Board 8 > Board 8 Watches and Ranks Satire Films: The Ranking!

(+) Yeah! (+)

Sorry to bother you, Vis, Poke, forty, and Suprak, but I have you pay you $500 each.

VEGAS ODDS ON #4:

+700 Airplane!
+700 Young Frankenstein
+800 Jojo Rabbit
+1000 Galaxy Quest

Leaderboard:
1) Poke $4850 (+500 Mystery Men, +500 The Freshman, +1250 The Interview, +600 Duck Soup, +600 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, +900 Enchanted, +500 Sorry to Bother You)
2) Forty $2850 (+600 Duck Soup, +900 Enchanted, +850 Thank You For Smoking, +500 Sorry to Bother You)
3) Mega $2350 (+500 The Freshman, +1250 The Interview, +600 Borat)
4) Johnbobb $2200 (+850 Spaceballs, +850 National Lampoons Christmas
Vacation, +500 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery)
4) Inviso $2200 (+850 Not Another Teen Movie, +850 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, +500 Sorry to Bother You)
6) Suprak $2100 (+500 Mystery Men, +1100 Team America: World Police, +500 Sorry to Bother You)
7) Gavs $1850 (+500 Mystery Men, +500 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, +850 Thank You For Smoking)
8) Mythiot $1450 (+600 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, +850 Thank You For Smoking)

The House Won On:

• Stripes (+1000 odds)
• Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (+500 odds)
• Beverly Hills Cop (+1000 odds)
• Return of the Living Dead (Unlisted; +2500 odds)
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Unlisted; +2500 odds)
• Modern Times (+700 odds)
• This is Spinal Tap (+1250 odds)
• Monty Pythons The Life of Brian (+1500 odds)
• Zoolander (+850 odds)
• Black Dynamite (+850 odds)
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (+1000 odds)
• Office Space (+1700 odds)

Time to go big or go home, so I'm gonna guess Galaxy Quest.

Guess Ypung Frankenstein

Blaziken posted...

Time to go big

Sorry to bother you already dropped

Anyway this is airplane probably

Sorry To Bother You was.... interesting. Definitely has some funny and well-done moments but it's very bizarre.

Sorry to Bother You was unbridled insanity. Major props to Boots Riely for not reining in his satirical bite. I understand the neighsayers who thought the film got too crazy and wanted something a bit more stable, but I think that's the mane attraction as it captures the night-mare of unbroken capitalism with a kick of science-fiction.

I say Jojo Rabbit will be saddled with, ahem, I mean it will be hopping to 4th place.

Finally, holy smokes. Don't get me wrong, I could have fallen off my chair were I sitting on one when I heard the "white" voice for the 1st time. Movie caught me off guard with how insane and enjoyable it was.

Mythiot posted...

Sorry to Bother You was unbridled insanity. Major props to Boots Riely for not reining in his satirical bite. I understand the neighsayers who thought the film got too crazy and wanted something a bit more stable, but I think that's the mane attraction as it captures the night-mare of unbroken capitalism with a kick of science-fiction.

I say Jojo Rabbit will be saddled with, ahem, I mean it will be hopping to 4th place.

Awesome lol

Guess Jojo Rabbit next

Top four is really solid. There are a few all lined up in a row for me which probably could be higher on a given day but I'll guess

Jojo Rabbit

Hopefully we go from horses to rabbits, as I'll stick with Jojo Rabbit.

Ill also go with Jojo Rabbit.

I could see any of these final four winning though.

4. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Directed by Taika Waititi
Score: 93

John: 2
Karo: 5
Vis: 6
Tangy: 9
Suprak: 9
Poke: 11
Mythiot: 11
GavsEvans: 12
Plasma: 14
Forty: 14

2. John
Thor: Love & Thunder almost made me forget for a moment how incredible Taika Waititi is when he really puts his heart into something. Jojo came out the same year as Marriage Story, which got all the Scarlett Johansson Oscar press, but for my money her appearance in Jojo Rabbit is legitimately just better. She balances trying to teach Jojo how to be a caring and compassionate person while also trying to protect him from the government and society surrounding him who would have him dead for showing those exact values. And then we see her gone for it, just by her dangling shoes. There's a moment earlier in the film where she's dancing up on a curb, which we see from the perspective of Jojo down below with only her shoes in on the top corner of the frame, and on a rewatch the shot is like a gut punch. This film is also a large part of what put Thomasin McKenzie on the map, and she's proving to be one of the best young actresses working now. But really every single actor just kills it here. Even Rebel Wilson manages to be almost tolerable.

5. Karo
The misadventures of a young boy in 1940s Germany and his imaginary friend... Hitler?
So Jojo is a good little white supremacist up until he meets a little Jewish girl hiding in the walls of his house and their odd relationship begins to change his views on the world.
It is cute and weird in the usual manner of Taika Watiti, and while it certainly isn't the best outing from the talented director, I did greatly enjoy it.

