Tag Archives: comedy

Dumb and Dumber Shows Why a Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted

Halfway through Dumb and Dumber, the story transitions from a road trip to a wish-fulfillment fantasy. The titular dumb and dumber friends Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne take a briefcase across the country to try to return it to a … Continue reading

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Always Listen to Your Parents

My mom and dad love great Steve Martin comedies. That means I grew up enjoying movies like Three Amigos, Roxanne, and Father of the Bride. So, as a child, when I saw Steve Martin’s first movie The Jerk on TBS one time, I thought I … Continue reading

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A Fun Detail I Never Noticed Before in Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies, and (like Bronco) I’ve seen it over a hundred times. Okay, maybe just a dozen or two. However, there is a wonderful detail I never noticed until recently. I’m probably the last … Continue reading

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Movie Matchups: Mrs. Doubtfire vs. Liar Liar

Remember that amazing mid-‘90s comedy about a divorced man trying to be a good dad that stars a legendary comedian at the height of his career? That’s right, I’m talking about Liar Liar pants on Mrs. Doubtfire. That is, I’m … Continue reading

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The Brilliance of Clue’s 3 Endings

Clue is a remarkable movie. It managed to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of turning a simple board game into a richly dark comedy. The brilliance of the filmmakers is that they realized this isn’t an Agatha Christie whodunnit where … Continue reading

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The Biggest Problem with Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead

I remember somehow watching Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead as a kid and actually enjoying it. I’m not sure if my mom even knew I saw it. It must have been the film’s final part that won me over because that’s … Continue reading

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I Wish I Had Seen This Ventriloquist Special as a Kid

My wife recently introduced our kids and me to a TV special from 1988 starring a ventriloquist named Ronn Lucas. Actually, it’s starring a dummy named Buffalo Billy, while Lucas just kind of bumbles his way through the show. Of … Continue reading

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Who You Gonna Call a Perfect Chiasmus? Ghostbusters!

As I mentioned last week, this Cinematic Chiasmus is not my own. A reader of mine named Jay not only suggested it, but he mapped it out for me. All I had to do was write the descriptions. I’m happy … Continue reading

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Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Is About Bigger Things Than I Remembered

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. I somehow got invited to another kid’s birthday party, and I was delighted to go. None of my brothers or sisters had seen it yet, … Continue reading

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas Improves on Multiple Viewings

The first time I watched the 2000 version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I wasn’t impressed. The off-putting character designs, Jim Carrey’s strange voice, and the forced sentimentality all combined to make me dislike that movie from the start. … Continue reading

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