‘You’re Cordially Invited’ Review: Ferrell + Witherspoon = Funny

It’s only fitting that Ferrell and Witherspoon find themselves in a timeless screwball comedy scenario. Ferrell portrays Jim, a protective single father to Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan), a spontaneous young woman who opts to marry her boyfriend Oliver (Stony Blyden). Jim’s demeanor is akin to what you might find on Wikipedia’s “helicopter parent” page; he becomes agitated the moment he learns his daughter is moving out permanently. He believes he has booked the idyllic island venue where he married Jenni’s mother years ago for her wedding, but an error leaves their names off the calendar. Consequently, when Witherspoon’s character Margot offers to organize her sister Neve’s (Meredith Hagner) wedding to Dixon (Jimmy Tatro), she takes the date that Jim believes he has reserved.

Jenni’s closest friend steps in to manage the rest of her wedding preparations, but things get a bit confusing as neither of them seem completely organized, resulting in both parties showing up for their weddings at the same venue, each thinking they were supposed to have it all to themselves. Margot is deeply involved in reality TV and she’s just as passionate as Jim. For a short while, they try to maintain harmony, deciding to share the small inn and its limited wedding options. However, if the movie was about everyone getting along, it wouldn’t be very interesting! Instead, their tensions escalate until they’re hurling insults and even the occasional exotic pet at each other.

In a nutshell, Jim and Margot’s antics to outdo each other are downright unbelievable, as I wasn’t joking about the wild animal reference. Yet, I’ve witnessed genuine individuals lose their cool amidst the intense atmosphere of an extravagant wedding. Although some events in “You’re Cordially Invited” might seem implausible, they aren’t more preposterous than the outlandish twists common in other comedies by Ferrell.

In this fashion, Ferrell portrays the role of “You’re Cordially Invited”. Jim, a character typically embodied by Will Ferrell, is a kind-hearted individual with an unending reservoir of indignation and anger towards any perceived insult or injustice. Nicholas Stoller, the screenwriter and director (known for “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Neighbors”), provides ample opportunity for Ferrell to ad-lib and engage in playful antics — and surprisingly, Reese Witherspoon steps up as his most formidable female co-star since Christina Applegate in the “Anchorman” series.

In this film, I get a substantial part where I delve into the rich family background of my character, Margot, accompanied by an array of talented actors who bring the intricate web of her family to life. Among them is Celia Weston, who brilliantly portrays Margot’s consistently disappointed, subtly argumentative mother.

Despite appearing complex due to the scarcity of similar films in Hollywood nowadays, this movie is actually quite straightforward. Director Stoller has crafted an engaging concept, gathered a humorous cast, and provided them with amusing scenes and dialogue, allowing their talents to shine. Ferrell delivers a refreshingly funny performance that rivals his past work. His comedic line about Jim’s job is particularly hilarious, ranking among the hardest laughs I’ve had in a movie since “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” in 2021. However, as I haven’t watched this film with a full house on its opening night, it’s difficult to confirm this with absolute certainty.

RATING: 7/10

The Worst Comedies Ever Made

50. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)

If you’ve only ever heard whispers about this infamous box-office failure, a film reportedly costing $100 million yet grossing merely $7 million, and are intrigued as to whether its reputation is truly justified, let me dissuade you right away. Not only is it that bad, but it’s even worse! Eddie Murphy takes on the title role, portraying a smuggler-turned-nightclub owner residing on the Moon in a future setting. Pluto finds himself embroiled in a conflict with an unscrupulous businessman dabbling in illicit cloning. However, if any of this plot sounds even slightly engaging, I must warn you that the delivery is so lackluster, devoid of life, humor, and essentially flat – which is particularly disappointing considering the company it keeps on this list.

49. Ed (1996)

Anyone who watched the dismal sports comedy Ed, about a minor leaguer and his chimpanzee teammate, would agree that not everyone is a fan of a chimp playing baseball. Interestingly, it turned out that Ed was not an actual chimpanzee but rather an animatronic suit worn by an actor. At least, no real jungle creature suffered for this poorly received film.

