The 2000s were decades filled with some truly funny comedy movies, but plenty of hilarious releases have been mostly forgotten by modern audiences. Although this was the decade where Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, and Ben Stiller achieved major success at the box office and Judd Apatow’s unique brand of comedy took over, there were some movies that came and went without leaving a lasting impact. However, this did not make them any less effective, and many of these forgotten comedies deserve to be revisited.
Thebest comedies of the 2000swere often crude and raunchy with plenty of over-the-top energy, although some of the most underrated and forgotten movies from this era were far subtler and valued sentimental more. Other comedies from shortly after the dawn of the millennium lacked the originality needed to make a lasting impact and were consumed and quickly forgotten by viewers. Whatever the reason,these 2000s comedies have been left out of the conversation by mainstream audiences.
Employee of the Month
Cast
Employee of the Month is a comedy that revolves around two rival coworkers vying for the coveted title of employee of the month at a discount superstore, leading to a series of humorous and competitive antics. Set in a retail environment, the film explores themes of ambition, competition, and workplace relationships, highlighting the lengths individuals will go to earn recognition and success in their jobs.
Almost ten years before the NBC sitcomSuperstorerealized the comedic potential of big-box chain stores,Employee of the Monthexplored a similar premise but has been mostly forgotten by modern viewers. With a talented cast including Dane Cook, Dax Sherpard, and Jessica Simpson, hot off her recent success inDukes of Hazard, this lighthearted film was a glimpse into mainstream broad comedies of the mid-2000s, before cruder Judd Apatow-style releases had become the norm. WhileEmployee of the Monthreceived mixed reviews upon release, looking back, this comedy still boasted plenty of laughs.
The real issue withEmployee of the Monthwas that although Simpson had the looks needed to portray a bombshell leading lady, she didn’t have the comedic talent or acting chops to sell a comedy like this fully. Unfortunately,Employee of the Monthlacked the satirical bite of other workplace comedies likeClerksorOffice Spaceand, for this reason, hasn’t had the lasting impact as those cult releases. If given the choice to go back and revisitEmployee of the Monthor rewatchthe best episodes ofSuperstore, the America Ferrera sitcom will win every time.
The New Guy
The New Guy is a teen comedy directed by Ed Decter. DJ Qualls stars as Dizzy, a high school misfit who reinvents himself as a cool new student after a stint in jail. With the help of his new friends, Dizzy takes on the school bullies and attempts to win the heart of the most popular girl in school.
As the story of a nerdy high schooler given a chance to reinvent himself at a new school,The New Guywas a heartfelt teen comedy packed with cringe and gross-out humor. With DJ Qualls as Dizzy Gillespie Harrison, a funk music-obsessed teen with a love of video games who was branded an eternal loser in ninth grade, this story of second chances highlighted the woes of high school’s rigid social hierarchy and unspoken rules of popularity. With a new name, hairstyle, and attitude, Dizzy learned that a change of identity could transform his whole life.
There was some poignant sentimentality at the heart ofThe New Guy’snarrative, but its silly sequences and lackluster humor often missed the mark. While viewers will have a good time revisiting this story of school social systems, it’s also been forgotten for a reason, as it never delivered on its concept enough to truly endure two decades later.The New Guywas a modest success when it was released, but unlike Dizzy’s popular reinvention of himself, it didn’t make much of an impact in the long term.
Saving Silverman
Saving Silverman is a comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It follows childhood friends Wayne, J.D., and Darren as they plot to break up Darren’s engagement with his controlling fiancée Judith, whom they believe is ruining Darren’s life. Starring Jason Biggs, Steve Zahn, and Jack Black, the film explores themes of friendship, misguided loyalty, and extreme measures in their attempts to save Darren from what they see as a disastrous match.
Oneunderrated Jack Black moviethat viewers have forgotten about wasSaving Silverman, a bromance movie that outdated later Judd Apatow productions likeI Love You, Man. With Jason Biggs as a soon-to-be-married young man, his childhood best friends and bandmates, played by Black and Steve Zahn, do everything they can to stop him from marrying his domineering and emotionally manipulative fiancé. With plenty of laughs throughout,the comedic duo of Black and Zahn was what saved this by-the-numbers comedy from mediocrity.
WhileSaving Silvermanwas often crude and over-the-top in its gross-out humor, it also featured great chemistry between the entire cast. Amanda Peet, in particular, deserved praise for her characterization of the overbearing and unlikable fiancé that led Biggs' character’s friends on a mission to destroy their soon-to-be marriage. While Black gained his breakout role the previous year withHigh Fidelity,Saving Silvermanwas an exciting look at his unique comedic talents in the early days of his acting career.
Smiley Face
Smiley Face is a stoner comedy directed by Gregg Araki, featuring Anna Faris as Jane, an out-of-work actress who unknowingly consumes a batch of pot-laced cupcakes. The film follows her increasingly bizarre and misadventurous day as she attempts to accomplish a series of errands under the influence. Co-starring John Krasinski and Adam Brody, the narrative offers a light-hearted and comical view of Jane’s journey through a haze of unintended consequences.
While 2000s stoner movies likeHarold & Kumar Go to White CastleandPineapple Expresshave gained devoted fanbases,Smiley Facewas an excellent comedy rarely spoken about today. With Anna Faris as Jane F., a frequent marijuana user who unwittingly eats a plate of cupcakes laced with cannabis, this story of one wayward woman trying to get through her day was packed with off-the-wall humor. With a bafflingly stoned protagonist, what could have been a simple day turned into a series of absurd misadventures for Jane.