6. Vis
This was a good movie to round out my watchthrough with. Its not the funniest movie I watched for this, but that wasnt really the point. The Taika Waititi version of Adolf Hitler was the major source of comedy in the film (and Rebel Wilson for some reason), but he was just meant to represent a childlike adherence to societal normsand in this case, the society in question is Nazi Germany. But really, this movie has a lot more heart than I expected, to the point where I think this was the only movie out of the entire thirty that actually made me tear up a few times. Its just really well-done for what it is: discussing the general mindset of a child living through the Nazi rule of Germany and all of the propaganda hes been taughtonly for it to come crashing down as hes basically forced to grow up SUPER fast, both by his Hitler Youth organization, and then his familys role in hiding away a Jewish girl, and his mothers death at the hands of the regime. It all just works as a really well-written movie.

Finally, I cant end this without highlighting Sam Rockwell, who does an amazing job. You think hes just some joke character, meant to represent the misplaced machismo of Nazism, but then he gets demoted for incompetence in letting Jojo blow himself up with a grenadeand youd think this sort of thing, particularly in a comedy about Nazism, would make him an easy goof character. Yet as the film goes onhe turns out to be one of the best humans among the Nazi organization. Not only does he look out for Jojo (rather than resenting him), but he covers for Jojo and Elsa when the Gestapo comes to search the house. And when it looks like Jojo is gonna face a firing squad, Sam pulls off his Nazi jacket and spits on him to make the soldiers think Jojos not a Nazi. He saves his life, and Jojo has to watch a sort of surrogate father figure sacrifice himself for him. I think a lesser actor couldnt have threaded the needle that Sam Rockwell did, but he was my favorite character.

9. Tangy
I like Jojo Rabbit well enough. The concept is fun, while still being appropriately dark and theres some really good heart at the center of the film with the relationship formed between Jojo and Elsa. Theres also Sam Rockwell who always manages to provide an automatic boost to any movie I see him in. Despite all the positives, I cant help but feel like there was more potential with this concept and as a result, I can rank it as highly as other films in my Top 10. Everything above this manages to feel more unique and honestly more clever. That said, I do still enjoy the film as it stands.

Biggest Laugh: Probably the comedically repetitive salutes in the Gestapo scene

12. Gavs
The first film on this list had a duck in the title, so its fitting that the final film should have a rabbit in it. Jojo is a ten-year-old boy who is a fully indoctrinated card-carrying member of the Hitler Youth, despite him being a sweet-natured kid deep down. Jojos prejudices are challenged as he gradually bonds with Elsa, the young Jewish girl his mother is harbouring.

The gimmick that sets this film apart from other Holocaust / World War II themed films is that Jojo is a Stand user, and his Stand is none other than the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler himself! Although he doesnt have any powers besides, you know, being Hitler. Hes basically the Stand equivalent of the little boy from X-Men 2 who can change TV channels by blinking. Setting aside the lack of powers, this is Hitler as youve never seen him before, a quirky father figure, albeit one with the familiar menace lurking beneath the surface. Taika Waititi is able to become quite menacing as Jojo becomes less fanatical and the Fuhrer shows his true colours as he tries to regain Jojos adoration. He eventually falls victim to the greatest cinematic kick since King Leonidas shot the messenger, figuratively speaking. Literally, Leonidas kicked him.

Speaking of Taika Waititi, while his trademark quirkiness is here, its reined in a bit from usual, given the subject matter. There is plenty of comedy despite that. Its often understated, but its a welcome inclusion nonetheless. Jojos misconceptions about the Jews are funny in their exaggeration. There are also performances from actors known for primary comedic roles such as Rebel Wilson and Stephen Merchant who get to play against type, more villainous but still funny.

The emotional core of the film is Jojos mother Rosie, who laments the loss of her son to Nazi ideology and tries to redeem him while she helps the resistance. Luckily, Jojos friendship with Elsa means she is able to finish what Rosie started. I was a little concerned about this film, but I was pleased to see that this film knows when to be serious.

14. Plasma
When I watched 2019s Oscar nominees a few years ago, I ranked Jojo Rabbit dead last because I thought it was a total slog.

Needless to say, I came into this rewatch with putrid expectations. But when I actually sat down again with this one, I noticed the movies interesting family dynamic. Its fun to see how Jojo fills the shoes left behind by his father and sister. The former is replaced by an imaginary Adolf Hilter (and a Nazi solider who later saves Jojos life in a surprisingly emotional scene) while the latter is replaced by a Jewish girl who Jojo cant bring himself to hate. Throw in a rebellious, scrupulous mother played by Scarlett Johansen, and youve got a compelling domestic scenario.