48. Porky’s (1981)

In the early 1980s, the genre of teen sex comedies gained significant popularity, with “Porky’s” leading the charge. This film followed a gang of high school friends on a mission to help their friend (Dan Monaghan) lose his virginity. However, when they encounter difficulties at a nightclub, their quest morphs into a crusade for revenge against the owner and his brother, the sheriff, who had hindered their fun. Interestingly, every character in this extended homage to masculinity seems older than I am, considering I was born before the movie’s release. The group of friends is so blatantly misogynistic in their pursuit of women as objects that they make “American Pie” appear almost feminist by comparison.

47. Problem Child (1990)

1990 saw “Problem Child” surpassing films such as “Joe Versus the Volcano,” “Goodfellas,” “House Party,” and “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” at the box office. However, it wasn’t invulnerable to criticism; quite the contrary, it was highly criticized by critics. To put it another way, “Problem Child” was not impervious to negative reviews.

The film received poor ratings from critics – with The New York Times stating that “everyone seems to be yelling their lines and making large gestures instead of acting.” Despite the unfavorable reviews, it still managed to spawn a couple of sequels.

(Note: There are indeed two “Problem Child” sequels, and there’s a chance one or both might not live up to the original. Fortunately for me, I may never have to find out as I hope never to see them.)

46. Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)

It’s challenging to find an actor who could match John Belushi’s charisma as Jake Blues in “Blues Brothers 2000”. Giving Elwood a clingy child companion might not have been the best choice for replacing him, as it seems they may have considered Macaulay Culkin for the role initially. In hindsight, it would’ve been better to eliminate that entire subplot altogether. The music in “Blues Brothers 2000” is on par with the original film, but the humor, characters, and overall execution leave much to be desired. In the final Battle of the Bands, the Blues Brothers turn into dancing zombies, which is an awkward scene but does symbolize the lack of life in this ill-conceived project.

45. Jack & Jill (2011)

As a movie enthusiast, I must confess that Al Pacino’s captivating performance in his singing commercial for Dunkaccino is nothing short of brilliant, earning it five stars. However, the rest of this Adam Sandler production, where Sandler portrays both halves of an exasperating brother-sister duo, unfortunately, marks a dismal low point in the Sandman’s illustrious career.

44. Meet the Spartans (2008)

One of the saddest developments of the 2000s was an unexpected surge of spoof films, largely driven by the significant financial triumph of the Scary Movie series. A number of these so-called comedies were either written or directed by former members of the Scary Movie team, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Their concept of humor often involved replicating scenes from well-known movies, with Meet the Spartans being a prime example, even though it also included unconnected jokes from Shrek, Spider-Man 3, Happy Feet, featuring lookalikes and characters getting hit in the groin.

43. Zoolander 2 (2016)

In the original “Zoolander,” it mercilessly lampooned the superficial fashion industry. However, “Zoolander 2” primarily pokes fun at itself, often jabbing at Derek and Hansel for appearing outdated in today’s world of social media influencers. It seems as though the creators aimed to show that these characters were still relevant, but unfortunately, “Zoolander 2” fell short, actually strengthening the argument that its heroes had become obsolete. A moment where Mugatu comments to Zoolander, “It doesn’t hold up, does it?”, encapsulates a truth about the film that stings.

42. Rhinestone (1984)

In a commendable display of determination, Sylvester Stallone demonstrated a remarkable eagerness to put his dignity on the line in this awkwardly humorous country music spoof. The movie features him alongside Dolly Parton, who portrays a singer who wagers with her boss (Ron Leibman) that she can transform anyone into a country star. If she succeeds, he voids her contract. If he wins, she must sleep with him. (Quite distasteful!) The endeavor to mold Stallone into a country musician was as futile as creating a romantic comedy around the impending danger of sexual misconduct. Despite having some on-screen chemistry, Parton and Stallone often appear out of sorts in broad comedies such as this one, and the songs, like the ode to alcoholism “Drinkenstein,” are utterly dreadful.

41. Nothing But Trouble (1991)

One unexpected yet fitting aspect of this film is that it was partially inspired by Dan Aykroyd’s nightmares. Few movies evoke a sense of genuine, unsettling dreamlike quality like this one does, from the gruesome violence to the actors donned in ghastly prosthetic makeup, the unexpected Digital Underground musical sequence, and the futuristic technology powering the ancient judge’s labyrinthine home. As a child, I can’t say I managed to watch the entire film, but catching glimpses of Chevy Chase tumbling into heaps of human bones and Aykroyd as an oversized diapered baby was enough to give me nightmares. Truly, this is one of the most discomforting Hollywood productions I’ve ever encountered.

