayden Christensen in Star Wars.

Posted by: Lucas at June 4, 2009 11:38 PM

Wow ... apparently I haven't seen a funny performance in 20 years.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 4, 2009 11:38 PM

Forgot one.

Supporting actor: Robert Wuhl, "Bull Durham"

"Lollygaggers."

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 4, 2009 11:40 PM

Yes, thank you, I'd forgotten about Clue. Everyone in that whole cast, but I'd agree that Curry and Kahn are spectac.

Seriously? Who else but Tim Curry could make the following line sound anything but lazy?

"I'M NOT SHOUTING! ...All right, I am! I'm SHOUTING! I'm SHOUTING! I'm SHOUT--"

See, normally any line cut off by a sudden onset of unconsciousness is normally hilarious to children under the age of 7 and nobody else, but it's not so in Clue.

"Your third husband also disappeared."
"But that was his job; he was an illusionist."
"But he never reappeared!"
"Ha. He wasn't a very good illusionist."

Posted by: Ling at June 4, 2009 11:47 PM

I love The Princess Bride so much that if Stalin had directed it, we could call it even.

Posted by: Steven Lloyd Wilson at June 4, 2009 11:52 PM

I loved James Franco in Pineapple express, and although I love RDJ, Tom Cruise was my favorite part of tropic thunder, despite the fact that hes a tiny psychopath.

Posted by: Braski at June 5, 2009 12:00 AM

Dudley Moore in Arthur, as well as the gentleman who played Hobson. Hell, even Liza Minelli cracked my shit up in that movie.

Posted by: jen at June 5, 2009 12:09 AM

Ah hell, I'dve been here earlier if my brother hadn't been playing World of Warcraft all day. It was probably for the best, I'm still kind of terrified of you people.

The best comedic performance ever was probably John Belushi in Animal House, or Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Both can be considered the best comedies ever, so I just can't decide.

Posted by: George at June 5, 2009 12:11 AM

My favourite comedic performance of The Princess Bride would be Carey Elwes in his floppy state at the end. The "FML" face he wears while Fezzik carefully tucks his arms into the suit of armour is just unbelievable.

Posted by: Ling at June 5, 2009 12:12 AM

Sally Hawkins in 'Happy-Go-Lucky'
Peter Sellers in 'Dr. Strangelove' and 'Being There'
Jack Lemmon in 'The Apartment'
John Goodman in 'The Big Lebowski'
Diane Keaton in 'Annie Hall'
Marisa Tomei in 'My Cousin Vinny'
Julie Andrews in 'Mary Poppins'

Posted by: Red (fff) at June 5, 2009 12:25 AM

Too many...tooo many...

So I can get some work done, just a few that have freakishly slipped under the radar. They all have multiple potential listings.

John Candy - Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Sally Field - Smokey and the Bandit
Richard Pryor - Stir Crazy
Carol Burnett - The Four Seasons
Walter Matthau - The Bad News Bears
Carol Kane - Scrooged
Tom Hanks - Big
Teri Garr - Tootsie
Michael Keaton - Night Shift
Goldie Hawn - Foul Play
Richard Mulligan - Teachers
Dom DeLuise - The End

Posted by: LwoodPDowd at June 5, 2009 12:49 AM

I suppose I should also mention Jimmy Stewart in Harvey.

Posted by: LwoodPDowd at June 5, 2009 12:51 AM

Rodney Dangerfield, "Caddyshack"

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 5, 2009 1:10 AM

Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers

Posted by: Be Adequite! at June 5, 2009 1:13 AM

Bernadette Peters in The Jerk

Posted by: Be Adequite! at June 5, 2009 1:15 AM

All I can really think of are tandem performances:

- Jeff Bridges/John Goodman in The Big Lebowski
- Seth Rogen/Paul Rudd in Knocked Up
- David Cross/Jeffrey Tambor in Arrested Development
- Larry David/Jeff Garlin in Curb Your Enthusiasm

Posted by: Benny at June 5, 2009 1:39 AM

Colin Ferrell - In Bruges.
He did disgust and disbelief like it was going out of style. He had me in stitches for the entire film.

Posted by: popejenn at June 5, 2009 1:39 AM

I'm loving most of the posts and I want to add Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and especially Martin Short in Three Amigos. I know, maybe their styles eventually got stale, but that movie makes me laugh and smile every time - and I swear it can cure the worst Monday of your life.

