The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Category Archives: Comedy
Scrooged (1988)
IMDB Plot Summary: A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.
Director: Richard Donner
Writers: Mitch Glazer; Michael O’Donoghue; Charles Dickens (novel “A Christmas Carol”)
Stars: Bill Murray; Karen Allen; John Forsythe
Serious Jest: 
(Don’t Bother) I just don’t have as much appreciation anymore for stories about privileged white guys who finally realize that others are human and deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, and then give some big “I get it speech,” after which everybody lives happily ever after.
Me Time (2022)
IMDB Plot Summary: Follows a Dad who finds time for himself for the first time in years while his wife and kids are away. He reconnects with a friend for a wild weekend.
Director & Writer: John Hamburg
Stars: Kevin Hart; Mark Wahlberg; Regina Hall
Serious Jest: (Worth It) There are plenty of funny moments in this buddy comedy featuring two guys with great chemistry and a solid supporting cast. Ilia Isorelýs Paulino makes a solid impression as the most ride-or-die Uber driver; I hope we see a lot more of her in future production. And Hall is charismatic, funny, and beautiful, delivering the Girlfriend Experience, as usual.
Sam Morril: Same Time Tomorrow (2022)
Plot Summary: Sam Morril delivers his trademark dry and dark punchlines in a stand-up set ranging from problematic fairy tales to biting social commentary.
Director: James Webb
Stars: Morril
Serious Jest: (Worth It) This is a solid stand-up set delivered by a very good comedian. Nothing you can’t miss here, but if you’re looking for a good stand-up special, this one is worth your time.
This Giant Beast That is the Global Economy (2019)
Plot Summary: Actor and former White House Associate Director of Public Engagement, Kal Penn, takes viewers around the world to meet key players behind some of the more serious and bizarre movements in today’s economy.
Stars: Kal Penn; Adam Davidson; Lesley Wolff
Serious Jest: (Queue It) Penn is insightful and funny as he interviews various interesting experts on many different topics related to the global economy and illustrates some of the concepts through comedic skits featuring some awesome celebrity cameos. Despite the grave nature of some of the topics, Penn manages to keep the series generally lighthearted. I learned a great deal, but I was also entertained.
A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019)
Plot Summary: A half-hour sketch comedy written by and starring Robin Thede.
Stars: Gabrielle Dennis; Thede; Ashley Nicole Black
Serious Jest: (Don’t Bother) This show features excellent actors with genuine charisma. Black stole an overwhelming amount of scenes, and I am now a fan of her. I already liked Quinta Brunson from the few episodes of Abbott Elementary that I watched before discovering this series, and she displayed great range in this show. The array of guest stars was also impressive, including names such as Issa Rae, David Alan Grier, Yvette Nicole Brown, Yvonne Orji, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Patti LaBelle, Lil Rel Howery, Deon Cole, Larry Wilmore, Kelly Rowland, and Punkie Johnson. All that and kick each episode off with a bunch of cool and funny puppet sequences over Megan Thee Stallion‘s Hot Girl, this series is a lock for greatness, right?
Well, unfortunately, the writing didn’t keep up with the cast’s potential. I found the dialogue in most of the sketches to be mediocre, and in some cases just plain unfunny. On the other hand, there seemed to be a good foundation for comedic development as characters kept returning in sketches down the stretch of the first season, and the church and the don’t-say-yes couple sketches were hilarious. Part of me still hopes that this show greatly improved after Season 1, but right now there’s too much other good content out there to for me to continue to invest time into it. Hopefully one day I’ll jump back for Season 2 and discover that I missed out.
Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (2011)
IMDB Plot Summary: Agents Coulson and Sitwell plan to derail General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross from interfering with S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs with a very special person.
Director: Leythum
Writers: Jack Kirby; Eric Pearson
Stars: Clark Gregg; Maximiliano Hernández; Deborah Knox
Serious Jest: (Worth It) This short film is a nice little bridge between The Incredible Hulk and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring fun banter by charismatic actors.
Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop (2011)
IMDB Plot Summary: A documentary on Conan O’Brien‘s comedy tour of the U.S. and Canada after leaving his post at “The Tonight Show” and severing his relationship with NBC.
Director: Rodman Flender
Writer: Olen Steinhauer
Stars: O’Brien; Andy Richter; Jimmy Vivino
Serious Jest: (Cruel & Unusual Punishment) Conan is one of my very favorite talk show hosts ever, but watching a whole documentary about his comedy tour, with only bits and pieces of the actual show, which seemed more like a singing and dancing variety act with comedy sprinkled in than a stand up comedy show, made me feel like Alex in A Clockwork Orange.
That’s My Boy (2012)
IMDB Plot Summary: While in his teens, Donny fathered a son, Todd, and raised him as a single parent until Todd’s 18th birthday. Now Donny resurfaces just before Todd’s wedding after years apart, sending the groom-to-be’s world crashing down.
Director: Sean Anders
Writer: David Caspe
Stars: Adam Sandler; Andy Samberg; Leighton Meester
Serious Jest: (Worth Watching) This flick is funnier and not as cringy as you might expect, given its plot. It’s not gut-busting hilarious, but you’ll probably get a fair amount of chuckles and smiles.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)
Plot Summary: Two straight, single Brooklyn firefighters pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits.
Director: Dennis Dugan
Writers: Barry Fanaro (screenplay); Alexander Payne (screenplay); Jim Taylor (screenplay); Lew Gallo (treatment)
Stars: Adam Sandler; Kevin James; Jessica Biel
Serious Jest: (Don’t Bother) This movie didn’t age well, but not because of the heavy use of offensive language. The ultimate message of this film is one that encourages acceptance and the importance of love over how you love. However, it relies on tired tropes and the shock value of gay situations, which don’t pack the same comedic punch nowadays, over actually writing funny and witty jokes about straight men pretending to be gay, which could probably still be done in a tasteful way. Overall, the movie is much more silly than humorous.
If there’s one thing that this flick does well, though, it’s showcasing how hot Biel is. It was almost worth the time to watch this movie just to stare googley-eyed at her during her scenes…or you could just spend those two hours ogling tens of thousands of photos of her on the Jessica Biel Central photo gallery. I’m not a stalker, you’re a stalker.
Live from the ManCave!!! 