40. Gigli (2003)

Story: By the time the film “Gigli” hit theaters in 2003, it was already infamous for being a flop (with a Rotten Tomatoes score of only 6%). As someone who enjoys watching bad movies, I convinced several friends and colleagues to join me at the theater on opening weekend, expecting a hilariously disastrous experience.

However, the movie turned out to be anything but funny. “Gigli” was truly awful, with real-life couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez failing to show any of their supposed chemistry as they navigated a convoluted plot that involved kidnapping a mentally challenged child (played by Justin Bartha) to pressure a federal prosecutor on behalf of Affleck’s boss. After the movie ended, I spent weeks apologizing to everyone who came with me. That’s “Gigli” for you: A romance film so poorly made that it damaged friendships.

39. Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)

38. Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)

As a dedicated fan who followed the Police Academy series throughout its golden age in the ’80s, I can’t help but share my thoughts on the seventh installment, “Mission to Moscow.” By the early ’90s, this once-loved franchise was struggling, with only a few original cast members left due to pursuits of other opportunities.

In this film, our beloved cops were sent to Russia to assist in an investigation into a string of robberies. Unfortunately, it seems this movie was released towards the end of August 1994, and it barely made a splash at the box office, earning less than $200,000 – a stark contrast to the typical earnings of the Police Academy movies.

Unsurprisingly, the underwhelming performance of Mission to Moscow marked the end of the Police Academy franchise, sparing both the cast and audience from any further installments. If you’ve seen it, I think we can all agree – it was a good decision for everyone involved.

37. Ringmaster (1998)

At the peak of “The Jerry Springer Show”‘s fame, Jerry Springer starred in a film titled “Ringmaster”, portraying a bewildered host named Jerry in a seedy talk show. Despite appearing perfectly at ease with his oddball guests on the real show, Springer appears visibly awkward in this movie, which revolves around a fictionalized version of that same setting with professional actors. Some of the supporting cast deliver satisfactory performances with the salacious content, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that this film is about an individual who clearly doesn’t want to be part of it.

36. Date Movie (2006)

In their latest work, Friedberg and Seltzer released “Date Movie,” filled with humor that feels dated, such as jabs at Napoleon Dynamite and Michael Jackson, which are as outdated as a 1950s educational video on baby origins. It’s hard to fathom the countless relationships that were potentially doomed due to dates who chose to watch “Date Movie.

35. Son of the Mask (2005)

It’s clear from the movie “Dumb and Dumberer” that sequels without Jim Carrey can turn out poorly. The original movie “The Mask” was captivating because of the magical mask, which allowed Carrey to express his unrestrained self, together with his knack for impersonations and voices. In “Son of the Mask,” Jamie Kennedy’s character rarely dons the mask (his dog often wears it instead), and when he does, he lacks flexibility – even though his character is a struggling cartoonist to mimic Carrey’s performance in “The Mask.” (It seems like they’ve overdubbed another actor’s voice to make him sound more like the original character.) Well then!

I tried to maintain the original tone and structure while making it more accessible to readers.

34. Loose Shoes (1978)

This 1980 collection of mock movie trailers and spoofs is generally an unpleasant, humorless experience, except for one notable exception. A satire of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” titled “Invasion of the Penis Snatchers” gives you a sense of the type of humor to expect. However, there’s one standout: a prison drama spoof featuring Bill Murray from Saturday Night Live as death row inmate Lefty Schwartz. In just a few minutes of screen time, Murray manages to elicit more laughs than all the other trailers for “Loose Shoes” combined, especially during the scene where he complains about the prison food. (“Is this quiche?!? And this bouillabaisse! It’s tripe!”) If you come across Murray’s scene, it’s worth watching. Otherwise, it might be best to give it a miss.

33. Not Cool (2014)

Shane Dawson, who is known as a YouTuber, made his directorial debut through the now-forgotten reality TV series titled “The Chair“. This show was unique because it allowed two directors to take the same script and create their individual versions of the movie. Essentially, “The Chair” can be seen as a real-life exploration of filmmaking concepts. However, the movie that resulted from Shane Dawson’s involvement, titled “Not Cool“, was a flop. It had a production cost of $800,000 but earned only around $40,000 in box office sales.