Though I loved the family dynamic, the story itself still dragged for me during my rewatch. Part of the problem is the humor being hit-and-miss, while the other part is the lack of immediate stakes. I never got the sense that anyone was in serious danger until the Nazis visited Jojos house. And while I was surprised by the mothers death as a consequence of that search, the rest of the movie dragged for me (I mean, come on, by that point its obvious that Jojo isnt going to report or kill the girl). There really isnt much left in the tank once the mother dies, and while there are some heartstring-plucking moments near the end, the drama mostly dies with the mother. C+

14. Forty
Youre my second-best friend. First place is reserved for the Fuhrer. So, unless youre Hitler hiding in a fat little boys body, Id be happy with second place. Easily the film with the darkest underlying tone, JoJo Rabbit mixes Taika Waititis signature fun humor with the deadly serious nature of WWII Germany. It starts out as a fairly routine silly comedy and slowly evolves into something pretty powerful and at times heart wrenching. I will be interested to see where this one falls in the rankings mainly because of the glaring tonal clashes. One moment youve got imaginary friend Hitler prancing around saying goofy things, and the next our young, brainwashed friend is hugging the hanging legs of his executed mother. I found it exceptionally unique, and the subject matter well handled. Excellent performances top to bottom (particular shoutout to JoJos friend who was the BEST) with a cast that really delivered, from the hilarious to the poignant. The whole point of satire is to deliver a powerful message (in this case the absurdity of war and hate) under the guise of comedy, and this one does it really well.

Outlier Ranking

Mythiot: 226
Suprak: 211
GavsEvans: 173
Plasma: 164
forty: 158
John: 147
Vis: 144
Karo: 136
Poke: 134 +
Tangy: 130 -

I have my 1, my 2, and my 11 left.

I had a rocky start but the ending here is A+. Ill lose the outlier title because of it though sadly.

Damn I was really pulling for Jojo to take it

Sticking with airplane

PAYOUTS!!!! Mythiot, Gavs, Suprak, Forty, and Poke all make money on Jojo. Suprak also steals 3rd place while Gavs sneaks into 4th.

VEGAS ODDS ON #3:

+600 Airplane!
+600 Young Frankenstein
+1000 Galaxy Quest

Leaderboard:
1) Poke $5650 (+500 Mystery Men, +500 The Freshman, +1250 The Interview, +600 Duck Soup, +600 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, +900 Enchanted, +500 Sorry to Bother You, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
2) Forty $3650 (+600 Duck Soup, +900 Enchanted, +850 Thank You For Smoking, +500 Sorry to Bother You, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
3) Suprak $2900 (+500 Mystery Men, +1100 Team America: World Police, +500 Sorry to Bother You, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
4) Gavs $2650 (+500 Mystery Men, +500 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, +850 Thank You For Smoking, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
5) Mega $2350 (+500 The Freshman, +1250 The Interview, +600 Borat)
6) Mythiot $2250 (+600 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, +850 Thank You For Smoking, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
7) Johnbobb $2200 (+850 Spaceballs, +850 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, +500 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery)
7) Inviso $2200 (+850 Not Another Teen Movie, +850 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, +500 Sorry to Bother You)

The House Won On:

• Stripes (+1000 odds)
• Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (+500 odds)
• Beverly Hills Cop (+1000 odds)
• Return of the Living Dead (Unlisted; +2500 odds)
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Unlisted; +2500 odds)
• Modern Times (+700 odds)
• This is Spinal Tap (+1250 odds)
• Monty Pythons The Life of Brian (+1500 odds)
• Zoolander (+850 odds)
• Black Dynamite (+850 odds)
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (+1000 odds)
• Office Space (+1700 odds)

Still guessing Galaxy Quest.

Cmon Airplane! Gimme that sweet Airplane cash!

Guessing Young Frankenstein again.

Guessing Galaxy Quest

I think I'll guess Airplane.

Waititi as a wacky, upbeat Hitler is hilarious, Sam Rockwell is always awesome. Jojo's journey is incredible. Fantastic film.

Solid top 3...I'll guess Young Frankenstein

Nice, my top 3 make the top 3! Now I'm curious to see if the order will be the same.

I was tempted to do an entire write-up pretending that Jojo Rabbit was a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure spin-off, since as the last film I watched, I thought it might be funny to satirise the satire ranking by talking about a fake film, but there was enough to talk about that I resisted the temptation.

I predict Airplane will crash-land in number 3 following an unfortunate food poisoning incident.

GavsEvans123 posted...

I was tempted to do an entire write-up pretending that Jojo Rabbit was a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure spin-off, since as the last film I watched, I thought it might be funny to satirise the satire ranking by talking about a fake film, but there was enough to talk about that I resisted the temptation.

That might have been a bit much, but calling Hitler Jojo's Stand got a big laugh out of me.

