10 1980s Comedies Hardly Anyone Remembers

Comedy Movies can be hit or miss for critical and audience success, as the genre is not typically taken as seriously as other films. This means Every decade has a litany of overlooked comedy movies that should be better remembered For their hilarious plot and campy visuals. While the Brat Pack movies of the 1980s have come to define this period of cinema because of their popularity, they don’t capture the full humor and cultural moment of the ’80s. The most underrated and rarely mentioned movies of this period deserve a second life in the eyes of critics and viewers today.

Genre movies had a heyday in the ’80s, as the great cult sci-fi movies of the 1980s and other extraordinary fantasy films often come to mind when remembering the decade. However, comedy is a powerful indicator of the social and cultural views of a time. It can provide insight into what types of humor evolved and now inform what modern audiences find funny. Many of these lesser-known films blend genres and incorporate aspects of sci-fi, fantasy, romance, And much more in their stories, which may appeal to contemporary viewers.

10

Better Off Dead (1985)

Directed by Wild Steve Holland

Time was good too Better off dead, A deeply dark and absurdist comedy that was well ahead of its time in 1985. John Cusak stars as Lane Meyer, a teenage boy who can’t catch a break after his girlfriend breaks up with him and everything in his life starts to go wrong. It should be noted that there are intensely morbid scenes in it Better off deadAnd the film contains some moments that touch on sensitive territory regarding mental health. Better off dead Is not for everyone, but for certain viewers, his brand of humor lands effectively.

Cusak would prove to have an affinity for projects like Better off TedTaking on roles that featured characters with dark impulses and tendencies of self-loathing. He shows his strength as an actor in Better off TedAnd although the film underperformed at the box office and did not land well with critics, it enjoyed a second life as a cult classic. Better off Ted is much closer to the surrealist take on the teen comedy genre that audiences are used to today Rather than the formulaic rom-coms of the ’80s.

9

Dragnet (1987)

Directed by Tom Mankiewicz

For a movie with two heavyweight actors like Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd, it’s surprising that more viewers haven’t rediscovered it. Dragnet In recent years. Based on the TV series of the same name, Dragnet Pokes fun at the buddy cop genre, but the filmmakers clearly have great love and respect for the projects that came before. The mystery at the heart of Dragnet Pales in comparison to the types of stories told by the original show, but Aykroyd and Hanks’ performances are what save the film.

unfortunately, Dragnet Did not bring the success of the series in a new era, and it was short of the expectations of the audience, even if it was not a box office flop. Better buddy comedies came out in the 1980s, like better films with Hanks and Aykroyd, So it makes sense that fewer audiences are familiar with this comic project than their other works. However, a remake of Dragnet Today could fit into the cultural landscape if the film returned to the stylization of classic noir detective work.

8

Night Shift (1982)

Directed by Ron Howard

by Ron Howards Night shift has a strange premise, but the script and direction make it work, As do the stellar performances by the cast. The story follows the night shift manager at a morgue in New York City, Chuck, who cooperates with his co-workers to help facilitate the career of a sex worker who lives in Chuck’s apartment building. Although there are moments of grittiness and emotional poignancy, Night shift is, first of all, a comedy, and it has a tender tone.

Night shift Has a surprisingly star-studded cast with Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton costarring alongside Shelley Long. The performances of Winkler and Keaton have been praised across the board, along with the witty dialogue that the actors manage so successfully. Although the way the main characters and the film deal with sex work is not according to today’s standards, it does have a positive message embedded in the story and do not judge its characters.

7

Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

Directed by Julien Temple

Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum make a hilarious couple Earth Girls are easy, A rom-com with an intergalactic twist. When a trio of aliens crash-land in Valerie’s (Davis) backyard, she and her friend Candy (Julie Brown) realize the potential the young aliens have to be their new love interests after an intense makeover scene. Although somewhat unusual in premise and execution, Earth Girls are easy is full of music, classic 80s styling and fast-paced montages, which makes it engaging to the end.

Although Davis and Goldblum would go on to star in movies with much bigger impacts and higher critical acclaim, it’s fun to see them flex their comedic muscles in such a campy project. The visuals and cohesive aesthetic set Earth Girls are easy Apart from other sci-fi rom-coms of the era, as well as the heavy references to pop culture and contemporary music. While the referential humor dates the movie, it also makes it charmingly nostalgic for viewers who grew up in the 80s or have an affinity for the decade.

6

Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)

Directed by Steve Rush

Starring a young Patrick Dempsey in one of his first romantic leading roles, Can’t buy me love is an underrated ’80s rom-com that never quite got the hype of its contemporaries. It was hard to compete with the biggest romantic comedies of the decade, like the likes of When Harry met Sally And almost everything with Molly Ringwald was released in the 80s. however, Can’t buy me love Still has plenty of charm and adolescent missteps Which falls in line with classic coming-of-age comedies.