32. The Happytime Murders (2018)

In Brian Henson’s adult-oriented puppet comedy, “The Happytime Murders”, there’s an abundance of risqué humor that appeals to mature audiences. The creators behind the scenes didn’t seem to delve deeper than finding it amusing to incorporate puppets into an edgy comedy filled with sexual innuendos. This film is best known for a scene where Melissa McCarthy bites a puppet on its penis, or another scene featuring Joel McHale gazing at a puppet’s vagina as a parody of the classic “Basic Instinct” scene. The only character who manages to maintain her dignity throughout this raunchy film is Maya Rudolph. She delivers a rice pilaf joke with such finesse that she deserves all the accolades for it – a true hero indeed!

31. Dirty Grandpa (2016)

In a simpler and more conversational manner:

The movie “Dirty Grandpa” shares a similar comedic approach with “The Happytime Murders”: If a character who seems pure or innocent (like grandpas or puppets) uses inappropriate language, it’s supposed to be funny. If you find humor in Robert De Niro uttering words like “smegma”, then you’ll likely enjoy “Dirty Grandpa”. However, if you expect your comedy to have real jokes or avoid continuous homophobia, you might be disappointed. At least the title is fitting.

30. Epic Movie (2007)

In a new attempt, Friedberg and Seltzer deliver yet another unimpressive parody of popular films. Unlike their previous works such as Date Movie and Meet the Spartans, which had clear themes like romantic comedies and sword-and-sandal movies, Epic Movie seems to be a jumble of satire. It randomly targets an eclectic mix of films including The Da Vinci Code, V for Vendetta, Pirates of the Caribbean series, and even questions if Borat, Talladega Nights, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, or Get Rich or Die Tryin’ can be considered “epic” movies. Whether these films were epic or not, they all surpass this movie in quality.

29. The Jerky Boys: The Movie (2005)

As a child, I listened to my share of Jerky Boys tapes and laughed on several occasions. To be fair, I was just 13 years old at the time. However, even as a fan of The Jerky Boys, I disliked “The Jerky Boys: The Movie.” In this film, Johnny Brennan and Kamal Ahmed, the two main characters, essentially portray themselves and then make prank calls to a mobster, leading them into a crime story. The movie is flawed because the essence of The Jerky Boys lies in their unscripted calls. Why would anyone want to see them interacting with fictional characters whose reactions are pre-planned? It’s similar to creating a feature film based on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

I enjoyed the Jerky Boys tapes when I was young, but their movie didn’t sit well with me. In the movie, the two main characters (Johnny Brennan and Kamal Ahmed) play themselves and make prank calls to a mobster. The story then unfolds around them. But what makes the Jerky Boys appealing is their unscripted calls, so it doesn’t make sense to watch them interact with fictional characters whose responses are already decided. This is much like making a movie out of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” where the jokes and scenes are pre-written.

28. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

Indeed, the comedy film “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” does conclude with a speech advocating for gay rights and equality, implying that they are just like everyone else. However, the 110 minutes prior to this moment are filled with frequent instances of derogatory comments and jokes about homosexuality. In this story, Kevin James plays a firefighter who convinces his initially resistant, macho colleague, Adam Sandler, to pose as his domestic partner to secure insurance benefits for his children.

27. The Love Guru (2008)

In the 1990s and 2000s, Mike Myers was almost always a dependable source of comic relief from a financial standpoint, thanks to his successful films like “Wayne’s World,” “Austin Powers,” and even the “Shreks.” However, things took a turn for the worse with “The Love Guru,” a puzzling comedy about a guru who was more trouble than he was worth. This film flopped at the box office and received some of the worst reviews in Myers’ career. It seems that it got off lightly; one can only imagine the backlash if Mike Myers released “this” movie with “this” character today.

