10. Van Wilder. I wanted to hate this because of Ryan Reynolds, but multiple viewings made me of fan of this idiotic college guy comedy. There are two classic, must-see payback scenes. The first one combines donuts and a dog. The second involves the douchebag Richard (Daniel Cosgrove) being served a “colon blow” smoothie just before his big, important exam. The result is a crass yet screamingly funny scene involving a garbage pail that’ll have you groaning and holding your gut at the same time.
9. Wayne’s World. It might be directed by a woman, Penelope Spheeris, and released on Valentine’s Day (in the U.S.), but it’s still a consummate guy movie, exploring the horny male psyche in nutty way. It expands on the Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) characters developed on Saturday Night Live, and offers guy jokes, hot chicks, rock and roll dreams, Meat Loaf, and Alice Cooper. We’re not worthy of such guy movie heaven.
8. The 40 Year Old Virgin. More charming than gut-busting, this comedy looks into the life of an older electronics store clerk Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) who is still a virgin. Sounds implausible, but his explanation makes sense. His early attempts with women were unsuccessul, and he grew uncomfortable, then eventually gave up. So some of his workmates band together to help him out, to help him score, giving him all kinds of ridiculous advice.
This movie is not a ripsnorting comedy - more charming and funny. Steve Carrell actually plays it mostly straight, as a man who struck out early in life and then became increasingly uncomfortable trying to pick up women - until finally he gave up. Hence, a forty-year old virgin. Now his workmates are ready to help him, doling out all kinds of bad advice.
7. Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. This is a cult classic, with guy movie stupidity and zaniness about a couple of stoners who get the munchies and suddenly have a craving for White Castle burgers. Except getting to the nearest White Castle restaurant turns into a road trip with all kinds of ridiculous obstacles. If you’re in the right mood, this is an entertaining watch. It’s also quite the departure for Hollywood, given that both of the main characters are Asians.
6. American Pie. This is for every guy that went to college hoping to get laid for the first time. One time, at band camp, a virgin (Jason Biggs) met a horny, kooky band student (Alyson Hannigan). Then one time, he had sexual relations with a nice, warm American apple pie. And all was good. Until his daddy walked in on him. This is not your daddy’s teen sex comedy. It has an actual story, with real characters and great casting. Until Superbad came along, this was arguably the king of the genre.
5. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. A woman’s man. A man’s man. A funny man. Mike Myers got his comedy chops as an SNL (Saturday Night Live) cast member, building up a repertoire of funny characters. A few years after the success of Wayne’s World (which he co-wrote), he had a monster hit with Austin Powers, a wicked spoof of spy genre movies, especially James Bond. A lot of the jokes are very vulgar and guy-oriented, not to mention visual. You might want to see the sequels, but because the jokes get kind of old, they’re neither as entertaining nor important as International Man of Mystery.
4. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Leslie Nielsen is a master at visual comedy, and this spoof of TV cop shows is a classic with Priscilla Presley and O.J. Simpson. Written by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker (all writers for the Police Squad series that the movie is based on) - who have a history of hit comedy movies - this installment is much better than the two sequels that followed.
3. Knocked Up. Judd Apatow is untouchable right now, golden in the area of guy comedies. Knocked Up features hot comedic actor Seth Rogen as party-loving Ben Stone, who’s gotten his one night stand, Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl), pregnant. Now he has to deal with it, and with her tantrums and banshee screaming. (Loud-mouthed Katherine Heigl appeared in interviews saying Knocked Up was very chauvinistic - meaning that it was very much a guy movie.)
2. There’s Something About Mary. Mary (Cameron Diaz) is the girl next door, and a lot more approachable than Ted (Ben Stiller) ever thought. But it took him years to realize this, and now he has to contend with at least four other guys who are in love her too. A classic Farrelly brothers comedy, with a great cast. Fans will watch this over and over. (Note: the clip below is from a scene when the cops think Ted has killed someone, and Ted thinks they’re talking about a hitchhiker he picked up on the way to visit Mary.)
1. Superbad. A couple of long-time buddies (Michael Cera and Jonah Hill) plan their conquests for an end-of-school party, hoping they can score by getting some girls drunk. With the help of a friend (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) who has a fake ID with the name McLovin, they try to get some alcohol - and get into trouble with a couple of doofus cops (Bill Hader, Seth Rogen). Superbad is one of the best teen sex “coming of age” comedies ever, with believable characters, hilarious one-liners, and actual depth of story. Bonus points for the character “McLovin”.
