Some Like it Hot (1959)
Containing perhaps the most famous final line in comedic cinema history, Some Like it Hot certainly stands the test of time. The farcical nature of the film is played with true wit, and has surely never been bettered. Truly one of the greatest comedy films there has ever been.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Surely the blueprint for the recent, rather limp Due Date, the John Hughes directed Planes, Trains and Automobiles is both genuinely engaging and, importantly, truly funny. The two-day journey undertaken by Steve Martin and John Candy features both wonderful sight-gags and brilliant dialogue. Candy and Martin are both perfectly cast, especially Candy as Del Griffith, both enjoyably irritating and deeply endearing.
The Hangover (2009)
Out of the current trend for the ‘bromance’, bawdy style of comedies, The Hangover is surely the best. Hugely successful upon its release, its narrative of a stag weekend gone wrong may be simple, but its simplicity is to its advantage, allowing the film to focus upon the central male relationships, providing much of the film’s humour.
Roxanne (1987)
A contemporary retelling of the French play Cyrano de Bergerac, Roxanne is wonderfully charming and unashamedly romantic. Steve Martin plays C.D. Bales, gifted with both wit and intelligence but lumbered with an unfortunately proportioned nose. As enjoyable as the central romance is, the film’s true enjoyment lies in Steve Martin’s fully-developed performance: C.D. could simply be a caricature but Martin ensures C.D. is consistently empathetic but never pitiable.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Skilfully referencing two genres – the romantic comedy and the zombie horror film – Shaun of the Dead is both touching and truly funny. Much like The Hangover, the majority of the comedy stems from the male interactions; here Simon Pegg and Nick Frost depict a beautifully realised male relationship, portraying characters whose love for one another is utterly charming.
Siobhan Denton 