26. Mr. Nanny (1993)

In a surprising turn, someone who spends much time under the spotlight, Hulk Hogan, was quite uneasy on screen. Leaving his flamboyant wrestling character behind, he appears rigid in this movie that seems to imitate “Home Alone,” with Hulk playing an out-of-work wrestler forced into the role of a bodyguard for a tech tycoon’s unruly children. The kids subject him to various pranks and traps reminiscent of Kevin McCallister, until one scene where they suddenly take a liking to him, transforming into model children overnight. Although filled with physical humor, the film only manages two genuine laughs: a scene where Hulk resists fixing a rigged wrestling match, leading to Sherman Hemsley being shot by the promoter (it’s unclear if pro wrestling is considered a legitimate sport in the “Mr. Nanny” cinematic universe), and an unexpected moment where a man in the background of a montage cruelly throws his dog into the ocean. That’s rough on the pup.

25. Blank Check (1994)

Despite the questionable romantic aspect between the child character and an older woman in “Blank Check” (a relationship that should definitely be addressed), the film still presents a story about a selfish protagonist who is surrounded by even more self-centered characters. The intention seems to be to portray this greedy, arrogant main character, who squanders $1 million on trivial items, as sympathetic. The movie’s underlying message that money is everything is so crassly materialistic that it appears to have been penned by the extraterrestrials from “They Live”.

24. The Ridiculous 6 (2015)

Over the past eight years, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with Netflix on ten films produced by Adam Sandler. Many of these movies have resonated well with audiences, some even earning respectable critiques; for instance, the 2022 release “Hustle” garnered an impressive 93 score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, our first project together, the comic western “The Ridiculous 6,” started off on a less positive note. Despite boasting an illustrious cast including Terry Crews, Will Forte, Luke Wilson, Steve Zahn, Harvey Keitel, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, and several others, the film unfortunately didn’t manage to secure a single favorable review.

23. Daddy Day Camp (2007)

It appears as though there was no interest in the offbeat sequel of “Daddy Day Care”. The original cast members Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, and Regina King were absent, with Cuba Gooding Jr., Paul Rae, Josh McLerran, and Tamala Jones taking their places. Even the director Steve Carr was missing from this production. In the first film, the story revolved around Murphy and Garlin learning to manage a day care center. However, in the sequel, they switch to overseeing a camp. Considering their improved childcare abilities, one might expect success. Unfortunately, much like the plot of the movie itself, it seems the sequel also fails to live up to expectations.

22. Speed Zone (1989)

In a nutshell, “Speed Zone” – this seemingly sequel to “The Cannonball Run” films – appears to outdo any random episode of “Wacky Races” when it comes to sophistication. Filled with a motley crew of street racers such as Donna Dixon, Matt Frewer, Alyssa Milano, and others, this movie depicts their high-speed journeys across the country, complete with chases and stunt sequences. The action itself is tolerable, but only those who find car racing particularly amusing will derive even a hint of enjoyment from it. Ironically, the presence of genuinely funny individuals like John Candy and Eugene Levy in “Speed Zone” makes it all the more unbearable. One can’t help but wonder about the potential projects they could have pursued instead, if not for “Speed Zone.” A pity, indeed, that we missed out on those opportunities to appreciate their work.

21. North (1994)

In the realm of cinema, few failures have been as infamous as the film “North,” which prompted one of Roger Ebert’s most scathing reviews during his over three decades of critiquing movies: “I despised this movie. Despised, despised, despised, despised, despised this movie. Despised it. Despised every insipid moment that insulted the audience.” Remarkably, the film meets this critique head-on, particularly when Dan Aykroyd and Reba McEntire appear as exaggerated Texas characters singing a song about their deceased son who perished in a stampede around the 20-minute mark. The subsequent scene is riddled with jokes concerning a child’s “crack.” To top it off, Kathy Bates portrays an Inuit woman who sends her father (Abe Vigoda) to his death on an ice floe in a dignified manner. Ebert was anything but joking.

