Comedy Movies 2014

Let’s take a look at the biggest and best comedy movies of 2014. Funny this year comes in the form of Seth Rogen vs frat boys, a return to Jump Street, another time-travelling Hot Tub, Jim Carrey acting Dumb again, and Jon Favreau’s cooking. That and so much more.

Here’s the rundown of every significant theatrical release, good and bad:

- JANUARY -

Ride Along
Starring: Kevin Hart, Ice Cube, John Leguizamo, Bruce McGill
Director: Tim Story
Out: 17 January 2014 (U.S. Dates)

Action-comedy about a jumpy, fast-talking security guard (Hart) who joins a mean decorated cop (Cube) for a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta to prove he is worthy of marrying the cop’s sister. The shift is designed to scare the hell out of him, but when it leads them both to the city’s most notorious criminal, the cop will find his new partner’s rapid-fire mouth is just as dangerous as the incoming bullets. From the director of ‘Think Like a Man’ and the ‘Taxi’ remake, this follows the tradition of buddy-cop comedies like ‘Rush Hour’ and last year’s ‘The Heat’. Kevin Hart and Ice Cube are a good ‘opposites’ pairing, with an entertaining dynamic. Ultimately your enjoyment will depend on how much you’re a Hart fan.[Critics (via Rotten Tomatoes): 18%] [Public (via IMDB): 6.2] – Ok

Knights Of Badassdom
Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage, Summer Glau, Danny Pudi
Director: Joe Lynch
Out: 21 January 2014

Live-action role players conjure up a demon from hell by mistake and must deal with the consequences. – Surely the best log line of the year. This gory-comedy has a fun cast; Steve Zahn (‘A Perfect Getaway’), Peter Dinklage (‘Game of Thrones’), Summer Glau (‘Terminator: SC Chronicles’) and Danny Pudi (‘Community’). Unfortunately it’s sat on the shelf for three years and we’re getting a producer’s cut after disagreements with director Joe Lynch (‘Wrong Turn 2′) were so severe. This will falls into the ‘what could have been great’ category. [Critics: 50%] [Public: 5.9] – Ok

- MARCH -

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton
Director: Wes Anderson
Out: 7 March 2014

The adventures of Gustave H (Fiennes), a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa (newcomer Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. Involved are the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune – all against the backdrop of a dramatically changing Continent. Wes Anderson might just be hitting his peak with this madcap escapade – the scripting, cinematography, art direction, costuming and lighting are all fantastic. Add to that the most impressive supporting cast of the year: Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Saoirse Ronan, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham and Jude Law (with Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Murray in cameos). It’s Fiennes’ movie and he’s hilarious, wonderful. The whole thing is a delight. [Critics: 92%] [Public: 8.2] – Excellent

Bad Words
Starring; Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Ben Falcone, Philip Baker Hall, Allison Janney
Director: Jason Bateman
Out: 14 March 2014

A spelling bee loser (Bateman) sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and trying to win as an adult. Contest officials, outraged parents, and overly ambitious 8th graders are no match for him as he ruthlessly crushes their dreams of victory and fame. As a reporter (Hahn) attempts to discover his true motivation, he finds himself forging an unlikely alliance with a competitor: an awkward 10-year-old Indian boy who is completely unfazed by his take-no-prisoners approach to life. A foul-mouthed, mean-spirited comedy, think ‘Spellbound’ meets ‘Bad Santa’. Jason Bateman shows great timing in his directing debut and gives one of his best performances in front of camera. [Critics: 64%] [Public: 6.8] – Good

Muppets Most Wanted
Starring: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Out: 21 March 2014

While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves caught up in an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit look-alike and his dastardly sidekick (Gervais). Gervais, who has had memorable interactions with Elmo in the past (see YouTube) is the human lead this time, replacing Jason Segal who wanted to move on. Ty Burrell (‘Modern Family’) plays an Interpol inspector, Tina Fey is a Russian prison guard and there’s a slew of cameos including Christoph Waltz, Ray Liotta, Zach Galifianakis (as “Hobo Joe”), Lady Gaga, Salma Hayek, Tom Hiddleston and Celine Dion (who’s also recorded a song). The director, co-writer and producers of the Muppets ‘reboot’ all return, while the composer of the songs for the first movie will also be back. Segal’s muppet friend Walter features, but moves to the sidelines as this is a Kermit-centered movie (as the old ones were). After the critical and commercial success of the last one, expect another enjoyably madcap experience (even if it doesn’t quite have the charm of the early films). [Critics: 79%] [Public: 6.8] – Good

A Haunted House 2
Starring: Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, Dave Sheridan, Jaime Pressly
Director: Michael Tiddes
Out: 28 March 2014

After losing his possessed girlfriend in a car crash, Malcolm (Wayans) falls for a single white mother of two. As he moves into a new home with the family, he discovers bizarre paranormal events surrounding the children and the property. To complicate matters, the back-from-the-dead girlfriend moves in across the street and there’s nothing worse than the scorn of a demonic ex. This sequel will spoof targets including ‘Paranormal Activity 4′, ‘Sinister’ and ‘The Conjuring’. The first film has an awful user score of 4.9 on IMDB and critics gave it 10% on RT. But somehow the $1.5m budgeted flick managed to make an incredible $40m at the U.S. box office, and a further $20m worldwide. So despite the fact that nobody liked it (except for a few scenes with Nick Swardson and Cedric the Entertainer), a sequel is a financial necessity for all involved. Expect more lowest common denominator humour – watch only if you are a fan of farts, Marlon Wayans’ high pitched scream and jokes about “white people”, ’cause you ain’t getting much else. [Critics: 8%] [Public: 4.7] – Avoid