Posted by: replica at June 5, 2009 1:41 AM

I'm going to reach WAY back here and vote for Moe, Larry, and Curly.

Posted by: alphawhiskey at June 5, 2009 1:43 AM

Bill Murray in Rushmore
Bill Murray in Ghostbusters
Bill Murray in Groundhog Day
Eddie Murphy in 48 HRS
Eddie Murphy in Trading Places
Eddie Murphy in Bowfinger
Dana Carvey in Wayne's World
John Belushi in Animal House
Michael McKean in This Is Spinal Tap
Harry Shearer in This Is Spinal Tap
Christopher Guest in This Is Spinal Tap
Christopher Guest in Waiting For Guffman
Fred Ward in Best In Show
Eugene Levy in A Mighty Wind
Eugene Levy in American Pie
John Ritter in Stay Tuned
Hank Azaria in The Birdcage
Billy Crystal in City Slickers
Steve Martin in The Jerk
Steve Martin in L.A. Story
Steve Martin in Planes, Trains and Automobiles
John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles
John Candy in Only the Lonely

...I have to stop myself before I just keep going and going.

Posted by: mightygodking at June 5, 2009 1:46 AM

Girls:
Ellen Page in Juno
Isla Fisher in Wedding Crashers

Guys:
Paul Rudd in Role Models (heck even Sean Williams Scott was awesome in that)
Jason Segal and Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (and Jason Segal gets extra points for writing it)

Posted by: Taylor at June 5, 2009 1:50 AM

most surprisingly funny roles are a tie between Cruise in Tropic Thunder and Pitt in Burn Before Reading. Most actually funny roles are echoes of previous nominations:
Pegg in SOTD
Nick Frost in Hot Fuzz
RDJ in Tropic Thunder
Feldman in Young Frankenstein
Bill Murray in anything (with a couple of notable exceptions)

Posted by: RandyPanTheGoatboy at June 5, 2009 2:46 AM

Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein"

Honors to Chris Meloni in "Wet Hot American Summer"

lastly, and without a hint of irony, Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of The Lambs". If you haven't seen it in awhile, Hannibal Lecter comes off as a cartoonish super villain rather than a devious psychopath. With hilarious results.

Posted by: A. Biro at June 5, 2009 2:57 AM

Seen this film not long ago,its a good product.....

Posted by: Will Smith at June 5, 2009 3:01 AM

Second the Lebowski duo of Bridges and Goodman.

Posted by: Mick J at June 5, 2009 3:03 AM

More ladies!

Tracer Bullet I heart you and absolutely second Christina Ricci in The Addams Family.

Also, Catherine O'Hara in Beetlejuice ("If you don't let me gut out this house and make it my own, I will go insane, and I will take you with me!"), Joan Cusack in Grosse Pointe Blank ("The gods want you to go back home and they want you to delete someone while you're there."), and Carol Burnett in Annie ("Some women are drippin' with pearls / Lucky me, lucky me, look at what I'm drippin' with / Little girls!")

Posted by: VampireNomad at June 5, 2009 3:23 AM

Most of these have already been said...

Christopher Guest - This is Spinal Tap
Christopher Guest - Waiting For Guffman
Jim Carrey - Dumb and Dumber
Colin Farrell - In Bruges
Eddie Murphy - Beverly Hills Cop
Anna Faris - Just Friends

Some that haven't been mentioned:

Michael Hitchcock - Waiting For Guffman
Paul Rudd - Wet Hot American Summer
David Hyde Pierce - Wet Hot American Summer
Willem Dafoe - The Life Aquatic
Roberto Benigni - Life is Beautiful
Joe Pesci - My Cousin Vinny
Val Kilmer - Tombstone
Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump (I'm the only one on this site that likes this movie)
Chris Farley - Tommy Boy
John C. Reilly - Talladega Nights
Reese Witherspoon - Election
Mark Wahlberg - I Heart Huckabees

Posted by: Borg at June 5, 2009 3:28 AM

Waaaaay too early to throw this out for best comedic performance ever, but I gotta say I laughed at damn near everything Zach Galifiniakis (sp?) said in The Hangover.

