Comedyfilms have long spoken to people of all ages, fromcoming-of-age ’80s classicslikeSixteen Candlesto the raunchy humor ofAmerican Pie. While many of the best-written and most thoughtful comedies receive an R-rating for a variety of reasons, there are plenty in the PG-13 range that can actually be lost on younger people. After all, just because a film is made accessible to young viewers doesn’t mean it’s devoid of a good story.
The appeal of a good comedy can change with age for a variety of reasons, with some messages and themes simply requiring experience and wisdom to truly understand. On the other hand, the unique and artistic style of some film-makers can be lost on younger viewers, only to be appreciated by older people. Regardless, a greatcomedy doesn’t need an R-ratingto resonate with adults and, more often than not, the most juvenile humor is the most relatable and enjoyable.
Clue
Cast
Based on the classic board game, Clue features an ensemble cast that includes Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren. In the film, six strangers, each with a dark secret, are lured to a mansion by a mysterious blackmailer who is then killed when everyone has arrived. The group, accompanied by the butler and the maid, must work together to determine who the murderer is before it’s too late.
Murder mystery has been one of the most entertaining genres of film since Hollywood’s golden age. InClue, the genre is both parodied and honored in brilliant fashion, following a group of blackmail victims trapped in a mansion with a killer among them. Based on the board game of the same name, the film keeps its audience guessing at every turn, even using three different endings to throw them for a loop.
Clue features three different endings, each of which were played at different theaters upon release.
As viewers age, they pick up on more ofClue’sbest jokes, and the story becomes something of a comfort movie, effectively defining the “cozy mystery” sub-genre. Despite being rated PG,the film is full of jokes aimed squarely at adults, which makes the film so much funnier for mature audiences. In a world wherehilarious murder mysteriesare common, this classic will always be worth a watch, even if only for its brilliant cast.
The Wedding Singer
Set in 1985, The Wedding Singer sees comedy icon Adam Sandler play a nice guy with a broken heart whose misery is compounded by his job as a wedding singer. Jilted at the altar by his fiancée, he crashes hard, only to find love again when he meets Julia (Drew Barrymore), who asks for help planning her wedding. Then, the race is on to show Julia how he feels before her wedding.
Telling the story of a lovesick musician trying to find love,The Wedding Singerintroduced viewers to one of the best romantic comedy pairings in modern cinema in Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Despite its hilarious moments, the movie deals with tough topics like depression and loneliness in a way that younger viewers might not fully appreciate. When factoring in the fact the film was made for ’90s audiences, it’s ideal for a particular generation – even if its story is timeless.
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Younger audiences will takeThe Wedding Singerat face value as a great ’90s rom-com with good humor. However, like all the best romance movies, it’s best appreciated by older people who can relate to Robbie and Julia’s struggle to find the right person. The movie is perfectly accessible to most ages, butits style, setting and inclusion of icons like Billy Idol make it a treasure for older viewers.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The third installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, father of the Griswold family whose intentions to have a good Christmas with his family face several setbacks. Between his arguing parents, the uncooperative decorations, and the unexpected arrival of some unwanted distant relatives, Clark’s dreams for a wonderful Christmas seem to be fading, forcing him to take some comedically drastic measures.
After audiences were introduced to Clark Griswold and his family on their adventure to Wally World, they were given a Christmas story in 1989’sNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The only film in the series set in the Griswold house, it follows Clark’s misbegotten attempt to put on a wholesome holiday for the whole family. Here, the challenges of the season are taken to extremes, creating some fun physical comedy and family tension, all leading to a hysterical look at Christmas.
Christmas Vacation is the third in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series.
Christmas Vacationis widely regarded as one of the greatest Christmas comedies of all time, and for good reason. After all,it takes an adult to go from laughing at Clark Griswold to relating to his frustrations, whether from his well-meaning plan to give his kids the perfect Christmas to the stress of in-laws and a bad boss. The film gives everyone a good laugh, while it speaks to adults on a much better level.
