Greatest Comedy Tournament: First Round Day 8
This is Day 8 of the first round of the Greatest Comedy Tournament! If you haven’t voted on the previous day’s match-ups, they can be found here. Four match-ups will be posted everyday until the first round concludes 9 days from today. Please vote to elect the greatest comedy ever put on film and tell everyone you know to make their opinion count. Each polls will remain open for 72 hours only so don’t forget to cast a vote within that time-frame. If you want to see the full field of play and the seeding, click here.
Please share on Twitter, Facebook and other social medias by using the icons above and on the right of this post. Also make sure to subscribe to our RSS Feed to stay updated on the tournament! Any comments? We would love to hear them!
 |  |
(8) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) | (25) Punch-Drunk Love (2002) |
Directed by Tom Shadyac | Directed by |
Cast: Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc | Cast: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Luis Guzman, Rico Bueno |
IMDb Summary: A goofy detective specializing in animals goes in search of a missing dolphin mascot of a football team. | IMDb Summary: A beleguered small-business owner gets a harmonium and embarks on a romantic journey with a mysterious woman. |
IMDb score: 6.6/10 | IMDb score: 7.4/10 |
Which movie is the best comedy?
- (8) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) (60%, 38 Votes)
- (25) Punch-Drunk Love (2002) (40%, 25 Votes)
Total Voters: 63
 |  |
(8) There's Something About Mary (1998) | (25) Three Amigos (1986) |
Directed by Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly | Directed by John Landis |
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans, Chris Elliot | Cast: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Tony Plana |
IMDb Summary: A man gets a chance to meet up with his dream girl from highschool, even though his date with her back then was a complete disaster. | IMDb Summary: Three unemployed actors accept an invitation to a Mexican village to replay their bandit fighter roles, unaware that it is the real thing. |
IMDb score: 7.2/10 | IMDb score: 6.0/10 |
Which movie is the best comedy?
- (8) There's Something About Mary (1998) (66%, 43 Votes)
- (25) Three Amigos (1986) (34%, 22 Votes)
Total Voters: 65
 |  |
(8) Animal House (1978) | (25) (500) Days of Summer (2009) |
Directed by John Landis | Directed by Marc Webb |
Cast: John Belushi, Kevin Bacon, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst | Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moertz |
IMDb Summary: At a 1962 College, Dean Vernon Wormer is determined to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, but those troublemakers have other plans for him. | IMDb Summary: An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her. |
IMDb score: 7.6/10 | IMDb score: 8.0/10 |
Which movie is the best comedy?
- (8) Animal House (1978) (66%, 42 Votes)
- (25) (500) Days of Summer (2009) (34%, 22 Votes)
Total Voters: 64
 |  |
(8) Election (1999) | (25) Napoleon Dynamite (2004) |
Directed by | Directed by Jared Hess |
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Phil Reeves | Cast: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez |
IMDb Summary: A high school teacher's personal life becomes complicated as he works with students during the school elections. | IMDb Summary: A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home. |
IMDb score: 7.4/10 | IMDb score: 6.9/10 |
Which movie is the best comedy?
- (8) Election (1999) (52%, 32 Votes)
- (25) Napoleon Dynamite (2004) (48%, 30 Votes)
Total Voters: 62
46 Comments
Oof some pretty even matchups today I must say! But I’m going for a bit of nostalgia. I love Paul Thomas Anderson but Punch-Drunk love only passably made it for me. Then again, Ace Ventura isn’t all that great either. But how can one not vote for a crossdressing super kickass villain?
Never been a fan of the Farrelly brothers, or gross out humor, despite Something About Mary being rather good. I can’t vote against The Three Amigos! (just assume I’m doing their hip pump now).
500 Days of Summer how I love thee so. But you’re not Animal House, and you lack Togas and John Belushi. Vote goes to the AH.
Lastly, Election was awesome, Matthew Broderick was hilarious. Napoleon Dynamite, I don’t hate you, I just hate the people who chronically quote you. No offense.
I voted just as Univarn it turns out…apart from I couldn’t bring myself to vote for Ace Ventura over Punch Drunk Love. It’s a shame some very average comedies might get through because they are up against more offbeat humour – namely: Something About Mary over Three Amigos, and Ace Ventura over Punch Drunk Love. But I’m hoping the oddballs win. Election versus Napoleon was difficult but I made my decision on my love of Alexander Payne’s collection of work and therefore voted Election through.
I don’t know, I’d argue that There’s Something About Mary and Ace Ventura are just as “off-beat” as their opponents, what with both featuring a very 1990s sense of humour (although Something About Mary has aged better, in my opnion). I do agree with you, though, that more popular films (obviously) have the advantage. I reckon an average person is more likely to have seen either of those two than their opponents, which probably gives them an advantage, but that’s true in any tournament based on public vote – knowing literally is half the battle.
Oh, this was just so tricky! A lot of good movies are going to die this round. Haha!
Some good matchups today! Surprised to see Punch-Drunk Love up there. I haven’t seen it in a number of years but I remember it being more sad than funny. I’ll have to watch it again.
I would love to see Three Amigos beat Mary.
I’m surprised myself! Never thought much of this often-much hailed movie that some people really hold in their Mecca.
I personally LOATHE “Punch-Drunk Love.” It is bizarre to the point that I just don’t care (as opposed to bizarre to the point that I am so fascinated that I don’t even care if it makes sense – ex. “Eternal Sunshine,” “Pi,” Lady GaGa).
I wrote a scathing review a few months back that was not very well received. Check it out – I’m willing to open this can of worms again … http://marshallandthemovies.com/2010/04/20/punchdrunklove/
Completely agree with your assessment. Punch Drunk Love left me completely unmoved and bored out of my mind. A few amusing scenes here and there but I really don’t see what the fuss is all about.
