Top Ten Comedies of 2009

The Hangover

Box Office: $277 million. Budget: $35 million. The comedic box office champ of 2009, this dark gem is basically a 100 minute public service announcement on the hazards of the drug, roofies.

The story revolves around four guys in Las Vegas for a bachelor party. Three of the men, played by Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, set off in a madcap adventure to find their lost partner following an evening of decadence and bad craziness.

Ed Helms, of The Office, does a great job as Stu Price, a dentist with a witch of a live-in girlfriend. Price is a passive character who has to step up in the search for their friend. He grows thanks to the deft portrayal by Helms who even had showed a real missing tooth.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Box Office: $177million. Budget $150 million.

Back from the original are Ben Stiller, Director Shawn Levy and writers Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant.

Stiller's character, Larry Daley, infiltrates the Smithsonian to rescue friends from the original.

It picked up the 2009 Teen's Choice Award as Best Comedy.

The Proposal

Box Office:$163 Million. Budget:$50 million.

It is the story of a tough female boss, played by Sandra Bullock, who needs to get married to avoid deportation to Canada. Her assistant, played by Ryan Reynolds, offers to help by marrying her.

The would be couple go New York City back to his family home in Alaska and have a weekend marriage ceremony.

Reynolds and Bullock carry the light comic fare with their charisma and presence.

Paul Blart, Mall Cop

Box Office: $143 million. Budget: $25 million.

Kevin James starred in the title role and co-wrote the script about a sad sack who saves the local mall from bad guys.

It provided some laughs and I really respect that Columbia Pictures stood behind a project with a metabolically-challenged lead. Not everyone has washboard abs and pretty hair.

Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat did $106 million and cost an estimated $60 million to make.

Friends and collaborators Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau wrote and acted. Peter Billingsly directed.

Four couples go to a tropic resort retreat. Only one couple is there for couples' therapy. The others soon learn they are there for couples' therapy and participation is mandatory. This serves as the set up for the jokes that a lot of critics didn't like.

Julie and Julia

Box Office: $94 million. Budget: $40 million.

Nora Ephron adapted and directed the Julie Powell's book of the same name.

Meryl Streep and Amy Adams played the title roles in a story about a chef/blogger who tries 524 Julia Child's recipes in 365 days.

I Love You, Man

Box Office: $71 million Budget: Unknown.

It starred Paul Rudd, Jason Seigel and Rashida Jones.

Lou Ferrigno did a nice job playing Lou Ferrigno.

Not a bad movie, I felt I didn't get it and wished I would have laughed more. I also thought something was wrong with the ending.

Bruno

Box Office: $60 Budget: $24 million.
Bruno did $60 million at the box office. Assuming tickets averaged $10, I am guessing that six million people found Bruno interesting enough to watch. I wonder how many of them found it funny.

I found it one of the least funny things I have seen in a long time.

Bruno is the least funniest character who originated on The Ali G Show, which ran several years on HBO.

Funny People

Box office: $51million. Budget: $70 million.

It is the story of a veteran comic who learns he is dying and tries to develop a friendship with a struggling new comic.

Written and directed by Judd Apatow, Funny People starred Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen as the comics.

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Box Office: $44million. Budget: Unknown.

Isla Fisher played a recent college grad/ business reporter who is addicted to shopping and falls in love with a rich business man.