Comedies did well in 2008 with moviegoers looking to escape the harsh economic times by heading to theaters for a few laughs. Only time will tell if 2009's batch of comedy movies will go over just as big as last year's laffers, but there are a few on this list that should be box office hits due to their built-in audiences. Yes Funny People and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian I am talking about you...
So with hopes high for more winners than turkeys, here's the scoop on potentially funny films hitting theaters throughout 2009 (listed in order of their release).
So with hopes high for more winners than turkeys, here's the scoop on potentially funny films hitting theaters throughout 2009 (listed in order of their release).
'The Proposal'
© Touchstone Pictures
Starring: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds
The Scoop: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have been friends for years, and the two romantic comedy veterans had been on the look-out for a rom-com to do together for quite a while. The Proposal 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.
Hitting Theaters: June 19, 2009
The Scoop: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have been friends for years, and the two romantic comedy veterans had been on the look-out for a rom-com to do together for quite a while. The Proposal 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.
Hitting Theaters: June 19, 2009
'Bruno'
© Universal Pictures
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen
The Scoop: After Borat took the box office by storm 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 and now the studio's hoping that was $40+ million well spent.
Hitting Theaters: July 10, 2009
The Scoop: After Borat took the box office by storm 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 and now the studio's hoping that was $40+ million well spent.
Hitting Theaters: July 10, 2009
'The Ugly Truth'
© Columbia Pictures
Starring: Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl
The Scoop: Gerard Butler fans love him in any genre of film. It doesn't matter if he's showing off his singing skills behind a mask in a romantic musical or strutting around as a mostly naked king in a bloody action film or playing it all soft and sensitive as a dead guy who sends his grieving wife messages telling her to move on with her life in a romantic comedy/drama. Butler's millions of admirers don't really care what he's in as long as he's in it. So what's he play in The Ugly Truth? Does it matter?
Hitting Theaters: July 24, 2009
The Scoop: Gerard Butler fans love him in any genre of film. It doesn't matter if he's showing off his singing skills behind a mask in a romantic musical or strutting around as a mostly naked king in a bloody action film or playing it all soft and sensitive as a dead guy who sends his grieving wife messages telling her to move on with her life in a romantic comedy/drama. Butler's millions of admirers don't really care what he's in as long as he's in it. So what's he play in The Ugly Truth? Does it matter?
Hitting Theaters: July 24, 2009
'Funny People'
© Universal Pictures
Starring: Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen
The Scoop: It seems like every R-rated comedy put out in the last couple of years is somehow associated with Judd Apatow. He had a hand in - but did not direct - Superbad, Walk Hard, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Step Brothers, and Pineapple Express. He also dabbled in the PG-13 market, although not as successfully. But with Funny People he finally gets back to directing for the first time since Knocked Up. Funny People has Sandler playing a stand-up comedian with only a year to live, which is probably why this one's considered a comedy/drama. Apatow explains the tone by saying, "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!"
Hitting Theaters: July 31, 2009
The Scoop: It seems like every R-rated comedy put out in the last couple of years is somehow associated with Judd Apatow. He had a hand in - but did not direct - Superbad, Walk Hard, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Step Brothers, and Pineapple Express. He also dabbled in the PG-13 market, although not as successfully. But with Funny People he finally gets back to directing for the first time since Knocked Up. Funny People has Sandler playing a stand-up comedian with only a year to live, which is probably why this one's considered a comedy/drama. Apatow explains the tone by saying, "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!"
Hitting Theaters: July 31, 2009
'The Informant'
© Warner Bros Pictures
Starring: Matt Damon and Scott Bakula
The Scoop: Matt Damon reunites with the director of the Ocean's films, Steven Soderbergh, for this tale of corporate intrigue. Damon stars as the vice president of a huge agri-business firm who turns tattle tale and spies on his co-workers for the government. But there's a catch: he's really, really lousy at it.
Hitting Theaters: September 18, 2009
The Scoop: Matt Damon reunites with the director of the Ocean's films, Steven Soderbergh, for this tale of corporate intrigue. Damon stars as the vice president of a huge agri-business firm who turns tattle tale and spies on his co-workers for the government. But there's a catch: he's really, really lousy at it.
Hitting Theaters: September 18, 2009
'Zombieland'
© Columbia Pictures
Starring: Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg
The Scoop: Zombies are always good for a laugh, right? In Zombieland, they've pretty much taken over the world and it's up to the few remaining human survivors to kick some walking dead butt. Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg, the most unlikeliest of zombie-fighting teams ever, head up the cast of this action-comedy from first time feature film director Ruben Fleischer.