Uncle Buck
Uncle Buck stars John Candy as Buck Russell, an eccentric uncle who comes to babysit his brother’s teenage daughter and two younger kids. Macaulay Culkin stars as the young Miles Russell alongside Gabby Hoffmann, and Jean Louisa Kelly. John Hughes directed Uncle Buck, coming off the heels of The Great Outdoors, which also starred John Candy.
Casting John Candy in one of his most iconic roles,Uncle Buckpresents its audience with a story about the fine line between good parenting and childhood independence. Focusing on a bumbling but caring uncle left in charge of his nieces and nephew, the story focuses on the tension between Buck and his teenage niece, Tia. Here, the question of tough love comes into play, showing a healthy balance between allowing kids to learn from their mistakes while also stepping up for them.
In classic John Hughes fashion,Uncle Buckonly hits closer to home the older the viewer gets, with Buck’s babysitting style and the stress of raising a teenager becoming more relatable to parents. Where younger viewers will see a story about a goofy uncle trying to maintain order in a chaotic house,the heartwarming growth of its characters is almost a message to parents about being there for their children.
Groundhog Day
In Groundhog Day, the arrogant weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself living the exact same day over and over for what feels like an eternity. To cope with his curse, he learns a variety of skills in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and tries to earn the heart of his colleague Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell) while he adapts to the time loop.
Few movies have so successfully mastered a trope as well asGroundhog Daydid the time loop, becoming effectively synonymous with the idea. Focusing on a weather reporter, Phil Connors, as he’sdoomed to relive the same winter’s dayover and over again, it gives its audience a fun look at the uses and downsides of its curse. At the same time, it can be a warning and reminder to people watching of their own mortality – while also telling them to appreciate life more.
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Through Phil’s story,Groundhog Daygives Bill Murray one of his best character arcs,showing a selfish man set in his ways slowly coming to appreciate change, and value those around him. Younger audiences are more likely to resonate with the grouchy, Scrooge-like version of the man defined by sarcasm, while older people will appreciate his progress. The film’s focus on repetition and the trapped feeling of being stuck in a cycle is something it can take decades of experience to fully understand.
Galaxy Quest
An homage to classic science fiction and its fandom, Galaxy Quest follows a group of actors from a fictional cult classic sci-fi series who are unwittingly embroiled in a real space conflict when aliens who believe the series is real abduct them and ask for their help defeating a tyrant threatening their people. Starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Daryl Mitchell, and Sam Rockwell, the film features many references and parodies of classic sci-fi films and shows, mainly Star Trek.
Parody has long been a staple of the comedy genre, but few movies did as good a job asGalaxy Quest. Revolving around the cast of a canceled sci-fi show becoming heroes to a real alien race, the film instantly sets the tone of a story about finding new meaning when a person’s best days are behind them. At the same time, it questions what it means to be a hero, the consequences of lying and even explores the best and worst of fandom.
Galaxy Questis one of the best examples of a script giving the audience two different experiences depending on their age. While everyone can appreciate the story’s mastery of parody,the feelings of the characters in relation to their lives, their work and each other is something that takes age and experience to fully appreciate. The older someone gets, the more they begin to understand the brilliance behind this iconic parody.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
John Hughes' comedy classic Ferris Bueler’s Day off follows the titular high schooler, a self-assured, charming young man who wants a day off. Going to unheard-of lengths to secure that day for himself, his girlfriend, and his best friend, he conjures up the ultimate scheme to get them out of school. However, his sister and principal are confident he’s up to no good, and his principal will embark on an equally overblown quest to expose Ferris' truancy.
Throughout John Hughes' career, few movies made an impression on cinema as much asFerris Bueller’s Day Off. Documenting the adventure of a trio of high school friends skipping school for a day in Chicago, it explores their relationships to one another, as well as their parents. In a sense, the movie is about living in the moment, and not allowing your story to be defined by those around you, a common theme in Hughes' films.