Posted by: Mattfactor at June 5, 2009 3:33 AM

Sam Rockwell - Galaxy Quest
Brendan Gleeson - Lake Placid

Posted by: Lisa S at June 5, 2009 3:39 AM

Johnny Depp in The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, because without him, no one would have watched Orlando Bloom headlining a constantly diminishing set of movies based on a theme park ride.

Oh perhaps the most obscure reference of the evening, Donald Sutherland in Kelly's Heroes. Tough to find anyone my age who's even seen that movie, let alone liked it.

Posted by: Dan at June 5, 2009 4:58 AM

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. Hands down.

Posted by: Pen Dragon at June 5, 2009 5:23 AM

Rowan Atkinson in anything Mr.Bean- The jokes are all so simple and clean and yet so hilarious (Granted some people hate him but I guess with mr.Bean it's either you love him or hate him. Over here he can easily make a whole family laugh their heads off)

Silent Bob in Clerks- yeah, I have a thing for comedians who don't say much. It can be very effective if done well. Mind you Randy is equally awesome. I guess these two should go together because they work as a team.

Two others who worked best as a pair: Laurel & Hardy and Ciccio & Franco

Charlie Chaplin gets a shout out too.

Posted by: barf at June 5, 2009 5:38 AM

Donald Sutherland in Kelly's Heroes. Tough to find anyone my age who's even seen that movie, let alone liked it.

Posted by: Dan at June 5, 2009 4:58 AM

-------------------------------------------------

That was a nice pick. Everybody was excellent in that, special mention to Don Rickles and Carroll O'Connor

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at June 5, 2009 6:35 AM

Old: Curtis, Lemmon, and Monroe in "Some Like it Hot"

Recent: I have a hard time isolating particular performances in Christopher Guest's brilliant movies, but Catherine O'Hara is a consistent standout.

Posted by: samantha t at June 5, 2009 6:51 AM

Seriously? No love for Bill Paxton's Simon from True Lies?

That has to be the funniest bit part of all time.

"Let's face it, Harry, the Vette gets 'em wet." Hahahahahahahha!

And that dam scene was a killer! Bill Paxton totally rocked that part.

If it wasn't for True Lies I would have easily gone for Matt Dillon's Healy from T.S.A. Mary.

What?! No love Matt Dillon's pearly whites?

Posted by: haplo at June 5, 2009 6:53 AM

The Shamwow Guy, Vince

Posted by: RonnyK at June 5, 2009 6:59 AM

WAIT! Bill Paxton as Chet

"SHUT UP BIMBO!....this a family matter"

classic

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at June 5, 2009 7:48 AM

Alan Arkin: Little Miss Sunshine.
Don't fuck one woman, fuck alot of women. I have no reason to lie to you.

Posted by: carolyn at June 5, 2009 8:07 AM

Classic Lead: Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove (will never be topped)
Modern Lead: Will Ferrell in Anchorman ("I'm a man! I'm an ANCHORman!")
Supporting Role: John Goodman in Raising Arizona AND The Big Lebowski
Bit Part: Peter Graves in Airplane!

Posted by: Kballs at June 5, 2009 8:15 AM

Sorry, make that Lloyd Bridges in Airplane!

Posted by: Kballs at June 5, 2009 8:17 AM

I dunno....Peter Graves was good too.
"Joey, have you ever been in a... in a Turkish prison?"

Posted by: alphawhiskey at June 5, 2009 8:39 AM

"You know he did that in one take, right?"

Lizzieborden, go watch it. Of course it was done in multiple takes; it's full of cuts, as well it should be. Dunno where you picked up that urban legend.

Posted by: Ned at June 5, 2009 8:45 AM

Oh common people! Wallace Shawn in "The Princess Bride" was much funnier than Mandy Patinkin.

INCONCEIVABLE!

Posted by: BWeaves at June 5, 2009 8:50 AM

Wallace Shawn also kills me as the blackjack dealer in Vegas Vacation.

Posted by: slower lower at June 5, 2009 9:00 AM

Classic duo: tie.....Cary Grant/Rosalind Russell---His Gal Friday or William Powell/Myrna Loy...The Thin Man Series

Best Classic-male: tie...Charlie Chaplin/W.C. Fields

Best Classic-female: Judy Holliday (seriously, watch Born Yesterday!)

