Run For Your Wife
With Run For Your Wife released in cinemas TODAY, the British comedy starring Danny Dyer, Denise Van Outen, Sarah Harding and Neil Morrissey, we thought we'd take a look at some of the best comedy that the UK has produced.
Blithe Spirit (1945)
After classic dramas such as Brief Encounter and This Happy Breed, Lean turned his hand to adapting one of Coward’s famous comedies, namely Blithe Spirit.
Rex Harrison is haunted by the spirit of his late wife, Kay Hammond while living with his new, strait-laced wife Constance Cummings and resorts to hiring a medium to exorcise her from the family home.
Margaret Rutherford is amazing as the blustery medium who soon has her hands full, the playful spirit.
Click here to buy Blithe Spirit on DVD
- Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
Labelled blasphemous and sacrilegious upon release and in the months before, the Python’s Life of Brian saw Graham Chapman star as the eponymous hero Brian, whose life is shown to parallel that of Jesus Christ.
The film is heavy with religious satire and famously culminates with a crucified Brian whistling, along as his fellow sufferers sing ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’.
Many religious activists picketed the film, calling for its ban from British cinemas and in some cases they succeeded; its 30 year ban from Aberystwyth was finally lifted in 2009.
Click here to buy Monty Python’s Life of Brian on DVD
- Withnail & I (1987)
A magical mystery tour of quotable lines and often heralded at the 'student's favourite', Withnail & I can easily stand up against the very best comedy movies.
Set in 1969, the two out of work actors take a trip to the county, in an effort to rejuvenate themselves. However, things to not go smoothly for the lovable duo.
Withnail boasts an incredibly tight script with flourishes of laugh-out-loud humour, and the performances from the two leads, Richard E. Grant as Withnail and Paul McGann as I (or Marwood as he is referred to in the script) are absolutely impeccable.
Along with a surprisingly touching and heart-warming ending, Withnail really is a film that has easily stood the test of time.
Click here to buy Withnail & I on DVD
- The Princess Bride (1987)
Written by one of Hollywood’s veteran screenwriters, William Goldman of Butch Cassidy fame, this 1987 gem of a movie still stands today as one of the most original, humorous and bizarre comedy adventures to date.
This film has it all; quicksand; fire swamps; giants; monsters and, errr... ‘Rodents of Unusual Size.’
Structured as a story-within-a-story, complete with star turns by the swashbuckling Cary Elwes and enchanting Robin Wright who appear as the ill-fated lovers.
It’s a perfect romantic comedy. Our couple fall in love instantly, there is no need for words and as an audience member, you don’t want to hear them.
Under the meticulous direction of Rob Reiner (his second film in the top 5, the other being Spinal Tap) Chris’ Sarandon and Guest shine as the dastardly Prince Humperdinck and Count Tyrone Rugen and top it off with one of cinema’s finest cameos (Billy Crystal, in case you’re wondering) and you have the perfect, quirky, fairytale comedy (if there is such a genre.)
Click here to buy The Princess Bride on DVD
- 24 Hour Party People (2002)
24 Hour Party People chronicles the life of Tony Wilson, Factory Records, The Hacienda and all who came through her doors during the infamous 'Madchester' scene.
Boasting subtle and absolutely spot-on performances from John Simm, Andy Serkis and Paddy Considine, it really is a master-class in acting.
Steve Coogan stars as Tony Wilson; journalist, record mogul and club owner, who shepherds the audience through the world of the Manchester music scene, an era which herald easily some of the finest bands to have come out of England in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Directed by Michael Winterbottom and written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, 24 Hour Party People features cameos from a large number of Manchester music luminaries
Click here to buy 24 Hour Party People on DVD
- Colour Me Kubrick - A True...ish Story (2006)
The bizarre and incredibly true story of Alan Conway; an Englishman who spent the 90s convincing the general public that he was the reclusive and very American director, Stanley Kubrick.
Despite looking and sounding nothing like him, Conway kept up the ruse, promising stardom, money, investment and more and return for free food and sexual favours...
Run For Your Wife is out now.
Tagged in Monty Python