3. Galaxy Quest (1999)
Directed by Dean Parisot
Score: 79

Vis: 1
Suprak: 2
GavsEvans: 3
Plasma: 4
Tangy: 6
Karo: 7
Poke: 10
Mythiot: 10
John: 12
Forty: 24

1. Vis
I had a smile on my face for the entire runtime of this movie. Its amazing. Yes, you should have a basic understanding of some cliches and conceits from Star Trek (specifically the original series), but even then, you can follow a plot that is basically some washed up actors from a sci-fi show get teleported into space to play their roles for real and the jokes still make sense. Thats the thing: this is a genuine sci-fi movie that happens to have a comedic tone because the main characters are NOT sci-fi characters. Theyre normal humans who have been sucked up into a fish-out-of-water situation, but the aliens (as quirky as they are) feel real in their alien mannerisms. Everything in the plot is sincere, and the comedy comes specifically from the characters driving the action.

Its crazy to look at this cast and see how stacked of an ensemble it is. Tim Allen in his prime, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman (R.I.P.), Tony Shaloub, Sam Rockwell, and others. You have Tim Allen as the Shatner-like captain who gets into this strange plot strangely fast, and he plays the conquering hero with all the hammy goodness youd expect. Weavers sex symbol character pokes fun at how useless her character was on the show itself, taking to her job on the real ship and just generally hating the writing that brought her into this situation. Rickman is, of course, playing a character far beyond his Shakespearean talents, and that hatred and general malaise informs every aspect of his character (with his sad sack performance making some of the best quotes in the movie). Tony Shaloubs character being constantly high, and thus totally cool with all the alien shit, is great. And Sam Rockwell is a goddamn star, poking fun as the random redshirts who serve one purpose on a Star Trek show, and that sorta shit is terrifying when youre really in that situation.

The whole movie is great; I just want to highlight a few of my favorite quotes:

I know! You construct a weapon. Look around you. Can you form some sort of rudimentary lathe?

What is this thing? I mean, it serves no useful purpose for there to be a bunch of chompy, crushy things in the middle of a hallway! ... No! I mean, we shouldn't have to do this! It makes no logical sense! Why is it here? ... Well, forget it! I'm not doing it! This episode was badly written!

"I see you managed to get your shirt off."

Lets get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!

By Grabthars hammer, what a savings."

3. GavsEvans
It would have been easy to make this film a mean-spirited spoof, but Galaxy Quest resists that temptation in favour of being an affectionate homage to its inspiration. Theres a clear appreciation and passion of Star Trek tropes and archetypes, and yet it remains accessible even if youre unfamiliar with Star Trek. There is plenty of comedy here, but that isnt all this works as a genuine sci-fi movie as well, with excitement and emotional moments as well as laughs. The heroes using the minefield to their advantage in the climax is a cheer-worthy moment for me which could have been from a serious sci-fi film.

Alan Rickman steals the show as Dr Lazarus, who especially resents that he is recognised only for Galaxy Quest, and not the roles that he is prouder of, with the resulting typecasting leaving him unable to find work. His delivery of almost every line is steeped in exasperation at his unsatisfying career and the fans, especially the ones who recite his dreaded catchphrase. The scene towards the end where Lazarus says the catchphrase with the utmost sincerity is a scene that manages to be funny, heartwarming, emotional and awesome, all at once! There were definitely goosebumps from at least one of those emotions, though Im not sure which.

Im not a Trekkie, but I still enjoyed this one a lot. Perhaps the added context would have been enough to push this up to number 1? Tellingly, Trekkies love this film so much that they have adopted it as an unofficial Star Trek film. That its inclusion in the Star Trek canon continues the even numbers good, odd numbers bad film curse is an added bonus. Never give up, never surrender!

4. Plasma
Entirely amazing. Ive never watched an episode of Star Trek in my life, yet I found this movie full of clever ideas, well-drawn characters, and tons of heart. Every character serves a purpose and has an arc, and there are some great feels at the end. A

6. Tangy
At this point, Ive seen more Star Trek homages than I have any actual Star Trek. Which is one of the things that makes this movie so delightful. The homages are less about the show itself and more about low budget tv series in general. While I may not have seen any Star Trek, I loved me some Power Rangers growing up and seeing the same corniness in the costumes, set design dialogue and archetypes was an absolute treat. Then the film takes it to another level and has the retired actors themselves be in charge of where this particular episode goes and instead of the characters overcoming trials, its the actors that do.

I also think the movie has a ton of heart. When it comes to fame, most people think of the celebrity life and tons of money, but this movie is a great reminder that none of that actually matters, its actually the impact you can have on others is what matters at the end of the day. I also think this was the point in my rankings where I could switch around the rest of these and it would make sense for me.

Biggest Laugh: Sam Rockwell's entire character arc. Not only was it played for laugh's very well, but he also manages to be one of my favorite characters as a result.