Dempsey’s chemistry with Amanda Peterson, who plays his love interest, Cindy, is undeniable, and it’s clear that the actors have a lot of fun together. In general, despite some of the dated elements of the period that are rarely avoided in the films, Can’t buy me love Has positive messages about being yourself and not capitulating to the pressures to assimilate To certain cliques in high school. It helps that the movie shares its name with the Beatles’ iconic song and has the track featured during its romantic moments.

5

Harry and the Hendersons (1987)

Directed by William Thayer

John Lithgow plays the anxious patriarch in Harry and the Hendersonswho desperately tries to keep his family together after they discover Bigfoot. Harry is the sasquatch creature they encounter in the forest. In the tradition of movies like et the extraterrestrialHarry soon loved the family and became a vital part of their lives. however, Things get complicated when it becomes clear that there are people in the world who want to hunt down Harry For their own gain, adding an emotional heart to the sensationalized comedy.

The spinoff TV series of the same name premiered in 1991 and ran for three seasons, but it never quite captured the heart of the original film. This is a lesser-known aspect of Lithgow’s filmography, as if it did well at the box office, It did not have the longevity of other blockbusters of the time. One of the main issues with Harry and the Hendersons Is that it retreads familiar territory and doesn’t have much that makes it unique compared to the competition.

4

summer school (1987)

Directed by Carl Reiner

Before Mark Harmon played Gibbs on NCIS For years and being defined by this role, he had a brief turn as a movie star in the little-known film Summer school. His character, Freddy Shoop, has a classic case of arrested development, as the high school gym teacher behaves as if he is still mentally a student. however, His easy-going outlook on life is upended when he is required to teach summer school And his job is on the line if his rag-tag group of students don’t pass the end-of-summer test.

It’s somewhat shocking to see the tough and no-nonsense detective from the beloved crime procedural transform into the goofball lead of this late 80s pastiche of films like The Breakfast Club. The film had a poor performance at the box office and an even weaker critical performance. However, it is still a good-natured time capsule A period when stories about the high school experience and youth were gaining popularity. Summer school Makes good use of its Southern California setting, including beach scenes and palm trees, to make it feel like a true summertime flick.

3

Wise Men (1986)

Directed by Brian De Palma

The dark comedy features a somewhat shocking collaboration between Brian De Palma and Danny DeVito, who could not have more different filmographies. sages is one of De Palma’s only comedies, as the director is better known for projects like Sharpface, The UntouchablesAnd Body double. not surprising sages is a satirical take on the mafia genre, but few connected with the film, which was considered a career misstep for the famous director. But today, There was such an oversaturation of the crime genre that sages Could be a welcome reprieve.

DeVito stars alongside Joe Piscopo as the bumbling leader who can’t seem to get the approval of the members of their crime family who are higher up the ladder. Their chemistry is unexpected, as is the morbid premise of sagesHowever There are enough jokes and slapstick moments of physical comedy that the plot never loses momentum. sages is a welcome reminder that no actor or filmmaker is incapable of exploring new genres.

2

Top secret! (1984)

Directed by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker

Top secret! Coming from David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, or ZAZ, As they are known professionally in their collaboration. While the directing and writing partners were behind classics like Airplane!, Top secret! Has failed to become the same kind of cult classic. Despite sharing the same brand of humor and his timely take on espionage thrillers, Top secret! Lacks the quotability and freshness of the team’s past projects. Although the film’s jokes still land, it didn’t connect with audiences enough to be well-remembered.

Val Kilmer plays against type as a rock star who gets involved in a plot by a fictionalized East German government. While the social and political context is undoubtedly dated, Kilmer does a good job of poking fun at himself and diverging from the typical action hero he embodies For much of his career. generally, Top secret! was most criticized for trying to do too much with its many pastiches to classic films of the 1980s. However, it still found audiences that appreciated its unique brand of humor as time progressed.

1

The Adventures of Baron Munthausen (1988)

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Terry Gilliam The Adventures of Baron Manthausen is the latest movie in the informal filmmaker Trilogy of fantasy, which includes the 1981 film Time Bandits and 1985s Brazil. however, The Adventures of Baron Manthausen is one of the most overlooked installments of the series, as Gilliam’s later work would overshadow his fantastic comedies, which delighted the minds of a generation. Gilliam’s work in the Monty Python comedy troupe comes through in the playful script and the way he charms his comedic edge.

Despite his criticism, The Adventures of Baron Manthausen was a flop at the box office. Gilliam was no stranger to being offbeat Comedy Movies misunderstood, but there are enough high-profile stars and intricate set pieces in this film that it should have been a success. A young Uma Thurman and Robin Williams make appearances in the project, as well as John Neville, Who plays the titular baron with the perfect balance of charisma and melancholy. The Adventures of Baron Manthausen is a delightful romp that would appeal to audiences of all ages.