20. Caddyshack II (1988)

To delve into the transformation of one of history’s most cherished comedies into one of the most criticized sequels, take a look at this Sports Illustrated article from 2020. Essentially, Warner Bros. required a summer comedy in 1988 and offered substantial sums to Rodney Dangerfield and Chevy Chase for their return in Caddyshack II. Dangerfield persuaded Caddyshack co-writer and director Harold Ramis to draft the script. However, Ramis confessed to SI that he lacked enthusiasm for the project, and Dangerfield detested the script Ramis wrote. At the eleventh hour, Dangerfield withdrew from the project. Desperate for a success, Warner Bros. continued production, enlisting Jackie Mason to replace Dangerfield as the film’s wealthy slob who challenges the snobby WASPs of Bushwood Country Club. Mason was no match for Dangerfield in terms of humor, and his role became an endless sequence of stale jokes, bathroom humor, and absurd prop comedy. (He used a high-tech club that emitted lasers during golf – it’s amusing because golf clubs don’t usually do that!) If you still doubt the movie’s failure, Caddyshack II’s director Allan Arkush even gave his own film a one-star rating on Letterboxd, stating “I should never have made this movie! What was I thinking?

19. The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)

I belonged to the group of kids who were deeply fascinated with Garbage Pail Kids trading cards during the late 1980s. These cards, with their off-color, crude content, mimicked Cabbage Patch Kids and many other iconic elements of that time period, making them a hit for trading with friends on the school bus or playground. However, when I rented The Garbage Pail Kids Movie from the video store, I was horrified to see that the filmmakers had transformed the Kids’ quirky designs into unsettling animatronic masks. It’s rare to find horror movies with imagery as disturbing as the appearance of Messy Tessie and Valerie Vomit in this film.

18. Mother’s Day (2016)

During his later career years, Garry Marshall found commercial success by creating ensemble comedies centered around attractive individuals finding love during different holidays. These included “New Year’s Eve”, “Valentine’s Day”, and notably, the less amusing of the three, “Mother’s Day”. Unlike the previous film with a similar name, which was a violent horror flick, this one fell short in terms of intentional humor.

17. Norbit (2007)

Audiences often enjoy it when Eddie Murphy portrays multiple roles within a single movie by utilizing intricate makeup prosthetics. However, this wasn’t the case with the character of Norbit, which seemed to push Murphy’s acting abilities into grittier, less humorous realms. Interestingly, despite negative reviews from critics, the 2007 film Norbit managed to gross nearly $160 million globally on a production budget of just $60 million.

16. A Haunted House 2 (2014)

Regardless of the qualities of countless spin-offs of the “Paranormal Activity” series that emerged in the 2010s, one thing they had in common was that they avoided depicting scenes such as Marlon Wayans dry humping spooky dolls or accidentally squashing adorable puppies under giant safes. If there ever is a “A Haunted House 3,” I might consider leaving this platform and opening a bakery instead.

15. Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot! (1992)

In the 90s, Sylvester Stallone produced several films that were less than satisfactory, such as Daylight, Judge Dread, and The Specialist. To name just a few of the poor ones I recall, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot stands out as one of the worst pieces of work Stallone has ever done, even surpassing his softcore film before Rocky catapulted him to stardom. This movie lacks humor in any form, not even managing to be entertainingly bad. The premise isn’t terrible; I too have an overbearing mother, and a humorous film could potentially be created from that concept. However, this is not that movie. It would have been beneficial if Estelle Getty’s character demonstrated some consistency or believability; in one scene she appears to be a fool, while in the next she acts as a supercop. She can free herself from handcuffs yet seems unaware that purchasing an Uzi from the back of a van might be illegal. Isn’t that peculiar, viewers?

14. Sorority Boys (2002)

1990s and early 2000s saw a surge of teen comedies with explicit content, following the success of “American Pie”. These movies often tried to outdo each other in terms of crude humor related to sex. Among them, “Sorority Boys” stands out for its disregard towards women and objectification. The sorority in the film is named DOG (Daughters of Gamma), where all members are referred to as “DOGs”. In one storyline, a fraternity member poses as a woman to befriend the president of DOG. This leads to several scenes where he showers with her, even tricking her into believing he’s a woman while washing her body under false pretenses. To add to the controversy, the main plot revolves around a tape one of the characters made of himself having sex with multiple women without their consent. It’s important to note that this movie is supposedly a comedy.

“Sorority Boys”, a raunchy teen comedy from the late ’90s and early 2000s, has a questionable approach towards women. The sorority in the film is called DOG, where the members are referred to as “DOGs”. There’s a storyline involving a fraternity member pretending to be a woman to befriend the president of DOG, leading to several uncomfortable shower scenes. To make matters worse, the main plot revolves around a tape of non-consensual sex acts. Despite being labeled as a comedy, this movie raises concerns about its treatment of women.

