Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore may have paved the way for female comedians, but it’s only relatively recently that female comic actors have been afforded rich opportunities to showcase their talent, in a way that risks their sexy, sultry image for a pay-off of solid laughs. The movie Bridesmaids is the latest girls-only comedy, but we thought we’d remind you of nine more from the back catalogue, that will have you rolling with laughter.
1. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Do you remember poor little Bridget (Renée Zellwegger), and her hilarious misdemeanors in the game of love? Will she fall for the sexy, funny and uber-confident bad boy Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), or like her British predecessor from Austin’s pen, is the affable Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) worth the wait? This is a film that really understands the mishaps of the modern world of dating—hilarious!
2. Legally Blonde (2001)
What woman hasn’t gone to extremes to chase the man of her dreams? Elle (Reese Witherspoon) is no different; only this pink-clad, Barbie-esque blonde surprises all when she follows her sweetheart to Harvard Law School, and actually discovers that there is a whole lot more to her primped and preened package. Sweet and funny, this is a must for girls who know that there are hidden emotional depths and smarts beneath their fabulous looks.
3. The Wedding Singer (1998)
Drew Barrymore has had many evolutions throughout her career, but her role as Julia in The Wedding Singer has to be one of her finest comedic moments. With a unique 80s flair, the movie transported the viewer effortlessly through every bad hair day and lycra clad moment that lies in our past; and with Adam Sandler also starring, you can’t help but laugh at this musically charged calamitous affair.
4. Muriel’s Wedding (1994)
Australian comedies have excelled at self-deprecation, and Muriel’s Wedding – which launched the career of Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths – is no exception. Funny, frightening and all-too-familiar, Muriel’s Wedding is a great Aussie offering to the female comedy genre.
5. Sister Act (1992)
When police protection is needed, Vegas showgirl and mobster’s girlfriend, Delores (Whoopi Goldberg), soon finds herself hiding in one of the most unusual places—posing as a nun. Used to a life of love and liquor, Delores has to make some seriously funny adjustments and ends up taking a fabulously funny senior cast (including Maggie Smith) along for a laugh-out-loud ride. Lots of great sing-along moments abound.
6. Miss Congeniality (2000)
Hardened cop Gracie (Bullock), who’s not in touch with her fabulously feminine side, goes undercover in the Miss America Pageant, and learns that the life of beauty isn’t quite as soft as she first suspected. This film captures a time when Sandra Bullock was genuinely funny—before she started to take herself a little too seriously. And, with a waxing scene to die for, and a bevvy of gorgeous, yet vacuous beauty pageant contestants to laugh at, there is something truly satisfying about this satirical cop comedy.
7. Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion (1997)
Love it or hate it, Romy and Michelle (played by Lisa Kudrow, at the height of her Friends fame, and Mira Sorvino) is a revealing take on the continuing sense of importance of being ‘high-school cool’ that can infiltrate (and debilitate) our adult lives. Complete with a classic dance sequence, and carried along irresistibly by the sardonic wit of Janeane Garofalo, this is a sweet comedy with a few cringe-worthy moments.
8. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
With Jamie Lee Curtis stealing this all-out madcap malady and making it her own, A Fish Called Wanda has to be included in our line-up. When four B-grade criminals team up to commit a well-planned crime, they soon find they are well out of their depth and begin to turn on one-another. And with comedy greats John Cleese and Kevin Kline along for the ride, it becomes a hilarious caper film that just screams out to be watched and re-watched.
9. Clueless (1995)
Alicia Silverstone, joined by Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd, combine romance with raucous laughs, as the vacuous lives of teenagers are ridiculed in this fun comedy about growing up (extremely wealthy in Beverly Hills). This princess parody is well worth pursuing Rollin with my homies…
No female comedy list would be complete without a few honourable mentions, and although more Rom than Com, we’d also encourage you to hunt through the back catalogues for Pretty in Pink, 10 Things I Hate About You, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Pretty Woman, Love Actually, Music and Lyrics, Notting Hill, and 27 Dresses.
