Roger Ebert He once revealed that he had watched over 10,000 films during his career, and reviewed over 6,000 of them, and that was only in 1992 after 25 years in the cinema. He declared that he never got tired of watching movies, even if it meant watching some bad movies along the way. And God bless him, the man watched some terrible movies, and tried to warn us about them before his death in 2013. Among that were a number of bad comedies, which he did not have mercy on if she wasted his time. While he often championed underappreciated comedy, he seemed to enjoy deconstructing modern comedy that appeals to the lowest common denominator.
While Ebert was a huge fan of classic comedies (and black-and-white movies in general), he hated that movies had gotten dumber over the years. “The big difference between today’s dialogue and the dialogue years ago is that the characters have become stupid,” he said. “They say what is needed to advance the plot, and they laugh by throwing in four-letter words. Hollywood dialogue was once witty, witty, wry, poetic, and musical. Today it’s flat.” He was right in 1992 when he wrote those words, and they are even truer today that he’s gone.
Archived thousands of his reviews throughout his career, Ebert’s website has also curated lists of his best and worst picks in various genres, including a selection of the worst comedies he’s ever seen. As you’ll see, the late ’90s and early 2000s seemed to be quite prolific for bad comedy. 18 movies made the worst Ebert list, and we’ve picked 10 of them to order alphabetically. For the record, it was the others Joe Dirt (2001), BAPS (1997), Child geniuses (1999), sorority boys (2002), An Alan Smithee: Burn Hollywood Burn movie (1997), Many like love (2005), north (1994) and One or two women (1985).
Deuce Bigaloo: The European Gigolo (2005)
Get used to the name Rob Schneider – you’ll see him again on this list. 2005 sequel Deus Bigalo: European Gigolo It somehow manages to be worse than the first movie, operating on the assumption that high-profile sex jokes can carry a movie. Spoiler alert: they don’t. The movie manages to get a few laughs, but it feels a bit too forced to make it fun. Schneider is a funny guy, and co-star Eddie Griffin has his moments, but the movie pokes fun at the elderly and disabled with a little shyness. It also brings up racial and gender stereotypes that aren’t funny now, and weren’t funny then.
The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)
Hollywood’s obsession with making movies out of classic TV shows hit an all-time low in 2005 Dukes of HazzardDirected by Jay Chandrasekhar from Broken Lizard /Super Soldiers fame. It appears that the movie was green-lighted simply for the cuteness of Jessica Simpson in Daisy Duke shorts. Neither she nor the appearance of Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, can save the movie.
Johnny Knoxville and Sean William Scott don’t pull the leads here, not even the inspired cast of Burt Reynolds as Chief Hogg and Willie Nelson as Uncle Jesse. The movie is a grueling effort that is almost unwatchable.
Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
20th Century Fox certainly knew what they were up against by letting Tom Green write and direct Freddy got fingered. The question is why the studio that made It’s all about EveAnd mashAnd Die hardAnd star WarsAnd Grapes of Wrath Putting their name on a movie so bad that watching it is like getting kicked in the leg over and over again? Green plays an idiot trying to succeed in Hollywood animation, but the movie is essentially an excuse for many unfunny gags and jokes about pedophilia.
Ebert claimed that “the movie is vomit” and the sentiment was universal. The movie won five Razzie Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Actor, and Worst Director, and Green actually attended the ceremony to claim them. To this day, Tom Green defends the film, and thinks it was just misunderstood.
hot chick (2002)
Body swapping comedies are usually good for a few laughs, however hot chick It often doesn’t live up to its potential. It’s usually stupid, letting Ebert declare, “By superhuman effort of will, I didn’t get out.” Rob Schneider is Rob Schneider, and while he manages to have some laughs, the script (which he wrote) is absolutely awful. The film’s only blessing here is Anna Faris, who is naturally funny regardless of the quality of the script.
Rachel McAdams (in her feature film debut) is totally lost here, missing for most of the picture, but hilarious in her limited scenes. There’s also the obligatory appearance of Adam Sandler (it’s a Happy Madison production, after all) but he forgets to bring jokes into his scenes.