13. Neighbors (1981)

John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were a beloved duo on Saturday Night Live and The Blues Brothers, but their collaboration took a turn for the worse with the 1981 movie disaster “Neptune’s Daughter.” By swapping their roles so that Belushi became the square and Aykroyd was the wild party animal, they set an intriguing yet puzzling premise. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of a series of strange character choices that never resembled real human behavior for even a moment. Add to this a myriad of other questionable creative decisions, and the score (composed by Bill Conti, known for creating beautiful music for numerous films) might be the most abysmal I’ve ever heard in my entire life. It is filled with slide whistles and theremins that emphasize every joke, making it sound like watching a movie while the worst marching band imaginable improvises to the action onscreen. It’s hard to believe!

12. She’s Out of Control (1989)

In this inappropriate comedy, a devoted single father (Tony Danza) struggles with his teenage daughter’s newfound interest in dating as she turns 15. While it’s not like she suddenly takes up extreme behaviors such as drug use or adult entertainment, her transformation includes contact lenses and a haircut, leading to a few dates. The father (Tony Danza) seeks help from a therapist (Wallace Shawn), who has written extensively about the role of fathers in preserving their daughters’ virginity. The movie seems to justify Danza’s irrational actions when the daughter’s prom date (Matthew Perry) attempts to harm her. This film is not suitable for any parent or viewer.

In an unacceptable comedy, a devoted single father (Tony Danza) grapples with his teenage daughter’s new interest in dating, which leads to a few dates and a change in her appearance. The father seeks guidance from a therapist (Wallace Shawn), who emphasizes the importance of enforcing daughters’ virginity. However, the film seems to support Danza’s irrational behavior when the daughter’s date (Matthew Perry) attempts to harm her. This movie is not suitable for parents or any viewers.

11. The Hot Chick (2002)

In my opinion, I’ve publicly labeled bodyswap comedies as the “ideal film genre,” but even I can’t justify The Hot Chick. The plot revolves around Rob Schneider, who portrays a clumsy thief, switching places with Jessica, a teenager character played by Rachel McAdams. However, in the movie, Schneider’s depiction of Jessica lacks any semblance of authenticity when it comes to teenage girls, let alone one resembling Rachel McAdams, who is supposedly trapped within his persona. The film seems to have broken records for the highest number of crude jokes and offensive remarks towards LGBTQ+ individuals in a single movie. It’s an unfortunate squandering of resources, talent, and Anna Faris, who plays Jessica’s best friend and endures the difficult role.

10. Chairman of the Board (1998)

As a movie critic, I must confess that I had little hope for “Chairman of the Board,” especially with Carrot Top leading the cast. Yet, this film delivers less than even my most pessimistic expectations. The story revolves around an unlucky inventor who forms an alliance with a wealthy businessman (Jack Warden) and inherits his company after his demise. Alas, humor – or so they claim – follows. However, the only memorable thing about this film is its role in late-night television history. Remember the night Norm Macdonald graced Conan O’Brien’s show to share his thoughts on “Chairman of the Board”? He playfully interrupted an interview with Courtney Thorne-Smith to express his skepticism about a Carrot Top movie, humorously suggesting, “If it’s got Carrot Top in it, you know what a good name for it would be? ‘Box Office Poison’!

9. The Master of Disguise (2002)

create a movie that is decent and enjoyable to watch).

8. It’s Pat (1994)

As a film critic, I must confess that among the many movies birthed by Saturday Night Live, none have left me as disheartened as this excruciatingly long tale centered around Julia Sweeney’s character, Pat – an awkward and ambiguous figure who leaves the audience guessing about their identity. Just like in Pat’s TV sketches, everyone is curious whether Pat is male or female, but in this movie, no one is more intrigued than Pat’s fixated neighbor Kyle, played by Charles Rocket.

In I’m Pat, the filmmakers treat Pat’s obsession with their true identity as distasteful and cringe-worthy, and rightly so. However, it’s puzzling that they built an entire comedy around this premise, when male or female, Pat is a terrible protagonist for a movie for reasons unrelated to gender.