Current male: RDJ--Tropic Thunder; Simon Pegg or Nick Frost--ANYTHING; the leads of "O Brother.."; Bill Nighy--ANYTHING

Current female: godtopus help me, but Sandra Bullock in the 1st "Miss Congeniality"; Reese Witherspoon--tie--"Election" or "Freeway"; Madeline Kahn just for being alive.

Cast: Young Frankenstein, SoTD, HF, Love Actually (I know a lot of you love it!), Tropic Thunder, Airplane, ANIMAL HOUSE!!

Posted by: dammitjanet at June 5, 2009 9:02 AM

Unfortunately, Madeline Kahn is no longer current. She died in 1999. She was amazing in everything she did.

Posted by: slower lower at June 5, 2009 9:07 AM

Hands down Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot.

"Well now you've done it! You tore off one of my chests!"

Posted by: Stella at June 5, 2009 9:10 AM

oh my god, yes, Judy Holliday.

"You're just not couth!"

Posted by: Stella at June 5, 2009 9:11 AM

Sigourney Weaver in Galaxy Quest "Look! I have one job on this lousy ship, it's *stupid*, but I'm gonna do it! Okay? "

George Clooney in Oh Brother where art thou? "Well, ain't this place a geographical oddity. Two weeks from everywhere!"

Everyone in Young Frankenstein. "Could be worse?", "How?" "Could be raining!"

Posted by: SkyBlue at June 5, 2009 9:20 AM

Alright, I got a couple that haven't been mentioned:

James Coburn in "What Did You Do In The War, Daddy?" and "Waterhole #3"

These are hard to find, and delightfully non-PC, so this crowd should love them. Look'em up.

Also Martin Short in "The Big Picture". Trust me. Find it and watch it.

Martin Short and Kurt Russell were pretty awesome in "Captain Ron", also.

-Ralphie

Posted by: Ralphie at June 5, 2009 9:21 AM

Bill Murray, Lost in Translation. Fucking brilliant.

Posted by: pseudoliterati at June 5, 2009 9:23 AM

Dan Akroyd in Ghostbusters

Posted by: chenry at June 5, 2009 9:39 AM

Well, if you're gonna mention Coburn, don't forget "Cat Ballou." Tin nose? Got it. Even made Jane Fonda look funny.

OOOOOOHHHHH!!! Barbra & Ryan O'Neal in "Whats Up Doc?" and Ryan & Tatum O'Neal in "Paper Moon." Best thing any of them EVER did.

"Daddy, I have to go to the shithouse. I'm a'scared."

Posted by: dammitjanet at June 5, 2009 9:40 AM

A most grievous omission: the "Rude Mechanicals" of Midsummer Night's Dream (1999).

Kevin Kline, Roger Rees, Max Wright, Gregory Jbara, Bill Irwin, and Sam Rockwell.

And since I'm feeling British, one more nomination: Simon Woods as Bingley in Pride and Prejudice. (Yes, the new one. No, I am not an uncultured swine.)

Posted by: Ling at June 5, 2009 9:42 AM

British? Besides the Pythons, how about the cast of "Time Bandits"?

Posted by: dammitjanet at June 5, 2009 9:49 AM

Modern guy: Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat"

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at June 5, 2009 9:51 AM

[Well, if you're gonna mention Coburn, don't forget "Cat Ballou." Tin nose? Got it. Even made Jane Fonda look funny.

Posted by: dammitjanet at June 5, 2009 9:40 AM]

Sorry to rain on your parade, dj, but that was Lee Marvin, not James Coburn. However, you are right, that was one of the funniest ever. Won the Best Supporting Oscar, in fact. One of the few times the statue went to a purely comedic performance.

-Ralphie

Posted by: Ralphie at June 5, 2009 10:05 AM

Oh man I haven't thought about Cat Ballou in years. Am I losing it, or was there a scene where they are all crying around a coffin with candles lit and someone walks in and starts singing Happy Birthday? I need to find a copy of this.

Posted by: slower lower at June 5, 2009 10:25 AM

Many great performances/actors mentioned here, but sadly you have all missed it. Bill Murray's hair, at the end of "King Pin" gives the greatest comedy performance of all time, in any medium.

He's not bad in it either: "Hey. Not you...hey."

Posted by: cmr at June 5, 2009 10:27 AM

John Candy in Uncle Buck
John Candy and Tom Hanks in The Volunteers
Chevy Chase in Fletch
Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Jonathan Winters in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, World

Posted by: John W at June 5, 2009 10:35 AM

Ralphie...damn, you're right. I was thinking of Coburn in "Charade" when he walks into the funeral of Audrey Hepburn's husband, and pokes him with a pin to make sure he's dead.

