Top 10 Comedy Movies NO ONE Expected to Be AWFUL

With the first film being a record-breaking breath of fresh air, fans were eager to see the Wolfpack return. Granted, we knew only so much could be done with this premise. Like “Home Alone 2,” though, the change of scenery opened the door for new possibilities. The film also could’ve taken a meta approach like “22 Jump Street” would three years later. Instead, Todd Phillips followed the same formula, right down to Alan being responsible for the Wolfpack’s predicament. We’d be forgiving if the film brought the laughs, but the humor goes beyond feeling recycled. It’s more vulgar, mean-spirited, and downright unpleasant. Audiences showed up in droves regardless, but after “The Hangover Part II,” nobody was surprised when “Part III” resulted in another awful experience.

Almost 40 years after hitting the silver screen, “Howard the Duck” remains one of cinema’s easiest punchlines. Believe it or not, there was a time when this superhero comedy seemed poised to become the next big thing. Producer George Lucas was riding high on the success of the “Star Wars” trilogy and first two “Indiana Jones” movies, bringing some of the same creative figures along. It was based on a Marvel comic known for its sharp satire and inventive scenarios with a highly entertaining central character. None of the potential shined through in the final product, proving too raunchy for kids, too juvenile for adults, and too disturbing for anyone who wasn’t already wondering how a human woman and anthropomorphic duck could consummate their relationship.

Eddie Murphy has endured various ups and downs, but “The Nutty Professor” was definitely a high point. “Norbit” seemed like a successor to the Klumps with Murphy again playing multiple characters, reteaming with makeup legend Rick Baker. Murphy’s career was also on the upswing following his Oscar nomination for “Dreamgirls.” If “Dreamgirls” was the highest of highs, “Norbit” was the lowest of lows. The three characters Murphy played ranged from bland, to racist, to one of the most repellent screen presences we’ve ever seen in a comedy. Every aspect was unlikable with even the impressive makeup effects enforcing a terrible message about overweight people. Murphy made horrible comedies before, but we didn’t think he had one so repugnant in him.

Anyone who read the script for “The Big Wedding” would know this project was doomed from the moment Lionsgate said, “I do.” Based on the all-star ensemble, though, few could’ve expected the film to be this uncomfortable. This romcom doesn’t even feel like it was helmed by one person. Characters make decisions with little rhyme or reason, as if scenes are missing. The comedy randomly switches gears between PG-13 and R-rated material, although it never takes full advantage of the latter. We’ve seen movies squander talent before, but it’s almost remarkable how little the cast manages to salvage. It’s awful in ways that we didn’t even anticipate. Yet, “The Big Wedding” still isn’t uniquely bad enough to be a guilty pleasure. It’s just a waste.

In the late 80s, everybody and their mother read “The Bonfire of the Vanities.” All eyes were on Brian De Palma’s film adaptation to be a cinematic event, but people were soon talking about this dark comedy for the wrong reasons. As talented as the cast was, many actors felt miscast with Bruce Willis as a character who was British in the book and Tom Hanks - Hollywood’s resident nice guy - as a protagonist we’re not supposed to sympathize with. Plagued by studio interference, the film sucked out what made the novel so challenging and humorous. The troubled production inspired a fascinating book by Julie Salamon and a TCM podcast, but Tom Wolfe’s novel remains overdue for a faithful adaptation.

After Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly established their comedic chemistry in “Talladega Nights” and “Step Brothers,” many were mystified by how painfully humorless “Holmes & Watson” turned out. Of course, a third player was just as integral to the aforementioned films: Adam McKay, who would co-produce “Holmes & Watson,” but was apparently more interested in directing prestige pictures at this point in his career. While nobody expected this Sherlock sendup to be prestige, they expected it to strike a balance between stupid and funny, only getting the former. At its best, “Holmes & Watson” is like an “SNL” sketch that goes on for too long. At its worst, this clueless comedy will make you want to throw every physical copy over the Reichenbach Falls.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s real-life relationship has rebounded, but there’s a reason why Martin Brest hasn’t made another move more than twenty years after “Gigli.” Much of the press surrounding this dark romcom revolved around Affleck and Lopez’s off-screen romance. At the time, some adored Bennifer while others were getting sick of them. Even if you fell into the latter category, “Gigli” seemed to have promise with a supporting cast including Al Pacino and Christopher Walken. Considering that Brest also directed classic crime comedies like “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Midnight Run,” few could’ve fathomed how universally hated “Gigli” would be. Some say “Gigli” was gutted in the editing room, and while that didn’t help, any film with the line “turkey time” is beyond saving.

The first “Zoolander” was a modest box office success, but became a full-blown cult classic on home media. Fifteen years later, fans were still referencing the “Center for Ants” and imitating looks like Blue Steel. The idea that Ben Stiller would deliver such a soulless sequel after all this time didn’t even feel like a possibility. Right off the bat, “Zoolander 2” leaves a sour taste in your mouth as it undoes the original’s happy ending. That sour taste turns staler as we’re treated to celebrity cameos that go nowhere, offensively dumb comedy bits, and callbacks that only remind us how much better the original film is. We don’t want your excuses, Stiller. The script needed to be at least… three times funnier than this.

With hit franchises like “Wayne’s World,” “Austin Powers,” and “Shrek,” Mike Myers appeared unstoppable. Sure, he had a slipup here and there, but it’d take a flop of astronomical proportions to kill Myers’ career. “The Love Guru” is a cautionary tale about what happens when an artist becomes too successful. With cringey stereotypes and toilet humor so lazy that you’d swear the movie was literally farted out, the pitch should’ve been rejected on the spot. When Myers is the star/co-writer/co-producer, though, surely it’ll all come together. Even with Myers’ track record up until this point, putting all of your eggs into one basket is a dangerous game. The studio paid the price, but so did Myers, who’s struggled to regain his mojo since.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.

“Your Highness” (2011)
A Strong Cast & Creative Setup Can Still Amount to an Epic Fail

“Bewitched” (2005)
A Throwback So Bad Its Bewildering

“North” (1994)
Roger Ebert Wasn’t the Only One Appauled by How South This Production Went

“Amsterdam” (2022)
David O. Russell’s Exercise in Wasting an A-List Ensemble, $80 million, & Our Patience

“Aloha” (2015)
How Could a Movie With Emma Stone Be Awf– Wait, Her Character’s Ethnicity Is What?!

Jack Black and Michael Cera were just two of the comedy titans in this prehistoric comedy, calling a modern “Life of Brian” to mind. The behind-the-scenes talent was equally encouraging with Judd Apatow producing and the legendary Harold Ramis directing. “Year One” carries a sad sentiment with the knowledge that it’d be Ramis’ last directorial outing. What’s worse, it was a biblically laughless note to go out on. Never living up to its cast, creative team, and premise, there isn’t a joke that works or a scene that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Unwatchable is one thing, but we’d go as far as to call this film unreleasable. Alas, here we are talking about it, wondering how so many funny people could go so wrong.

What comedy did you find shockingly awful? Vent in the comments!