Wealth Of Geeks
Rom-Com Fatigue? 14 Comedies That Don’t Focus on Characters
By Staff
September 08, 2023
If you’re looking for films that deliver laughs but don’t have a romantic element, there are plenty of comedies that fit the bill. Someone on an entertainment forum asked for recommendations for funny movies that aren’t rom-coms. Here are the top 14 responses.
1. Bridesmaids (2011)
Bridesmaids features a stellar cast of very funny women: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. When Lillian gets engaged, she asks her best friend Annie to be her maid of honor. At the engagement party, Annie meets the other bridesmaids, including Helen. Annie and Helen are jealous of each other’s friendship with Lillian and become hilariously competitive.
2. The Other Guys (2010)
The Other Guys is a buddy comedy about two vastly different NYPD cops who form an unlikely friendship after the two are partnered together. Allen (Will Ferrell) is a nerdy mild-mannered forensic accountant and Terry (Mark Wahlberg) is the hot-tempered detective. The jokes never stop with the two leads and an all-star cast, which includes Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, and Steve Coogan.
3. Superbad (2007)
Superbad is a hilarious coming-of-age comedy that heavily leans on the bromance between Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill). The best friends are finishing the end of their senior year in high school before heading on to the next life-changing chapter — they’re about to head to different colleges.
It co-stars Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, and Emma Stone.
4. Death at a Funeral (2007)
In this black comedy, starring Matthew Macfadyen, a dysfunctional family gathers for a funeral. Hilarity ensues. Fans of the film love Peter Dinklage and Alan Tudyk’s performances and called out the toilet scene as being extremely funny.
5. Office Space (1999)
Office Space is a hilarious film that satirizes the work-life of a typical software company in the 1990s. It follows Peter (Ron Livingston) and his co-workers Samir (Ajay Naidu) and Michael (Stephen Root). Michael’s last name is Bolton and he doesn’t care about the constant commentary.
When the company begins downsizing, the three plot a scheme to siphon money from the company, but it goes awry. It co-stars Jennifer Aniston, John C. McGinley, and Gary Cole.
6. Hot Fuzz
Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz is the second and most successful film in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead (2004) and The World’s End (2013) bookcase the film).
It’s an action comedy following two police officers (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) investigating a series of brutal deaths in a West Country village.
7. Step Brothers (2008)
Step Brothers is a comedy following two adult men (Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly) who still live with their parents. When their parents fall in love and get married, they must learn to coexist as step-brothers. After initial disapproval, they begin to bond, with hilarious results.
The movie also stars Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, and Kathryn Hahn.
8. Ruthless People (1986)
Ruthless People tells the story of a man (Danny DeVito) who plots to murder his wife (Bette Midler). However, when he returns home ready to do it, she’s been kidnapped. The abductors (Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater) demand half a million dollars to get her back.
He ignores the demands, hoping to get her killed. With everybody’s plans going awry, it produces some belly laughs.
9. Snatch (2000)
Snatch follows two intertwined plots: one of an illegal boxing promoter (Jason Statham) in hot water with a merciless gangster (Alan Ford). Bare-knuckle boxer Mickey (Brad Pitt) doesn’t throw his fight, causing the ruthless gangster who placed a substantial bet on the fight to order violent revenge. The other is about a search for a stolen diamond.
10. The Naked Gun (1988)
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is primarily known as The Naked Gun and is the first film in a franchise of fast-paced slapstick comedies. It follows Detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) attempting to foil a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.
Unfortunately, the primary suspect and affluent businessman, Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalbán), employs a hypnotic device that causes other people to become murderers.
11. Thor: Ragnorok (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok is the third Thor film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), starring Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as his brother Loki, and Cate Blanchett as Hela, his sister and goddess of death. Before their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), passes, he informs the brothers of their evil sister.
She shows up to take her place as heir to Odin’s throne, and all Hela breaks loose.
It co-stars Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. This film is widely regarded as the funniest and best Thor film.
12. The Odd Couple (1968)
The Odd Couple stars our favorite Grumpy Old Men before they were older men. The story follows Felix (Jack Lemmon), who’s going through a divorce, and his best friend Oscar (Walter Matthau), who invites him to move in with him.
But unfortunately, Felix won’t stop obsessing over his ex. So Oscar plans a double date with their eccentric neighbors (Monica Evans and Carole Shelley), but his plan backfires horribly.
13. Galaxy Quest (1999)
Galaxy Quest is a parody comedy and homage to sci-fi films and series, notably Star Trek and its fandom. It follows a cast of fictional characters on a TV series with a cult following, Galaxy Quest. However, actual aliens believe the series is an authentic documentary, and the group finds themselves in an interstellar conflict.
It stars Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Tony Shalhoub, and Daryl Mitchell.
14. American Graffiti (1973)
American Graffiti is a coming-of-age comedy-drama following four friends (Richard Dreyfuss, Ronny Howard, Charles Martin Smith, and Paul Le Mat) cruising around on their last day of summer vacation in 1962 before they become adults. A DJ (Wolfman Jack) spins classic rock and roll hits while the foursome flirts with a group of young women.
It co-stars Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, and Suzanne Somers.
Source: Reddit.