Crazy Dog Time (1996)
There are no actual mad dogs in Mad Dog timing, but you could have used them. Instead, the film is a cinematic blink that gnaws painfully at your psyche well after the credits roll. The movie actually has the audacity to pretend to be an all-star comedy troupe. Sure, there are plenty of stars and more than a dozen actors featured here, but as Ebert points out, “the actors perform their lines like condemned prisoners.” It could be because the main cast showed up for a few minutes of screen time, only to be unceremoniously killed off.
The movie makes absolutely no sense – the characters speak and dress as if they were in a 1940s gangster movie or a 1960s movie, even though it’s set in modern times. The movie was written and directed by Larry Bishop, son of Rat Packer Joey Bishop, who appears here in his latest movie. It’s a sad farewell, and the movie effectively derailed Bishop’s filmmaking career. Richard DeVos stars and serves as executive producer, and it’s amazing that he allowed this script to be filmed. He should know better.
It’s Out of Control (1989)
by the time It’s out of control Released in 1989, just about every ’80s movie cliche hit the floor. This includes the bad voiceover, “a hot girl looks ugly because she wears glasses”, dancing in your bedroom to a classic “cliche” song, and the cliché “prom as the finale”. This movie overshadowed another movie: the “Tony Danza as a leading man” cliché.
It’s out of control bad from the manager The episode spanned what seemed like a week. It’s a contrived mess about a father who suddenly discovers his young daughter Katie (Amy Dolenz) is a teenager and starts dating. A young Matthew Perry appears as a jerk who takes Katie to the prom, which is the only thing worth mentioning about this movie.
Sour Grapes (1998)
It’s hard to believe sour grapes It came from Larry David, the same guy who gave it to us Seinfeld And Curb your enthusiasmBecause the movie doesn’t offer a single natural laugh. The broad, slick humor feels incredibly forced, and it works like a bad comedy plot. Considering that Larry David has written great shows and movies, it’s surprising that he got so much wrong with this one.
Ebert criticizes David’s screenplay, saying that he “thinks people are amused by cancer, accidental castration, racial stereotypes, and bitter family feuds.” Perhaps the movie’s biggest question: Why is star Steven Weber acting as a Seinfeld impersonator?
Spice World (1997)
Connection spice world Grabbing coins without a soul is very kind. You know what I want, what do I really want? Time machine to return and prevent me from seeing this dismal picture. It aspires to be a modern version of The Beatles a hard day’s Night, but falls far short. It is, instead, a collection of disjointed gags in which the girls visit various landmarks around London, rehearse for a prom, meet famous people via cameos, and torment us with their music.
Ebert was downright vicious in his review, saying, “The Spice Girls have no personalities; their bodies are carriers of trash talk.” It should come as no surprise then that the five members wrote the script. You have to, at the very least, admire her audacity to even claim credit for it.
Tommy Boy (1995)
Tommy Boy It may not be a great movie, but Ebert’s assertion that it’s among the worst comedies ever made might be a little extreme. Chris Farley and David Spade were a powerful comic duo, and when he wasn’t going over the top, Farley had natural comedic timing that he unfortunately didn’t fully realize before his death.
The film has a loyal following who appreciate the absurd humor and industry Tommy Boy He became legendary himself. “The movie is a bunch of clichés,” Ebert says, and he’s not entirely wrong. While Farley’s energy and Spade’s sarcasm are good for some laughs, the movie could have used some inspired writing, especially towards the end, with a silly gag that just doesn’t pay off.
Waterboy (1998)
Sure, Adam Sandler might be an acquired taste, but even when he’s at his dumbest water boy, there is still some laughter. As Bobby Boucher, the waterboy/linebacker of the Louisiana college football team, Sandler upgrades most of his best parts from Saturday Night Live Characters, that’s good for some laughs. Ebert disagrees, saying that Boucher is “a character whose style and voice are nails to the board”. Perhaps the famous critic should have enjoyed the quality of H2O while watching the movie.
The film’s absurdity is aided by a supporting cast that goes along with the insanity, including Henry Winkler, who is just as good as a coach. Even Rob Schneider laughs a bit with his hilarious “You can do that” running gag. And sure, Kathy Bates may be an Academy Award-winning actress with a flair for the dramatic, but almost every line she has here has a laugh. Her delivery of the “Football is the Devil” line is still funny, and you might get another chance to play mama, as Sandler is considering making a sequel to Get Together With Winkler & Bates. Unfortunately, we will never hear Ebert’s caustic opinion.