Posted by: dammitjanet at June 5, 2009 10:36 AM

Slim Pickens in Blazing Saddles.

"I hired you guys to lay some track; not to jump around like Kansas City faggits!"

Posted by: Arkansan at June 5, 2009 10:36 AM

Taylor you are spot on with Isla Fisher in Wedding Crashers. "WHERE'S MY LITTLE FRIEND?"

Have to disagree on Ellen Page, though, but then I was never into the whole Daria thing and I thought the affected language was a bit precious.

Posted by: Eep at June 5, 2009 10:47 AM

Slower lower: No, you're not losing it, that scene was there, and, again, it was Lee Marvin supplying the funny. BTW, "Cat Ballou" is on DVD, just in case you were wondering...

-Ralphie

Posted by: Ralphie at June 5, 2009 10:48 AM

Posted by: cmr at June 5, 2009 10:59 AM

Nick Frost's delivery of "What was the second most painful?" may just be the crowning moment in all of cinematic history.

Posted by: grate speler at June 5, 2009 11:03 AM

Jane Lynch in 40 Year Old Virgin.

"I'm very discreet, but I will haunt your dreams"

Steve Martin in All of Me.

Jimmy Stewart in Philadelphia Story- I love drunk scenes.

Posted by: amanda47 at June 5, 2009 11:04 AM

Vince Vaughan in 'Swingers'. Seriously, Trent is a masterwork.

Posted by: Mimi at June 5, 2009 11:19 AM

The entire ensemble cast (Christopher Reeve, Michael Caine, Marilu Henner, Denholm Elliott, John Ritter, Julie Hagerty, Mark Linn-Baker, Nicolette Sheridan, and Carol Burnett) of Noises Off!

If I have to pick one, then Denholm Elliott.

Posted by: sistercoyote at June 5, 2009 11:32 AM

Picking my favorite ANYTHING movie related is like picking my favorite testicle. I just love them all equally so much that I can't do it.

No wif it would be my favorite "Kill them violently" actors....well...no problem there.

Posted by: PissBoy at June 5, 2009 12:31 PM

Definitely Benoit Poelvoorde in "Man Bites Dog" (C'est arrivé près de chez vous). Keep in mind that this film came out BEFORE anything of Q. Tarantino's...
"Cinéma!... CINÉMA!!!... j'vous ait donné mon existence! Cinéma!... CINÉMA!!"

Also: Julian Ritchings as Bucky Haight in "Hard Core Logo".

As for the unintentionally hilarious:
Kevin Costner in both "Robin Hood" & "Waterworld"

Posted by: oskar667 at June 5, 2009 1:12 PM

Am I seriously the first person to say Tom Hanks in The Money Pit? Seriously?!

And though Hanks was also great in The 'Burbs, for that one I have to give it up to Rick "Yeah, this is Walt, down at Nakatomi Plaza" Ducommun.

"I-want-to-kill
Ev-ry-one
Satan-is-good
Satan-is-our-pal..."

Posted by: Todd at June 5, 2009 1:24 PM

Val Kilmer as Gay Perry in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Posted by: Jeni at June 5, 2009 2:19 PM

Christopher Guest in 'Spinal Tap'.
Bill Murray in 'Ghostbusters'.
Madeleine Kahn in 'Young Frankenstein'.
Peter Sellers in any Pink Panther movie.
Val Kilmer in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'.

Posted by: Tarn at June 5, 2009 2:55 PM

Ok, 3 great Tom Hanks performances...

Walter in The Money Pit...
Walter: Ahh, home crap home!

Walter: Mozart? Mozart is dead, his problems are over, help MEEE...

Walter: Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him.

Just him laughing after the bathtub falls thru the floor KILLS!

Joe Banks in Joe Vs. the Volcano...
Joe Banks: You look terrible, Mr. Waturi. You look like a bag of shit stuffed in a cheap suit. Not that anyone could look good under these zombie lights. I, I, I, I can feel them sucking the juice out of my eyeball. Suck, suck, suck, SUCK...
[makes a sucking noise]

Joe Banks: And Frank, the coffee. It stinks. It tastes like arsenic. These lights give me a headache; if they don't give you a headache, you must be dead, so let's arrange the funeral!