The Other Woman
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kate Upton, Nicki Minaj
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Out: 25 April 2014

After discovering her boyfriend (Coster-Waldau) is married, a woman (Diaz) tries to get her ruined life back on track. But when she accidentally meets the wife he’s been cheating on (Mann), she realizes they have much in common, and her sworn enemy becomes her greatest friend. When yet another affair is discovered (Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on the serial adulterer. From the director of ‘The Notebook’. The leads seem to have good chemistry though, as ‘First Wives Club’ and the near-identical ‘John Tucker Must Die’ showed, ganging up to destroy an ex is not particularly hilarious territory.[Critics: 23%] [Public: 6.3] – Ok

- MAY -

Walk Of Shame
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden, Gillian Jacobs, Ethan Suplee
Director: Steven Brill
Out: 2 May 2014

A reporter’s dream of becoming a news anchor is compromised after a one-night stand leaves her stranded in downtown L.A. without a phone, car, ID or money – and only 8 hours to make it to the most important job interview of her life… I can only presume the interview isn’t also in L.A. otherwise 8 hours would be plenty to get there after making a reverse payphone call, or walking there in a couple of hours. Question is, can Elizabeth Banks carry a comedy on her own? When the writer-director’s track record is ‘Little Nicky’, ‘Mr. Deeds’, ‘Without a Paddle’ and ‘Drillbit Taylor’, it’s a highly suspect prospect. [Critics: 13%] [Public: 6.1] – Ok

Neighbors
Starring: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Out: 9 May 2014

A couple (Rogen, Byrne) with a newborn baby are settling into a new home, coming to terms with putting their youthful days to one side. Then a huge, rowdy fraternity moves in next door (led by Efron). Soon there’s a growing conflict between the two houses. Written by two of producer Judd Apatow’s former assistants (that’s how you get ahead people), this is directed by the helmer of ‘Get Him to the Greek’ and ‘The Five-Year Engagement’. Reaction has been very positive and this just might do for Zac Efron what ’21 Jump Street’ did for Channing Tatum. It’s a little uneven and predictable but definitely a good time at the cinema, and when the jokes land they really land. Sometimes on the ceiling. [Critics: 73%] [Public: 6.9] – Excellent

Chef
Starring: Jon Favreau, Sofía Vergara, Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson
Director: Jon Favreau
Out: 9 May 2014

When an emotional, Miami-born chef (Favreau) tries and fails to open a restaurant in L.A., he returns to Miami to fix up a simple food truck and reclaim his creative promise. He also gets reacquainted with his ex-wife (Vergara) and tries to piece his estranged family back together. Soon he’s planning to drive across the country to reclaim his success in L.A. …Sofía Vergara plays Jon Favreau’s ex-wife? You might have guessed this is directed, co-produced and written by Jon Favreau. The great supporting cast listed above also includes Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo and Gary Shandling. Indeed this is something of an ‘Iron Man 2′ cast reunion (R.D.J., Scar’Jo, Favreau, Shandling). Who doesn’t want to see Avengers in the kitchen? There aren’t many good food comedies out there, but Favreau is a great comic director (see ‘Elf’, ‘Made’) so might just be able to cook up something. [Critics: 88%] [Public: 7.8] – Excellent

A Million Ways To Die In The West
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Out: 30 May 2014

In 1890, a cowardly sheep farmer (MacFarlane) loses his girlfriend (Seyfried) after withdrawing from a duel. He then meets a new lady (Theron) who teaches him to shoot and helps him discover that bravery and confidence, while they gradually fall in love. But the herder will have to fully realise that true potential when the lady’s husband (Neeson), an infamous criminal, rides back into town in a bad mood. A western written, starring and directed by ‘Family Guy’/’Ted’ creator, and Oscars host, Seth MacFarlane. This is his first movie role, and while’s ok at the nods to camera, he’s not quite so comfortable with the straight romantic stuff. The cast also includes Neil Patrick Harris (as a moustachioed suitor who enjoys a song-and-dance), Sarah Silverman (as a local prostitute who beds ten men “on a slow day”) and Giovanni Ribisi. The characters have a modern day take on things, and it’s often pretty dirty. The plotline is disappointingly straight-forward, while the humour is really hit and miss. It desperately needed a good edit. [Critics: 33%] [Public: 6.2] – Ok

- JUNE -

22 Jump Street
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Wyatt Russell, Amber Stevens
Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Out: 13 June 2014

Officers Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college to crack a crime ring within a fraternity. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. In addition to cracking the case, the two freshmen must figure out if they can have a mature relationship like real men… The highly-entertaining-in-this-role Ice Cube, is back as police Captain Dickson. Amber Stevens (‘Greek’) has joined as a romantic interest for Schmidt, while Kurt Russell’s son Wyatt plays Jenko’s fraternity brother who’s a lead suspect in their investigation. Jonah Hill lost 40 pounds for the original, but won’t be doing so this time around – Expect the character’s sudden weight gain to be a plot point, probably. The first movie was a surprise hit critically and commercially. With the same directors on board and the same great chemistry between the leads, expect this to be a good time too. Hill and Tatum have said, “As we all know, sequels are ALWAYS better than the original. Every single time. This will be no exception.” [Critics: 85%] [Public: 7.9] – Excellent