7. Karo
The actors in a TV show that is totally not Star Trek get mistaken for actual interstellar heroes by naive aliens and hilarity ensues. This motley crew of incompetent space sailors has to work together to save the galaxy and become the heroes they pretend to be in a plot that is quite predictable but still fun.
It is such a brilliant satire of the elements of the classic series that even someone like me who has only a passing interest in the Trek series can find it hilarious.

10. Mythiot
Very thankful for these rankings for making me watch this for the first time, because it was an absolute delight. Brilliant premise of having a group of aliens mistake a Star Trek knock-off for being real and beaming aboard the actors who are jaded from years of attending conventions and having them face a real galactic threat. The aliens themselves are great, these octopus-like creatures who take awkward human forms and dont know how to emote with them properly. The impressive cast of actors, including Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, led by a surprisingly great Tim Allen all sell their situation well. I do wish they went a little further with the premise, maybe have them meet a United Federation of sorts, but I really enjoyed what we got.

12. John
I'll be fully honest, I was kinda dreading watching this one. I've never had any interest in like Star Trek or that type of space sci-fi that this is specifically a love letter too. I've also never really cared for Tim Allen in anything outside of Toy Story. That being said, this movie landed for me way more than I would've ever expected. I didn't realize the all-star cast it was going to have; I knew going in that it was starring Allen/Weaver/Rickman, but I absolutely didn't expect Sam Rockwell to show up and completely steal the show, as well as small first-role appearances by Rainn Wilson and Justin Long. The premise is fairly simple but the movie kept me legitimately laughing throughout.

24. Forty
Never give up. Never surrender. Im pretty lukewarm on Galaxy Quest, mainly because Ive never been too into Star Trek. Ive enjoyed a bit of TNG and the 2009 movie but definitely wouldnt be considered a Trekkie. I like Sci-Fi well enough though, so I dont really have anything bad to say about GQ. Its fun, lighthearted, and genuinely exciting at times when the crew has to deal with space problems like alien monsters or magnetic minefields. Whereas some parodies make fun of the source material (e.g Spaceballs) Galaxy Quest is more of a love letter to the genre and its fans. While I dont quite get the near universal adoration (90% on Rotten Tomatoes if you put stock in that) I did think it was an enjoyable adventure.

Outlier Ranking

Mythiot: 233
Suprak: 212
forty: 179 +
GavsEvans: 173 -
Plasma: 165 -
John: 155
Vis: 146
Poke: 141 +
Karo: 140 -
Tangy: 133

Darn I was hoping we'd agree on the winner. Well pretty close.

I can accept a Young Frankenstein win

Rare that we see 2 pre-1990 films in the top 2 though

Anyway, Airplane one last time

ps fuck Tim Allen

PAYOUTS! Vis and forty (who were at opposite ends of the Galaxy Quest ranking scale) cash in big with $1000 each.

VEGAS ODDS ON #2:

+600 Airplane!
+600 Young Frankenstein

Leaderboard:
1) Poke $5650 (+500 Mystery Men, +500 The Freshman, +1250 The Interview, +600 Duck Soup, +600 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, +900 Enchanted, +500 Sorry to Bother You, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
2) Forty $4650 (+600 Duck Soup, +900 Enchanted, +850 Thank You For Smoking, +500 Sorry to Bother You, +800 Jojo Rabbit, +1000 Galaxy Quest)
3) Inviso $3200 (+850 Not Another Teen Movie, +850 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, +500 Sorry to Bother You, +1000 Galaxy Quest)
4) Suprak $2900 (+500 Mystery Men, +1100 Team America: World Police, +500 Sorry to Bother You, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
5) Gavs $2650 (+500 Mystery Men, +500 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, +850 Thank You For Smoking, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
6) Mega $2350 (+500 The Freshman, +1250 The Interview, +600 Borat)
7) Mythiot $2250 (+600 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, +850 Thank You For Smoking, +800 Jojo Rabbit)
8) Johnbobb $2200 (+850 Spaceballs, +850 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, +500 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery)

The House Won On:

• Stripes (+1000 odds)
• Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (+500 odds)
• Beverly Hills Cop (+1000 odds)
• Return of the Living Dead (Unlisted; +2500 odds)
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Unlisted; +2500 odds)
• Modern Times (+700 odds)
• This is Spinal Tap (+1250 odds)
• Monty Pythons The Life of Brian (+1500 odds)
• Zoolander (+850 odds)
• Black Dynamite (+850 odds)
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (+1000 odds)
• Office Space (+1700 odds)

Gonna guess Young Frankenstein for the final bet of the game.

Sorry everyone, I ruined it. If I were to rerank Galaxy Quest now I would have it a little higher though

Final bet on Young Frankenstein

Galaxy Quest is so fun. What a cast. Being a fan of Star Trek is an added bonus, but this film works even on a standalone because it's such a great premise. Has-been actors turned into real life heroes which ultimately gets their careers revived. Glad it is among the top ranked.

I'll guess Young Frankenstein

God please have Young Frankenstein go out next

fortybelowsummer posted...

