The 1980s were filled with greatcomedy filmswhose legacies have endured for decades and have overshadowed some equally funny movies. Some of the moreoverlooked comedies of the decade went under the radarlargely due to being in competition with successful, star-studded, andhighly quotable films. Audiences who grew up with these movies are likely to have a better time remembering them, but for others, they’ve become forgotten, and unfairly so. These movies have the same top-tier humor as the more recognized and celebrated films in the genre.
Several of the lesser-known comedies are indicative of the other trends in Hollywood at the time. Thanks tothe success of the Brat Pack, many films during the ’80s focused on teenage stories, with a handful of them being told through a comedic lens. Many comedyfilmsduring this time parodied genre classics and a good number of them told sci-fi stories as well. Though they aren’t as remembered as other comedies during the ’80s,these films succeed in getting a genuine laugh out of audiencesand are worth circling back to.
One Crazy Summer
Cast
After graduating from high school, Hoops decides he wants to be an illustrator and goes to spend the summer on Nantucket with a friend and his sister to get his ideas in order. On the way, they save a girl from bikers, but get into trouble.
Starring John Cusack and Demi Moore,One Crazy Summeris a lighthearted romantic comedy that remains humorous to this day. The film follows Cusack’s character as he travels to Nantucket with a few friends the same summer he’s working on his application for the Rhode Island School of Design. Though there’s not much originality in the plot ofOne Crazy Summer,it’s still a film that’s easy to have fun with.
Cusack and Moore have great on-screen chemistry and are supported by an array of entertaining characters. These characters find themselves in humorous feuds with some Nantucket locals, making for a compelling conflict throughout the film. It’s not the best work from the director or the cast, but as far as teen rom-coms go,One Crazy Summernever fails to genuinely entertain and make audiences laugh.
Summer School
Summer School is a comedy film directed by Carl Reiner, featuring Mark Harmon as a laid-back, reluctant teacher named Freddy Shoop who is forced to teach a remedial English class during the summer. Faced with a group of underachieving students, Shoop employs unconventional methods to garner their interest and improve their grades, while also learning valuable life lessons along the way.
The ’80s saw a rise in films centered around teenage experiences, withSummer Schoolbeing one of the films easily forgotten over the years.Summer Schoolstars Mark Harmon as an easy-going high school gym teacher who is responsible for getting a group of unmotivated students to pass a test by the time they are finished with summer school. Harmon’s character is aided by a history teacher (Kirstie Alley), and the film tells a sweet story about mentorship.
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The relationship Harmon has with his on-screen students is endearing, and they wind up learning a lot from each other by the end of the film. Though Harmon and Alley are the true stars of the film and do much of the heavy lifting, the archetypal supporting student roles round out the film well and add to its comedic accomplishments.
Moving
Moving follows Arlo Pear, played by Richard Pryor, as he accepts a job promotion that requires relocating his family from New Jersey to Idaho. The film captures the comedic challenges and mishaps they encounter during the transition, highlighting the chaos and unexpected hurdles of uprooting lives for new opportunities.
Richard Pryor is recognized as one of the most influential stand-up comedians of all time, and he starred in a range of comedy films throughout his career. One of his more overlooked films isMoving, where he plays a man moving across the country from New Jersey to Idaho. During his journey, he comes across a unique set of characters played by actors like Dana Carvey, Rodney Dangerfield, and Morris Day.
Pryor anchors the film with a reliably humorous performance, and Carvey acts as a necessary supporting character who accompanies Pryor’s Arlo Pear on his drive.Movinghasn’t earned the best reviews over the years, and it’s not the most memorable film by any of the actors within it. Still, it has some admirable performances and a good number of effective jokes to keep audiences entertained.
Batteries Not Included
Released in 1987, *batteries not included is a science fiction film directed by Matthew Robbins. The story follows the tenants of a rundown apartment building who are visited by extraterrestrial mechanical life forms offering to help them resist a developer’s eviction plans. Starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, the film blends elements of drama and science fiction, and was produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment.
The story ofBatteries Not Includedwas originally going to be featured on the TV seriesAmazing Stories, butit impressed Steven Spielbergenoughto warrant an entire film to be made.Batteries Not Includedhas an appreciated balance of humor and heart. The film follows an elderly couple, Frank (Hume Cronyn) and Faye Riley (Jessica Tandy), who manage a café and apartment building in New York.
By ’80s standards, the special effects throughout the film hold up incredibly well, as does the film’s humor.
After their building is damaged by a development manager, the couple find help in the form of mechanical aliens. The aliens, known as “Fix-Its,” help repair the building and draw in more customers to the café. By ’80s standards,the special effects throughout the film hold up incredibly well, as does the film’s humor. The distinctive tenants and cartoonish antagonists provide a handful of laughs in the film, especially the latter, who will do whatever it takes to get control of the Riley’s building.
Crimewave
Crimewave, released in 1985, is a dark comedy directed by Sam Raimi that follows Ernest Trend, who hires two exterminators to eliminate his business partner. The situation spirals out of control when the exterminators murder the wrong man, resulting in a chaotic attempt to frame an innocent video surveillance man.
Following the success ofThe Evil Dead,director Sam Raimiset out to make an unconventional comedy film with the help of the Coen brothers. Though fans of the directors are likely to have seenCrimewave, the comedy film has largely been forgotten by general audiences. The film follows its main character (Reed Birney) as he has a flashback to his life adventures leading up to his being sentenced to death.
