Top 5 Comedy Movies of All Time

Recently, a few buddies and I stumbled upon the topic of the ultimate comedy movies. While many props were given to the old stand-by flicks that you usually see on the list, we realized that the comedic film has ventured into a new, and better, direction that deserves much praise. Be warned, I care little for finding out the real names of all but the most famous characters. If you want to know which actor I'm talking about, look it up. Without any formal introduction, and in no particular order, here are the winners:

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Will Ferrell proved that he was more than just the one-dimensional character he portrayed on Saturday Night Live in this glorious spoof of the world of news anchors. As Ron Burgundy, he embodies what a lead actor in a modern comedy should be: arrogant, shallow, and a wizard at the subtle things (facial expressions, voice inflexion, body movement, etc.) that truly sells the joke. His first meeting with Veronica Corningstone, in which he informs her that his apartment smells of rich mahogany and contains many leather-bound books, is utterly priceless. Adding to Burgundy's appeal is the incredible cast of supporting characters, of which field reporter Brian Fantana, rival Wes Mantooth, and station manager Ed Harkin shine brightest. Fantana's dead-pan discussion of the names for his, ahem, genitals, knows no duplicate. I'm not sure I could have kept a straight face once if I performed those lines a thousand times. Mantooth's angry defense of his mother is a brilliant moment. This film rarely sputters. Perhaps the only time it becomes corny is the cameo-laced fight scene between the rival news teams, but this could be because even though Ben Stiller plays a character of a completely different nationality than all his others, he still manages to stifle the role with his inability to leave his two-dimensional style behind him. Stiller aside, the movie is a comedic powerhouse. I'm surprised more idiots around the office haven't overused "Anchorman's" many wonderful soundbites.

Happy Gilmore