Sorry everyone, I ruined it. If I were to rerank Galaxy Quest now I would have it a little higher though

Honestly thought Galaxy Quest was the favorite from the start. It's the only movie on the list that manages to be funny, clever, heartwarming, dramatic, meta, and generally well-written. AND the cast is an absolute treat.

I expected either GQ or Jojo to take first, but I think the Top 5 overall is pretty solid.

One step closer to having my top three match the final rankings! The tension is palpable.

I'll stick with Airplane for the final bet. Papa needs a new pair of shoes!

An exercise in staving off work boredom

Following
- My initial rankings, counting the movies I hadn't watched in some time and going only off memories
- No post-update alterations like dropping Mystery Men, Beverly Hills Cop, and Stripes; noe elevating some like Team America, Sorry to Bother You, and Return of the Living Dead
- Black Dynamite & Christmas Vacation placed at their listed location (12th & 15th, respectively)
- Outliers not reflecting changes in placements for myself or anyone
- Bold indicating better placement, Italics indicating worse, and Underline for unseen films

30. 277 - Stripes
29. 272 - Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein
28. 258 - The Freshman
27. 242 - Mystery Men
26. 232 - The Interview (0 Outlier)
25. 214 - Beverly Hills Cop
24. 213 - Return of the Living Dead
23. 203 - Duck Soup
21t. 192 - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
21t. 192 - Modern Times
20. 188 - Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
19. 186 - Spaceballs
18. 185 - Not Another Teen Movie
17. 184 - This is Spinal Tap
16. 170 - Enchanted
15. 164 - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
13t. 158 - Monty Python's Life of Brian
13t. 158 - Zoolander
12. 154 - Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
11. 147 - Team America: World Police
10. 145 - Black Dynamite
9. 137 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail
8. 130 - Sorry to Bother You
7. 127 - Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
6. 125 - Thank You For Smoking
5. 118 - Office Space
4/3. 103/85 - Young Frankenstein
4/3. 97 - Jojo Rabbit
2/1t. 81 - Galaxy Quest
1/1t. 81/63 - Airplane!

My original list outlier would be 208.

And depending on their placements of the last two films...

Mana's Similarity Airplane High
Inviso - 176
Pokewars - 214
Suprak - 236
Tangy - 238
PrinceKaro - 268
fortybelowsummer - 270
GavsEvans - 278
Plasma - 278
Johnbobb - 282
Mythiot - 304

Mana's Similarity Young Frankenstein High
Inviso - 184
Pokewars - 226
Tangy - 246
Suprak - 252
GavsEvans - 278
fortybelowsummer - 286
Plasma - 290
Mythiot - 306
Johnbobb - 312
PrinceKaro - 312

What's funny is PrinceKaro and I both have #3 and #25 still open, so we either match these last two or have completely opposite opinions. Looking forward to it.

And I probably could wait two more hours, but, like, I'm not losing this post in case.

Good winner either way.

Ill go with Airplane one last time!

Final guess is Airplane for #2. This has been quite fun!

2. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Directed by Mel Brooks
Score: 78

Suprak: 1
GavsEvans: 2
Tangy: 2
Mythiot: 5
John: 6
Vis: 8
Plasma: 9
Poke: 9
Forty: 11
Karo: 25

2. Gavs
I was all set to make a Dr Doofenshmirtz two nickels reference here, but this isnt a Frankenstein movie, its a Fronkenshteen movie. Totally different thing!

I can describe this film as being hazardous to my health. I was sick when I watched it, which caused me to suffer long and painful coughing fits whenever I laughed for longer than a moment. After this happened twice in the opening scene, I had to try and watch the rest without laughing. Easier said than done!

Like the original Dr Frankenstein, Frederick is driven to madness by his work, although here that madness manifests differently. Frederick is prone to violent mood swings, and even at the best of times, theres a barely restrained rage bubbling under. His attempts to control his temper are funny already, so its even funnier when he inevitably loses it.

Despite being a parody of the Frankenstein story, this film does have a bit of tragedy of its own, in the spirit of the source material. Frederick doesnt want to follow in his grandfathers footsteps, but some light nudging from Frau Blucher (NEIGH!) piques his curiosity. Likewise, the creature is reformed, but this ends all too soon through no fault of his own. Both creator and creation are forced to become what others see them as against their will.

The most important thing here is that this film is very funny indeed. There are humorous twists on scenes from the source material, such as the little girl being catapulted away, or the blind man inconveniencing the creature. There are lots of memorable characters, each with their own comedic quirks, such as Igor with his moving hump, Kents thick accent and wooden arm, and Frau Blucher (NEIGH!) having a thing for her former employer. Of course, theres also the big set-piece dance that I would be remiss not to mention as the funniest part of the film, and of the list so far. It will take some doing to top this!