Some of the film’s best moments are aimed at adults as much as kids, and emphasize the importance of fostering the spirit of youth.
For decades,Ferris Bueller’s Day Offhas spoken to a sense of childhood rebellion and independence, a message that becomes even more timely for parents. At the same time, the film takes some of its older viewers back to their own youth, giving them a nostalgic reminder of the joy and adventure of their own past. Some of the film’s best moments are aimed at adults as much as kids, and emphasize the importance of fostering the spirit of youth.
The ‘Burbs
The ‘Burbs is a dark comedy directed by Joe Dante, starring Tom Hanks as Ray Peterson, a suburbanite who grows suspicious of his eccentric new neighbors. As strange events unfold, Peterson and his friends become increasingly convinced that something sinister is happening next door. The film explores themes of paranoia and suburban life with a humorous twist.
The ‘Burbstakes its audience into the heart of suburban America, following a group of neighbors who become convinced that their neighbors are murderers. Playing on themes of paranoia and the monotony of life in the ‘burbs, the movie offers the humor of small town tensions alongside the intrigue of a murder mystery. The film sports a morbid sense of humor, one that exploits the juxtaposition between the idyllic Mr Rogers-inspired American dream and small town horror.
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For older viewers,The ‘Burbsturns into a relatable look at boredom, bad neighbors and adult escapism, while kids love the story for its eccentric characters and slapstick humor. Considering that the core foundation of the story centers around understanding the characters’ need for excitement in their life, the older someone is, the truer the story becomes for them. That said, it’s one of the best cases of a well-written comedy being every bit as funny no matter the viewer’s age.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, set in the 1930s Deep South. The story follows three escaped convicts (George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson) on a quest for hidden treasure while being pursued by the law. Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, the film combines elements of adventure, humor, and music to create a unique cinematic experience.
The story of Homer’s Greek epicThe Odysseyhas been updated by a variety of modern storytellers, each in their own unique settings and styles. When Joel and Ethan Coen took on the story, they turned it into the story of a trio of escaped convicts making their way through the Deep South during the Great Depression. Overcoming a variety of obstacles, the group’s epic journey is something that might not appeal to younger viewers, despite being a great comedy.
The older people get, the more they pick up on the theme of forgiveness behindO Brother, Where Art Thou?, while younger audiences are more likely to see it as a typical buddy comedy. For those well versed in Greek mythology, the film’s characters and twists only become more intriguing, and the uniquely American setting makes it a piece of true Americana. If anything, just spotting all the film’s parables and enjoying its oddities for what they are can require someone more attuned to the Coen brothers’ unique style.
Young Frankenstein
Young Frankenstein is a comedic homage to classic horror films, directed by Mel Brooks. Released in 1974, it stars Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, who inherits his infamous grandfather’s castle. Initially dismissive of his ancestor’s work, he later becomes intrigued by his experiments after discovering a hidden journal.
Throughout his career, Mel Brooks has defined himself as a master of the parody comedy genre, picking apart everything fromStar WarstoDracula. InYoung Frankenstein, he explored Mary Shelley’s classic, focusing on the grandson of Victor Frankenstein as he continues his ancestor’s work. What follows is one mishap after another, eventually leading to the escape of a monster – and the bumbling efforts of Frederick Frankenstein to catch him.
Mel Brooks’ classic is hilarious at any age, but it’s best appreciated by adults who pick up on all of its wittiest jokes.
A strong contender for the greatest comedy movie ever made, Young Frankenstein’s best appeal is the interplay between its characters, especially Frankenstein and Igor. From beginning to end,the film is riddled with innuendo and witty jokes that fly over the heads of younger viewers, only to be appreciated by adults for their sharp humor. Mel Brooks’ classic is hilarious at any age, but it’s best appreciated by adults who pick up on all of its wittiest jokes.