I’ve seen it a few times a number of years ago and I really liked it. I think the key to enjoying it is being able to really connect with and relate to the Sandler character. I still don’t think it’s worthy of a spot here though. The comedy in Boogie Nights is a lot more funny that what I remember of PDL.
Sorry… PTA has not made a bad movie. Even Hard 8 was good. But PDL is NOT a comedy!
I must be the only person on the planet who doesn’t think PTA is “all that”. I loved There Will be Blood, but Magnolia was just a self-indulgent mope-fest.
I can see why Punch Drunk Love splits viewers. It’s downbeat and unconventional but it’s also brilliantly scripted and highly original. It’s a breath of fresh air for a tired old genre. And Sandler is superb.
However, the argument over whether it is a comedy is rather pointless. It’s here in the tournament so that’s the end of the story. And as I’ve said before, I’m voting for which film is better in my eyes, not which one is more outwardly funny. I probably laughed more times watching Ace Ventura but it’s average at best and not Jim Carrey’s finest by any means. PDL is a way more important piece of work.
The Three Amigos is my number one pick so I’m pulling for it here.
Also would like Ace Ventura and Napolean dynamite to do some winning!
We will prune the hedges of many small villages!
Fuck There’s Something About Mary’s couch. If it really puts Three Amigos out, I’m going to post a retort post spatting my anger and how overrated Mary’s pathetic humor actually is. Give me Dumb and Dumber any day and FUCK mary. again.
Had to go with all the higher seeds today. My disdain for Napoleon Dynamite was satisfied by my love for Election
Can I get in that boat with you on Napoleon? Wonderfully said. I laughed. It’s horrible.
Hop in and man that machine gun!
Napolean is a better comedy and Election is a better film. Napolean suffers from being thrust into the hype it and quote it machine… we all liked it early on… until our Mom’s started wearing “Vote for Pedro” T-shirts!
No I wanted to kick it in the throat from the start.
It had me halfway through. Funny? I don’t know. Uncomfortable? YES YES YES. I’m okay with that.
Napoleon got some laughs from me, but I can see how the excessive hype gets on people’s nerves.
Election! Three Amigos! What a good seed. Sort of surprised that PDL is tying with Ace Ventura, but I totally, totally hated the former movie so there’s that.
No one is rooting against Napoleon Dynamite harder than me. What a pitiful film. Plus, Election is just so damn good.
I think the pairing is actually just perfect. Both high school films about elections… Wonderful little symmetry. Yep, Election knocks Napoleon’s socks off any day of the week.
This might just be my computer, but I thought I should put it out there.
Is anyone else having problems staying in one place on the site? For the past two days, scrolling down on AM has taken me much farther down that I want to go. And every time I try to scroll back up, it takes me back down. Maybe it’s data overload from the comedy tournament stuff, but I just thought I would let you all know in case there’s actually something going on.
Then again, maybe it’s just me…
I haven’t noticed any scrolling/loading issues.
I will try to limit the size of the pictures a bit more as we move forward and have a “Read More…” on all the closed polls instead of displaying the entire table on the homepage. Hope it helps a bit. I know the site has been a bit heavier on content as of late and might load a bit slower.
It has been sexy to me.
Hardest bracket yet. But I will be a bit pissed off if Animal House loses to (500). Put this site on Double Secret Probation is what I’ll do.
It’s a close one! I love (500) Days of Summer but I don’t remember laughing much at it. It’s definitely more a romance than a comedy in my view.
Other way around for me, but it looks like it’s going to lose to Animal House anyway.
Punch Drunk Love > Ace Ventura.
At last a group of movie lovers that doesn’t worship the ground Napoleon Dynamite walks on, and with Election being an underappreciated gem this is an easy decision.
Ace and Mary easily.
It was a close one between 500 days of Summer and Animal house, but i went with the former.
And I agree with everybody here with Napolean. I kinda liked it the first time i watched it, and then everybody else watched it and started quoting it like it was nobody’s business.
AMIGOS RED AMIGOS.
I’m sorry! As much as I love me some Chase and Martin, the movie kinda disappointed me.
Yep, Ace is Jim Carrey at his funniest before he becomes annoying & redundant. I go with Mary because I haven’t seen Amigos, though that poster looks funny!
Pulling for the Three Amigos. Now this is funny Steve Martin. And it taught me how to id a mail plane.
My little buttercup… I’m with you!
It just happens that their El Guapo is the actual El Guapo.
My poor friggin’ Amigos… BTW, 500 Days & Punch Drunk are not comedies… especially Punch Drunk… how is that funny?
Punch Drunk is dark funny. AMIGOS is my favorite comedy ever. I hate this vote.
I’m with Kai on this one. Punch Drunk Love is a dramedy at its very funniest – in the same way that elements of Boogie Nights were funny – I’m not convinced it belongs in the tournament, but such is life. On the other hand, I think (500) Days of Summer is a romantic comedy through-and-through. It just happens to be a rare original one.
Where is the singing bush?
LALALALALALLALA
Excuse me, where is the singing bush?
ALALLALALALLALALALALLALA
Woah! 500 Days against Animal House?? Talk about a blood bath:P Not even close…well looking at the tally I guess it wasn’t a total landslide.
Also, come on people, Amigos should have done the “cookaracha” all over Mary…but I think everyone in the world had a huge crush on Diaz when she debuted with that short cropped hair. That’s why I would have picked it:P
Punch Drunk was the better movie but Ventura was HILARIOUS. Surprised the votes were that close…
Trackbacks