2. Tangy
Between the critical acclaim of Blazing Saddles and the casual appeal of Spaceballs, Young Frankenstein often gets sidelined in terms of Mel Brooks movies. However I think I like it a great deal more than both of them. The main appeal of Young Frankenstein is Brooks attention to detail. He couldve made this just a straight up sequel to Frankenstein and I have no doubt it would be great, which makes the comedy work so much better. The way it alternates between telling a serious story and throwing absurd jokes at you is such a unique form of comedy that I dont think any other movie on this list does as well. So massive props on originality there. Then of course theres the master of acting himself, Gene Wilder, whos great in literally everything.

Biggest Laugh: Goodnight Frau Blucher *Neigh!*

5. Mythiot
A gleefully silly love letter to Universal Classic Horror starring Gene Wilder as the original Dr. Frankensteins embarrassed grandson who insists on going by Fronk-un-steen, until hes seduced by the secrets hidden within the impressively crafted set pieces of his family estate in Transylvania that he recreates his grandfathers mad experiments with hilarious results. As great as Gene Wilder is here, the supporting cast, particularly Marty Feldman as Eye-gor and Peter Boyle as Fronkunsteens monster really steal the show.

6. John
I absolutely love Gene Wilder. Blazing Saddles landed near the top of my Western list, primarily for Wilder's performance. The original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory has always been one of my favorite movies, and again, it's almost entirely because of Gene Wilder. All it comes down to is that he's just a hilarious personality that commands every scene he's in. Mel Brooks' humor has always itself been kind of hit or miss for me, and that continues here, with scenes like Puttin' on the Ritz and the spinning bookshelf cracking me up, while stuff like the blind man (and really most scenes not involving Wilder) didn't click as much. Still, it's consistently an enjoyable watch.

8. Vis
Now THIS is what Im talking about. We hit the 70s and we start to get more into my style of humor. Young Frankenstein was just funny from beginning to end, taking the classic story of Frankensteins monster and basically maintaining the same beats, but with a turn towards the comedic instead of towards the ghastly and gruesome. Gene Wilder is a treasure as always, playing an exasperated and neurotic Dr. Frankenstein (grandson of THE Dr. Frankenstein), but even better is Peter Boyle, who largely spends the film conveying emotion purely through facial expressions. Throw in a cavalcade of wacky extra characters, and you wind up with an extremely enjoyable film overall.

9. Plasma
Enjoyed the hell out of this one. Though the movie was never laugh-out-loud funny, I was amused the entire time by Dr. Frahn-ken-steen and his quirky crew. Bonus points for going black-and-whiteit added just the right touch of old-school horror atmosphere. B-

11. Forty
Give my creation liiiiiife! Few things are more entertaining to me than watching Gene Wilders manic performances. Even when hes saying things that arent inherently funny, the way he transitions from calm to raving lunacy and back again is always super funny. Theres no one like him and hes perfectly suited to the role of the half mad Dr. FRAH-KEN-STEIN. Some of Mel Brooks humor misses the mark for me (the constable with the arm for one), but he does a great job of paying homage to the old classic monster movies while adding his trademark silliness. Puttin on the Ritz is one of the most iconic moments in comedy history and its easily one of the best and most influential examples of horror comedy.

25. Karo
Dr. Frankenstein's grandson heads to Transylvania in order to follow in his predecessor's footsteps and do unsafe things with electrical current.
What follows is a plodding and unmemorable slog that is rarely funny. Corny old monster movies should be a ripe target for satire, but instead of really subverting anything they just play it mostly straight with a few dirty jokes and some random weirdness.
I didn't care about any of the characters, the story is one I've seen before, and just... why does this exist?
Mel Brooks should have gathered a bit more power before throwing the switch on this movie, because this is definitely not alive.

1. Airplane! (1980)
Directed by Jim Abrahams
Score: 60

Poke: 1
GavsEvans: 1
Karo: 3
Plasma: 3
Forty: 3
Vis: 4
Mythiot: 6
Tangy: 7
Suprak: 11
John: 21

1. Gavs
Several subjects have been spoofed on this list so far, but this film is notable as the first one to have a detrimental effect on its inspiration (in this case, the star-studded disaster movies of the 1970s) that meant audiences could no longer take the genre seriously. Watching this film, its easy to see why.

The rapid-fire comedy means theres never a dull moment, with almost every frame containing some sort of joke, be it a deadpan witticism, a surreal sight gag, physical slapstick, innuendo or something else entirely. Even the disaster is funny in how mundane and unflashy it is by the standards of the genre. As silly as the film is, the actors dont go over the top, none more so that Leslie Nielsen, who plays his characters absurdity entirely straight faced, and subsequently launched his acting career into a new phase.

The advantage of rapid-fire comedy is that if a particular joke doesnt land, you arent given much time to dwell on it before another one comes along. In this case, its a moot point because I found this film so funny, I was laughing pretty much throughout. Young Frankenstein may have had the funniest individual scene, but this is the most consistently funny film so far.

