Top 10 Comedy Movies of 2009

10 Comedies That Stuck Out from the Pack of Funny Films Released in 2009

Dramas aren't drawing audiences (unless they're dramas loaded with action), but comedies continue to do well at the box office. That said, there were a lot of disappointing laffers released in 2009 (Year One, Land of the Lost, Observe and Report, etc). Thankfully, there were enough decent comedies to make up for the ones that just didn't work. Here are my picks for the funniest movies of 2009. Remember, these are my personal favorites - feel free to disagree.

'Zombieland'

© Columbia Pictures

The absolute best time I had at the movies all year came from watching

. Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg are the unlikeliest zombie-fighting team ever, and the way these guys play off of each other is absolutely hysterical. Add Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin to the mix along with the best cameo in years, plenty of zombie kills, a smart script, great action sequences, and smooth directing, and you've got the perfect 'escape from reality and just have fun' moviegoing experience.

'The Hangover'

Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, and Ed Helms in The Hangover
Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, and Ed Helms in The Hangover. © Warner Bros Pictures

take every joke as far as possible and then go further, and the result is laugh out loud funny.

'Fantastic Mr Fox'

A scene from Fantastic Mr Fox
A scene from 'Fantastic Mr Fox'. © Fox Searchlight

Wes Anderson's responsible for some of my favorite comedies (Rushmore, Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums) yet I wasn't immediately sold on Fantastic Mr Fox. The animation looked freaky, the trailer did nothing to raise my interest, and I thought big name actors (led by George Clooney and Meryl Streep) had been brought in to try and raise the buzz level and nothing more. Boy, was I wrong. Anderson's a sly fox who doesn't disappoint with his first venture into animation. There's nothing 'freaky' about the way this story comes to life on the screen. An animated film for adults - the humor will go over kids' heads - Fantastic Mr Fox is strikingly beautiful, witty, and hugely entertaining.

'Up'

A scene from 'Up'
A scene from 'Up'. © Disney/Pixar

I came home and gave my dog an extra hug. It's that kind of movie; it evokes a strong response and just makes you happy to have watched it.

(500) Days of Summer

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in '500 Days of Summer'
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in '500 Days of Summer'. © Fox Searchlight

I'm a sucker for a smart romantic comedy, and

. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a hard-working greeting card writer who believes there's one specific woman out there for him and that he'll know it the minute he finds her. Zooey Deschanel is Summer - as in '(500) Days of' - a free-spirited woman who doesn't believe in love at first sight.

'The Proposal'

The Proposal
The Proposal. © Touchstone Pictures

finds Bullock playing a workaholic forced into saying she's in a relationship with her underling (played by Reynolds) in order to stay in America and keep her high-powered job. Along with scene-stealer Betty White, Reynolds and Bullock prove you can make a snappy romantic comedy that doesn't play down to its target audience.

'The Informant'

The Informant
The Informant. © Warner Bros Pictures

, but his performance lifts this film way above the average comedy.

'Ghosts of Girlfriends Past'

Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. © New Line Cinema

is by far the best. Teaming up with another romantic comedy veteran, Jennifer Garner, McConaughey is roguishly charming, melting hearts and guiding the story smoothly over any minor speedbumps.

'Julie & Julia'

Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia
Meryl Streep in 'Julie & Julia'. © Columbia Pictures

Meryl Streep had a busy 2009, lending her voice to Fantastic Mr Fox, playing the attractive older woman at the center of love triangle in It's Complicated, and tackling the role of legendary chef Julia Child in Julie & Julia. Streep is good in all three of her 2009 films, but her incredibly engaging take on Julia Child, going over-the-top and seeming to love every minute of it, stands out Amy Adams also shines as an office worker who sets out to conquer Julia's entire Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook while blogging about her experiences. I can't cook, but this movie made me want to whip up a soufflé. It's a delicious treat you should not watching when you're hungry.

'Bruno'

Bruno
Bruno. © Universal Pictures

After Borat took the box office by storm in 2006 it was almost a given that if Cohen wanted to bring another one of his characters - gay fashionista Bruno - to life in a feature film, some studio would give him the go-ahead to do so. Universal Pictures won the bidding war, but not everything was bright and shiny for Bruno. Cohen did what he does best and not everyone was pleased with the result. To me, Bruno was exactly what I anticipated and so it didn't disappoint. The film delivered on its promise, even while lagging way behind Borat's box office numbers. Twitter helped to kill Bruno's opening weekend take, with people immediately Tweeting their opinions after leaving the film. I liked it, but I'm in the minority on this one.