Pat is self-absorbed, irritating, humorless, and shockingly mean. One plotline follows Pat as they swipe a friend’s job hosting a radio show reminiscent of Loveline, gloat about the theft, then berate all callers for being dull. Overall, I’m Pat is an unbearable journey from start to finish.

7. Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011)

Speaking from personal experience, I purchased a ticket for the premiere showing of “Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star,” only to find that the movie played without a single sound for 97 minutes straight. These days, you can stream it on Tubi, and I found myself chuckling more at the strategically placed advertisements than at anything within the less-than-impressive film itself. For instance, an ad for a telehealth company immediately followed Bucky’s first revelation of a significant issue with his reproductive system – now that’s humor!

6. Leonard Part 6 (1987)

At the peak of his fame in Hollywood, Bill Cosby took on the lead role in this lousy spy spoof titled “Leonard Part 6”. The story revolves around a former CIA agent who is brought back to duty to halt a vegetarian with the ability to control brainwashed animals, using them to commit murders. The title is intended as a joke, suggesting it’s the sixth installment of a popular series, but like many other attempts at humor in this movie, it falls flat. Despite Cosby being the producer and creator of the concept, he criticized “Leonard Part 6” in the media before its release. Given the final product’s confusion between emulating Bond films and catering to a child audience, while featuring some of the worst product placements ever seen in modern cinema, it’s no surprise that Cosby spoke out against it.

5. Disaster Movie (2008)

The title “Disaster Movie” is not accurate in describing the film produced by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. The films they spoofed, such as 10,000 B.C., Hancock, Jumper, Enchanted, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Beowulf, and The Love Guru, are not actually “disasters,” but rather they were targeted for parody. The term “movie” in this context is used loosely, as the production features at most two characters, a flimsy plot, and is primarily held together by a long series of celebrity impressions that are so bad, the onscreen characters have to explicitly announce who they are mimicking (“Amy Winehouse?!”).

4. Mad Dog Time (1996)

In the realm of cinematic experiences, I’ve encountered films less engaging than “Mad Dog Time,” but I struggle to think of one that’s as bewilderingly peculiar. This movie, featuring an outstanding ensemble cast (Jeff Goldblum, Gabriel Byrne, Ellen Barkin, Richard Dreyfuss, Diane Lane, Gregory Hines, Burt Reynolds, Rob Reiner, Kyle MacLachlan, and more), plunges into a gangster saga that unfolds in an alternative universe, as hinted by the opening narration, situated “beyond the cosmos, in deep space.” This unique realm, dubbed Vic’s World, is inhabited exclusively by stereotypical characters from gangster movies who partake in a succession of duels within a grimy basement. Trust me, it defies logic even within its own context. So bizarre that it seems like it could have originated from an alternate universe, where humor is found in the most unbearably atrocious comedies.

3. Movie 43 (2013)

Instead of merely being one of the poorest comedies ever produced, it was also incredibly perplexing. It’s hard to fathom how the filmmakers managed to persuade Hugh Jackman to don a prosthetic scrotum around his neck and immerse it in soup. The same question arises about how they convinced Kate Winslet to gaze at Hugh Jackman while he wore this peculiar prosthetic. Frankly, even the most compelling blackmail materials wouldn’t entice me to watch this movie — and I’m not a highly paid movie star.

2. Frozen Assets (1992)

Despite some comedies on this list being less than amusing, they’re akin to the classic “Blazing Saddles” in comparison to the seemingly humorless “Frozen Assets.” This film, starring Corbin Bernsen as a bank executive sent to a struggling Oregon branch, turns out to be no ordinary bank. Oh no! It’s a sperm bank! Isn’t that hilarious? (Note: This is the only joke in the entire movie.) Bernsen’s character is solely focused on maximizing profits at the sperm bank, which puts him at odds with the bank’s chief scientist, played by Shelley Long. His cruelty towards her somehow leads to her falling for him. Additionally, Larry Miller plays an escaped mental patient who finds employment at the sperm bank. Although I might be understating how terrible this movie is, trust me: It’s far worse than I make it sound. Steer clear of “Frozen Assets” at all costs. In fact, I would gladly pay to avoid watching this movie again.

1. Slapstick of Another Kind (1982)

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2025-01-30 19:28