3. Karo
A planeful of strange passengers is stranded at high altitude when the flight crew fall ill in this wonderfully weird pinnacle of absurd non sequitur comedy.
All the people on the flight are delightful, even those who only appear for a few seconds like the extremely mature children or the incorrectly subtitled jive people.
If there is a thing I didnt like, it is that the protagonist's flashbacks are dull and uninteresting, something the movie itself acknowledges, in that whenever he talks about his tour in 'nam the person sitting next to him commits suicide in an exaggerated manner.
It just works in a way I find hard to quantify where similar movies crash and burn. It is as if the producers have somehow tapped into the cosmic source of all humor and the world is richer because of it.

3. Plasma
Airplane! is a miracle. There are so many moving parts here that this movie shouldnt work at all. Im not sure how the writers managed to cram all these absurd, deadpan storylines into one film, but somehow they did it, and holy shit the whole thing is hilarious. Prior to watching this one, I was beginning to wonder if this satire project wasnt for me, but Airplane! put those worries to bed. This movie oozes originality and hilarity, and its a masterclass in using the Rule of Three (I picked a bad week to quit smoking/amphetamines/sniffing glue.)

My only gripe is that the climax didnt have the punch I wanted. Neither funny nor impactful. Plane shouldve exploded or something. A

3. Forty
Joey, have you ever been in ain a Turkish prison? If someone could only watch one spoof movie and told me to pick it, I would tell them Airplane! Its the pinnacle of taking a situation that is seriously potentially disastrous and making it completely silly. It might be the most quotable movie on the list, the jokes coming rapid fire and delivered by a dead pan Leslie Nielsen and company. I think hes one of the most underrated actors, and I know hes beloved by many but doesnt seem to get enough credit as a comedic genius. The Olivier of spoofs as Roger Ebert called him. Its the furthest thing from scathing social commentary, but for puns, non-sequiturs, and slapstick, its the absolute king. Surely, there is no funnier movie.

4. Vis
Going into this watchthrough, Airplane! was probably the biggest-name film I hadnt seen before. And this is the kind of movie that makes me really glad for these projects, because I never wouldve found the time to watch this otherwise, and it was great. Knowing that the script for this film was basically taking a 1950s disaster movie and adding jokesit makes it THAT much better. You NOTICE how straight theyre playing the whole movie, expect when youve got little background moments that you might not even be paying attention to sometimes. Leslie Neilsen has been in a lot of Scary Movie sequels, but hes always playing a goofball in those, whereas here, hes taking the role extremely seriously, and it makes the jokes land THAT much more. Its just a really funny film, and the fact that they use sight gags, and wordplay, and legitimate jokes, and its not just one style of comedy makes it all the better.

6. Mythiot
The second most ridiculous movie that takes place on a plane that Ive ever seen and certainly the funniest. A comedic remake of a forgotten disaster film called Zero Hour that uses some of the most ridiculous lines word for word, Airplane is a blast. The story is a well-engineered rapid-fire joke telling machine where even if a joke doesnt land, another will follow a couple seconds later, and most of them are pretty hilarious and stupid in the best possible sense. The whole thing wouldnt work nearly as well if the characters didnt seem like they wholly believed in the seriousness and danger of their situation even as they say and do the most ridiculous things possible.

7. Tangy
This movie never ceases to entertain me. Deadpan comedy is always a delight to see and this movie not only elevated it, but also perfected it. I also think its interesting that a film like this couldve only really come out of the era. Nowadays comedy is a lot more in your face and most films often bring in people known for their comedy. Here though its actual dramatic actors playing it seriously, I think I even remember Peter Graves being really unsure of his scenes in the cockpit, despite them being some of the funniest moments in the history of cinema. Anyway Airplane! is a classic thatll never get old for me.

Biggest Laugh: I dont even know, I am incredibly fond of the Kareem Abdul Jabbar sequence though.

21. John
There's a pretty reasonable argument to be made for Airplane! as the most quotable movie on this list. I don't think I've ever heard a single dad joke repeated more than "Surely you can't be serious." As a whole, Airplane! is good, not great, except for the moments that are absolutely hilarious. It feels like they took basically every joke they could possibly think of and squeezed them into less than 90 minutes, and hey, props enough for that. I don't think anything landed for me as much as Leslie Nielsen coming into the cockpit mid-crash landing to repeat, straight-faced: "Good luck, we're all counting on you."

Final Outlier Ranking

Mythiot: 241
Suprak: 223
forty: 181
John: 179 +
Plasma: 174 +
GavsEvans: 173 -
Karo: 165 +
Vis: 155 -
Poke: 148 -
Tangy: 139

Holy shit, my #1 won!

Huh, I know Airplane is beloved but for some reason I didn't think it would really click with this crowd as a whole

Love how everyone came up with different ways of spelling Fronkunsteen.