I have a brain cloud..

And, Rick Gassko in Bachelor Party

Rick Gassko: Attention, passengers, we are now leaving Nun Central and are beginning our journey to Hell and beyond. The captain has turned off the "no smoking" sign, and you may now move about the cabin freely.
Thank you for being Catholic, and for choosing the Saint Gabriel's School Bus.

Rick Gassko: It's time for spice, and the lucky spice is... paprika! "Oh thank you, thank you! You've made me the happiest spice in the world!"

Rick Gassko: [the guys find out their porno film has been edited] Not that I'm complaining, but I usually don't like my filth this clean!

Posted by: dammitjanet at June 5, 2009 2:57 PM

It pains me to say this but I think Tom Cruise was the funniest character in Tropic Thunder.

Posted by: Fuel at June 5, 2009 4:25 PM

i absolutely love meryl streeps comedic performances. my favorites being the devil wears prada and adaptation.

also brad pitt was excellent in burn after reading

Posted by: bluebird at June 5, 2009 5:00 PM

Leslie Ann Warren in "Victor, Victoria".
One of the funniest Gun-Moll performances
ever!
She was nominated for an Academy Award but lost.
How Criminal!

Posted by: Sly D at June 5, 2009 5:27 PM

George W Bush as President?
Cheap Shot?

Posted by: Odnon at June 5, 2009 5:27 PM

Dan, darlin'!!! You'll be happy to know that not only have all three living generations of my family watched this movie together, we quote it together! Me, my Dad and my 11 yo daughter LOVE Kelly's Heroes and you're absolutely spot on about Donald Sutherland as Oddball.

"I just drive 'em baby - I don't know what makes 'em go!"

When somebody's in a funk, we always accuse them of throwing off negative waves.

Posted by: Young Grandma Ben at June 5, 2009 7:06 PM

I absolutely love Peter Sellers' quiet slapstick in The Party. To think of it, I like his performance in that movie more than anything he ever did, pre or post Pink Panther.

Posted by: piedlourde at June 5, 2009 7:16 PM

les Grosman is better than RDJ!
patric bateman in American Psycho!
georges bush jr!
demi moore & burt reynolds in Strip tease!
Every Spinal Tap cast!
Jim Carey in Dump and dumper!
Jacques Tati in general!

Posted by: boom! at June 5, 2009 7:26 PM

The casts of A Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffmann, Best In Show, and Spinal Tap.

Posted by: scorzi at June 5, 2009 9:16 PM

Dom Deluise in "Blazing Saddles." After all of the earlier lunacy, he shows up for two minutes at the end of the movie and FUCKING KILLS!!!!

Posted by: Robert Sims at June 6, 2009 11:41 AM

Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man.

...Bees!!

Posted by: Maria at June 7, 2009 12:36 AM

Second the vote for Benigni in Life Is Beautiful

Posted by: chayes at June 7, 2009 10:46 PM

No way could I choose one!

All Marx Brothers (except Zeppo) in Monkey Business/A Night at the Opera

Cloris Leachman in Young Frankenstein- she is the STAR of that film

Sid Caesar in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura 2

and if we are allowing television-
Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley for Absolutely Fabulous

Rik Mayall and Ade Edmonson for Bottom and the Young Ones.

Tracey Jordan and Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock

Posted by: Amanda at June 8, 2009 8:35 AM

Oh, how could I forget Ethel Merman in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World? Sheer awesomeness.

Posted by: Amanda at June 8, 2009 8:35 AM

Eddie Murphy in "Coming to America".

Posted by: samantha t at June 8, 2009 11:18 AM

Jim Carrey in as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
John Leguizamo in The Pest
Tom Hanks in Volunteers and The 'Burbs
Nic Cage in Raising Arizona
Monty Python, the entire cast in their every film
Amy Sedaris as Jerri Blank

Posted by: karen at June 8, 2009 11:18 PM

Paul Rudd - Wet Hot American Summer
Bruce Campbell - Bubba HoTep

Posted by: Clinton at June 8, 2009 11:55 PM

Is dificult to say ONE but i chose one of my favourites, here is:
Peter Sellers in "Dr. Strange Love"

Posted by: Polanski666 at June 23, 2009 9:44 AM