Warm up with laughter: Comedy ensemble movie playlist
By Lindsay Rice, Staff Writer
February 4, 2008 | 1:50 a.m.
The popularity of comedy ensembles has continued to grow throughout the years and has left viewers with hilarious collections of films perfect for a long winter at Ohio University. Below are the top three movies from three different troupes that should produce enough laughter to keep warm in these cold temperatures.
The ensemble: Jay Chandrasekhar, Steve Lemme, Kevin Heffernan, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske
Also known as: Broken Lizard
Top pick: “Super Troopers”
This group of funny men is spearheaded by one of the men himself, Jay Chandrasekhar, who directed and acted in three of the troupe's films. Chandrasekhar hails from Chicago and attended Colgate University along with the rest of this famous fivesome. They participated in a comedy troupe called Charred Goosebeak as members of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
“Super Troopers,” which was released in 2001, confirmed the talent not only of director Chandrasekhar but of the rest of the ensemble as well. The group's next release, “Club Dread,” graced the silver screen in 2004 and was a quirky mix of a serial killer and comedy. Finally, Broken Lizard came out with “Beerfest” in 2006, which offered a whole new twist on the competition of drinking games. These worthwhile comedies all make this winter playlist because of their extreme antics and offbeat plots. Broken Lizard appears to be staying together, and the ultimate result is success.
The ensemble: Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller
Also known as: The Frat Pack
Top pick: “Starsky and Hutch”
It would be difficult not to know of this next group of entertainers and even more difficult not to include them in a comedic playlist. Vaughn, similar to the men of Broken Lizard, had his beginnings in Illinois, though his small town could not facilitate the success for which he was destined. After struggling in Hollywood for some time, Vaughn caught his break in 1996 with the film “Swingers,” and viewers have been seeing him on the big screen since. The Texan brothers Luke and Owen Wilson fell into careers in the film industry, while Ferrell got his big start with “Saturday Night Live." Born in New York City, Stiller followed in the footsteps of his renowned comedian parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
Three older men who expected to settle down do just the opposite when they begin a fraternity in “Old School.” This popular movie, which was released in 2003 and directed by Todd Phillips, features Vaughn, Ferrell and Luke Wilson. Stiller and Owen Wilson are the primary players in the second movie to make the playlist, “Starsky and Hutch.” This film follows two funky detectives on a drug bust in 1975. The movie, which was released in 2004 and also directed by Todd Phillips, is based on the '70s television show of the same title. “Dodgeball,” which also came out in 2004, made it clear that this comedy ensemble isn't just comprised of goofy guys with senses of humor but also actors with strong work ethics to accompany. Rawson Marshall Thurber directs this story of an underdog dodge ball team in its rise to the top. While each of these celebrated actors maintain an individual career, it is almost certain to be a worthwhile comedy when they collaborate on a film.
The ensemble: Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi, Allen Covert, Peter Dante
Also known as: The Throwback Ensemble
Top pick: “Grandma’s Boy”
The throwback ensemble is not to be overlooked when it comes to comedy. Adam Sandler is one the biggest comedy names in Hollywood, getting his start with “Saturday Night Live” and eventually creating the Happy Madison Productions Co. A natural comedian from the beginning, it didn’t take long for Sandler to pick up the regulars in his films, creating a long span of successful group movies. Steve Buscemi, born in New York, became known for his eccentric bit parts in Sandler’s films. He is also a well-respected actor who has worked with such Hollywood big names as Jerry Bruckheimer and Quentin Tarantino. Allen Covert met Sandler in New York and filmed 12 of his 15 movies with Sandler. Peter Dante followed in Covert’s footsteps, often playing bit roles in Happy Madison films as well.
1998's “Wedding Singer," directed by Frank Coraci, indicated that this group would be sticking together. The film featured Sandler as a down-and-out wedding singer who happens upon love. Soon followed “Big Daddy” in 1999, in which the men teamed up to test their talents with the subject of parenting. Finally, Covert and Dante broke off to act without Sandler and Buscemi in the 2006 film “Grandma’s Boy.” Directed by Nicholaus Goossen, Covert even helped write the script, proving that he didn’t need to ride on the coat-tails of Sandler anymore. The comedy pits Covert as a video game creator who is forced to move in with his grandma, yet he still miraculously gets the girl. The evolution of this group is widespread and is much appreciated by comedic aficionados to this day.
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