MovieChat Forums > Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Discussion > Success Of British Comedy - A Myth?

Success Of British Comedy - A Myth?

posted 13 years ago by davesondrums
5 replies | jump to latest

Let me first qualify what I'm about to say before anyone stamps on my head.

I am British, and all of my favourite comedy series are British - I love 'Alan Partridge', 'Only Fools and Horses', 'The Office', 'Extras', and the immaculate 'Fawlty Towers' to mention just a few. In television terms, British comedy is by far my favourite.

However, I don't think British comedy has had nearly as much success when it comes to film. Certainly not in comparison to the heights it's reached on TV.

I'm posting this on the 'Holy Grail' board as it's an obvious example of a genuinely funny British film, but frankly, I didn't have a lot of others to choose from.

How many genuinely funny British films are there?

I can only name a few - 'Holy Grail' was brilliant, as was 'Life of Brian'. I laughed at 'Lock Stock...', and 'Snatch' so I'd include those. And of course 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz'.

After that, I'm struggling.

Although it's very popular, I didn't find 'Withnail and I' in the least bit funny really. Films like 'Johnny English' don't do much for me at all, and I'm not even sure if that qualifies as British anyway.

I suppose some of the early Ealing Comedies are quite good. And films like 'Two Way Stretch' with Peter Sellers are worth noting. But I'm having to go back to the 50s and 60s there.

So am I wrong? Are there any genuinely funny British films that I'm over looking?

Hopefully I am wrong and people will suggest a few gems that I've missed out on.

[–] chris-1826 13 years ago

I'm inclined to agree, we do much better TV comedy than we do film, whereas in America the reverse is true (in my humble opinion). I can't really add any more than the ones you've listed.

Cake or death? Cake please.

[–] taumpy_tears 12 years ago

You're probably right.

Four Lions seems fairly popular but I didn't find it funny at all, & I love Chris Morris' other stuff.

FAQ About Time Travel was decent but not amazing.

I didn't really find Shaun or Hot Fuzz that funny though, just seemed like a very Americanized form of British humour to me, unlike Spaced which was good.

Cemetery Junction (a Ricky Gervais film) was terrible.

Those are really all I've seen though, so maybe I shouldn't judge.

[–] Zz9pza 12 years ago

I don't know maybe

Death at a Funeral
Nuns on the Run
Hard Day's Night
Burke and Hare
4 Weddings and a Funeral
Mr Bean
Carry On Sergeant

I'm sure there are more

I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

[–] wears-alan 12 years ago

Rita,Sue and Bob too
The Supergrass
Apocalypse Now
Guest House Paradiso
Trainspotting
Keeping Mum
The Tall Guy

You are entitled to my opinion, whether you want it or not!!

[–] MartyScorsey 12 years ago

In terms of financial success at least, British comedy is huge.

Two words: Working Title.

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