On another note, isn't it odd that some of the funniest movies don't necessarily have to have one role that really shines (e.g. There's Something About Mary).
10. Brad Pitt, True Romance - seeing him as the grungy Rasta roommate to Michael Rapaport still cracks me up, to this day.
9. Tony Shalhoub, Galaxy Quest - his ultra low-key approach to intergalactic engineering- and acceptance of his multitentacled girlfriend - just makes you giggle.
8. Marty Feldman, Young Frankenstein - more than just a creepy looking guy, he's a creepy looking guy with a moving hump and a one-liner for every scene.
7. Neil Patrick Harris, Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle - not only did he smash one typecasting, he did it against his real life and all with a straight face. All children of the 80's could rejoice with this one.
6. John Belushi, Animal House - I was torn between this role and Jake Blues, but I went here because of the raw insanity of the role.
5. Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead II/Army of Darkness - the original was meant to be a real horror movie; the sequels let us in on the joke. No one else could have played Ash as well as Campbell - after all, how do you fight your own hand?
4. Vince Vaughn, Swingers/Wedding Crashers - If you think about it, these are very much related, if not the same, character. Either way, money (and much better than the leads in either movie).
3. Jack Lemmon, Some Like It Hot - He is one ugly woman, but he really does seem to buy into the notion of a man marrying a man - for security. The first wingman, perhaps, who goes to (nearly) all extremes for his pal.
2. Alan Arkin/Steve Carrell, Little Miss Sunshine - the contrast of the foul-mouthed, heroin-shooting grandpa and the quietly gay, depressed Proust scholar - quiet genius. Carrell should find more roles like this one, that don't require him to speak slowly and stupidly.
1. Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles - I'm going to join these, even though independently all three are great. The black sheriff trying to save his own hide, the gunslinger turned on its head, and the send-up of Marlene Dietrich. Mel Brooks at his best.
2 comments:
I thought Steve Carell was very good in LMS, but I don't remember him doing or saying anything funny. What am I missing?
It's more the general deadpan approach, contrasted to Arkin's insanity. The scene in the gas station is funny, as is his ultra-stiff running in the hotel.
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