Crimewaveis ambitious in its attempt to blend slapstick humor with horror and action. While it can be appreciated now for its B-movie qualities, the film flopped at the box office and was received poorly by critics. There was plenty of trouble behind the scenes as well, as Raimi had little control overCrimewaveand was even banned by the production studio from editing the film.
Maid to Order
Maid to Order follows the transformation of spoiled heir Jessie Montgomery, whose irresponsible lifestyle prompts her father’s wish for a change. Enter Stella, a fairy godmother, who rearranges Jessie’s life, leaving her penniless and in need of a maid’s job. Jessie must navigate her new reality to learn valuable life lessons.
Following her roles in films likeThe Breakfast ClubandWarGames,Brat Pack member Ally Sheedyled the comedy fantasy filmMaid to Order.The film puts a unique, comedic twist on the Cinderella tale, and sees Sheedy as an unlikeable, spoiled girl whose reckless behavior results in her father offhandedly wishing he’d never had a daughter. When his wish comes true, Sheedy’s character is greeted by a fairy godmother-like figure (Beverly D’Angelo) who helps her turn her life around.
The spin on the Cinderella story is commendable and is pulled off well, thanks largely to D’Angelo’s pragmatic mentor role and Sheedy’s convincingly self-indulgent persona. While the critical reviews forMaid to Orderare mostly negative,Sheedy stands out as a talented comedic force. She hits every comedic beat and successfully gets audiences on her side as her character evolves throughout the film.
UHF
UHF is a 1989 comedy film featuring an eccentric new manager tasked with rescuing a struggling UHF television station from financial collapse. Through a collection of bizarre and unconventional programming choices, the film explores the challenges and comedic endeavors undertaken to revitalize the station’s fortunes.
Known best for his comedy songs,“Weird Al” Yankovic starred in his first leading film roleinUHF, which he also co-wrote with director Jay Levey. InUHF, Yankovic plays a man who is handed the responsibility of managing a local TV station. There, Yankovic’s character finds success with the series of humorous shows he releases but finds himself in conflict with a rival station’s CEO. During its release,UHFwas up against stiff competition and ultimately didn’t perform all that well.
Therefore, audiences outside of Yankovic’s fan base are likely to have forgotten about the film’s existence, which is unfortunate.UHFfeatures an assortment of hilarious performances and is undeniably goofy in the best way. Despite its inability to catch on when it was first released,UHFdid find its audience when it was released on home video andis now viewed as a cult classic.
Better off Dead
Better off Dead is a 1985 teen romantic comedy directed by Savage Steve Holland. The film stars John Cusack as Lane Myer, a high school student who becomes despondent after his girlfriend breaks up with him. Amidst his comedic and dramatic attempts to win her back, Lane eventually finds new perspectives on life and love through his interactions with friends and a new romantic interest.
Leaning into dark and surreal humor is the teen comedyBetter Off Dead. Starring John Cusack as a self-loathing teen struggling to cope with being dumped by his girlfriend. Consumed by his heartbreak, Cusack’s Lane decides taking his life is the only way to move forward. Such a start already makesBetter Off Deadstand apart from other teen comedies of the decade, though this contrast didn’t initially land with critics.
In recent years,Better Off Deadhas garnered a cult following for its unique brand of humor that’s more common in today’s films.
As the protagonist, Cusack is charming and comfortable in his role, playing the type of character that pops up frequently throughout his filmography. Surprisingly,the film’s comedic elements mesh well with its more intense scenesand themes regarding mental health. In recent years,Better Off Deadhas garnered a cult following for its unique brand of humor that’s more common in today’s films.
Top Secret!
Top Secret! is a 1984 satirical comedy directed by Jim Abrahams and David Zucker. Starring Val Kilmer as Nick Rivers, an American rock star, who becomes embroiled in a resistance movement in East Germany. The film humorously blends elements from spy thrillers and musical comedies, delivering a quirky narrative set against a Cold War backdrop. The ensemble cast includes Lucy Gutteridge, Omar Sharif, and Peter Cushing.
Following the success of the disaster comedy filmAirplane!, the filmmaking trio known as ZAZ madean ’80s action filmthat was a hodge-podge of references audiences weren’t prepared for. From Elvis Presley musicals to classic spy films depicting the Cold War era,Top Secret!has it all.Val Kilmer leads the filmas Nick Rivers, an American rock star who gets caught up in a German underground resistance movement.
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As expected,Top Secret!has the same brand of comedy asAirplane!, but this time around, the non-stop output of gags and parodied moments failed to make as strong of an impact on audiences and critics. The film is by no means viewed in a negative light, but the success and legacy ofAirplane!often overshadows the quality ofTop Secret!
The War of the Roses
The War of the Roses is a dark comedy film directed by Danny DeVito, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a married couple undergoing a bitter divorce. As their animosity escalates over the ownership of their home, their lawyer, played by Danny DeVito, watches the chaos unfold.
Having previously worked together on the filmsRomancing the StoneandThe Jewel of the Nile, actors Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito reunite for the dark comedyThe War of the Roses. It’sa film about divorce, with Douglas and Turner as the titular couple. During their divorce, the Roses become increasingly driven by revenge and their desire to take an assortment of material possessions. The two stop at nothing to one-up the other and claim a victory.
The War of the Roseshas an 83% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
The revenge-based humor inThe War of the Rosesis delightfully over-the-top and the direction throughout thefilm is brilliant.The film had great commercial and critical success all over the world, particularly in Germany. Yet, because of its bleak themes and ending, it’s likely a film that’s forgotten when highlighting the best comedies of the ’80s.