Hitting Theaters: October 2, 2009
The Scoop: Zombies are always good for a laugh, right? In Zombieland, they've pretty much taken over the world and it's up to the few remaining human survivors to kick some walking dead butt. Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg, the most unlikeliest of zombie-fighting teams ever, head up the cast of this action-comedy from first time feature film director Ruben Fleischer.
Hitting Theaters: October 2, 2009
'The Invention of Lying'
© Warner Bros Pictures
Starring: Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais
The Scoop: Ricky Gervais is like Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire to me. He pretty much has me at hello. As soon as he appears on screen, I start laughing. Most of the time, there's a real reason for my laughter. Occasionally fellow audience members shoot me dirty looks because they're not into Gervais the way I am. Hopefully, The Invention of Lying - which Ricky Gervais wrote, directed and stars in - will provide everyone with plenty of opportunity to laugh out loud without fear of being ridiculed.
Hitting Theaters: October 2, 2009
The Scoop: Ricky Gervais is like Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire to me. He pretty much has me at hello. As soon as he appears on screen, I start laughing. Most of the time, there's a real reason for my laughter. Occasionally fellow audience members shoot me dirty looks because they're not into Gervais the way I am. Hopefully, The Invention of Lying - which Ricky Gervais wrote, directed and stars in - will provide everyone with plenty of opportunity to laugh out loud without fear of being ridiculed.
Hitting Theaters: October 2, 2009
'Couples Retreat'
© Universal Pictures
Starring: Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau
The Scoop: You know, they're not the Laurel and Hardy or Martin and Lewis of our generation, but they are a comedy team to be reckoned with. Although Jon Favreau's been busy behind the camera with Iron Man 2, he took the time to reunite with his buddy Vince Vaughn for this comedy about couples in need of a little rest, relaxation, and therapy. Joining them are Kristen Bell, Jason Bateman and Malin Akerman - actors more than up to the challenge of bringing home the laughs.
Hitting Theaters: October 9, 2009
The Scoop: You know, they're not the Laurel and Hardy or Martin and Lewis of our generation, but they are a comedy team to be reckoned with. Although Jon Favreau's been busy behind the camera with Iron Man 2, he took the time to reunite with his buddy Vince Vaughn for this comedy about couples in need of a little rest, relaxation, and therapy. Joining them are Kristen Bell, Jason Bateman and Malin Akerman - actors more than up to the challenge of bringing home the laughs.
Hitting Theaters: October 9, 2009
'Old Dogs'
© Walt Disney Pictures
Starring: John Travolta and Robin Williams
The Scoop: Travolta reunites with his Wild Hogs director Walt Becker for another buddy comedy: Old Dogs. Next up for the twosome - Frolicking Frogs. Just kidding. Actually, Travolta and Becker are planning on going hog wild with each other at least one more time (they've both signed on to Wild Hogs 2). Anyway, Old Dogs finds Travolta and Williams playing friends who find themselves caring for 6 year old twins without a clue as to how to take care of them.
Hitting Theaters: November 25, 2009
The Scoop: Travolta reunites with his Wild Hogs director Walt Becker for another buddy comedy: Old Dogs. Next up for the twosome - Frolicking Frogs. Just kidding. Actually, Travolta and Becker are planning on going hog wild with each other at least one more time (they've both signed on to Wild Hogs 2). Anyway, Old Dogs finds Travolta and Williams playing friends who find themselves caring for 6 year old twins without a clue as to how to take care of them.
Hitting Theaters: November 25, 2009
'It's Complicated'
Starring: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin
The Scoop: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin make up a complicated love triangle involving ex-husbands and architects in this adult comedy hitting theaters at the end of the year. Writer/director Nancy Meyers is no stranger to love stories aimed at mature audiences having delivered What Women Want, The Holiday, and Something's Gotta Give, and with Streep onboard as the woman in the middle, It's Complicated stands a good chance of attracting viewers looking to escape from the stress of the winter holidays.
Hitting Theaters: December 25, 2009
The Scoop: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin make up a complicated love triangle involving ex-husbands and architects in this adult comedy hitting theaters at the end of the year. Writer/director Nancy Meyers is no stranger to love stories aimed at mature audiences having delivered What Women Want, The Holiday, and Something's Gotta Give, and with Streep onboard as the woman in the middle, It's Complicated stands a good chance of attracting viewers looking to escape from the stress of the winter holidays.
Hitting Theaters: December 25, 2009