Smiley Facewas genuinely funny, and it’s a mystery why it hasn’t built up a reputation as a true cult classic in the stoner movie genre. Faris delivered an exceptional, anxious-ridden performance asJane’s day became increasingly convoluted and hard to manage. While this movie would surely give some marijuana users a case of the giggles,Smiley Facewas so well-paced and featured such outrageously hilarious sequences that viewers will be laughing along even if they haven’t ingested some questionable cupcakes in advance.
The Foot Fist Way
The Foot Fist Way follows the story of a brash Taekwondo instructor whose overconfidence and personal dilemmas create chaos both in his dojo and his life. As he navigates through personal and professional challenges, his unorthodox teaching methods are put to the test, revealing his vulnerabilities and a quest for redemption.
For lovers of Danny McBride’s unique comedic style,The Foot Fist Waywas a highly underrated 2000s comedy that should not be overlooked. As the story of a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo who runs his own dojang in a small North Carolina town, it’s impossible not to notice the similarities between McBride’s Fred Simmons and the characterization of Johnny Lawrence in the laterKarate Kidspin-off seriesCobra Kai.The Foot Fist Waycaptured the hilarity of a crude and abrasive martial arts teacher years before the same concept found major success throughthe Miyagi-verse.
WhileThe Foot Fist Waydidn’t gain the same kind of cult following as later McBride vehicles likeEastbound & Down, it was still a hilarious martial arts comedy from director and co-writer Jody Hill. With outrageous sequences and a sharp script,The Foot Fist Wayhas been lying dormant, just waiting to be rediscovered by a new audience of comedy lovers. Don’t sleep on this one because it’s a total knockout.
Blades Of Glory
Blades of Glory is a 2007 sports comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck. It stars Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as rival figure skaters who are banned from the sport and must team up to compete in pairs figure skating. The film explores their journey from animosity to an unlikely partnership as they strive to overcome personal and professional challenges in their quest for redemption on the ice.
Will Ferrell was one of the biggest comedy box office draws of the 2000s and had so many hilarious releases during that time that have been sadly been forgotten. Nestled between classics likeTalladega NightsandStep Brotherswasthe woefully underrated ice-skating comedyBlades of Glory. Following a pair of banned ice skaters who discover a loophole that lets them compete once again, this hilarious parody was packed with non-stop jokes and deserves far more attention.
The comedic pairing of Ferrell with Jon Heder was a match made in heaven, which, coming just a few short years after his breakout role inNapoleon Dynamite, highlighted his often underutilized comedic talents.Blades of Glorywas genuinely hilarious, and the fact that it’s not spoken out in the same vein as Ferrell classics likeAnchormanorElfwas a real shame. While some viewers may have forgotten aboutBlades of Glory, they won’t regret it if they decide to revisit this undervalued sports comedy classic.
Death to Smoochy
Death to Smoochy (2002) is a dark comedy that delves into the cutthroat world of children’s television. The film follows a disgraced host’s vengeful scheme to take down his saccharine replacement, Smoochy the Rhino. Directed by Danny DeVito, the movie explores themes of revenge and redemption in a satirical examination of the entertainment industry.
While discussion around the directing career of Danny DeVito often gets overshadowed by his 1990s success withMatilda,Death to Smoochywas an enjoyable 2000s comedy that rarely gets recognized by modern viewers. With a cast including Robin Williams and Edward Norton, this satirical black comedy set in the world of children’s entertainment had a uniquely odd premise. Williams played a disgraced former kids’ TV host who attempted to sabotage the career of his replacement for his character Smoochy the Rhino.
Death to Smoochyreceived poor reviews upon release, as critics responded negatively to its over-the-top concept and provocative script. However, looking back on it today, the film was a clever and cynical glimpse into the darker side of DeVito’s comedic leanings. WhileDeath to Smoochydid not have much lasting legacy,DeVito would channel this unhinged energy into his character of Frank Reynoldson the long-running FX sitcomIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger Than Fiction (2006) is a drama-comedy that follows Harold Crick, an IRS agent who begins to hear a narration of his life, which leads him to discover that he is a character in an author’s novel. Faced with his impending death, he must navigate his relationship with the author and his own existence. The film explores themes of free will, fate, and the nature of storytelling.
Occasionally, Will Ferrell gave audiences a glimpse into his untapped dramatic talents as an actor, which were on full display in the highly underrated filmStranger Than Fiction. As the story of a man who learned he’s the main character of a novel in which the protagonist was destined to die, this was an insightful and thought-provoking look at the power of fiction and ethical questions around life and death. With a metacontextual spin,Stranger Than Fictionwas one of the most unique and original comedies of the 2000s.
The sweet and poignant script ofStranger Than Fictionmade its humor all the more effective as audiences grew to care about the fate of Ferrell’s Harold Crick. Although it’s made clear that he’s destined to die from the movie’s opening,Stranger Than Fictionhad audiences rooting for his survival as he became increasingly erratic through the knowledge of his own untimely demise.Stranger Than Fictionshowcased a new dimension to Ferrell’s talents and boasted strong chemistry between himself and his co-star Emma Thompson, as his novel’s notorious author.
Role Models (2008)
Although witnessingSuperbad’sMcLovin and Stifler from theAmerican Piefranchise sharing the screen sounds like a recipe for a 2000s comedy classic,Roles Modelshas been largely forgotten by mainstream viewers. With a cast including Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, this story about two friends forced to become adult role models to children was a cynical comedy that kept the jokes coming throughout. Wildly underrated in the years since its release,Role Modelswas ranked the number one comedy of 2008 byIGN.
With plenty of R-rated antics, this ensemble comedy featured strong performances from every single cast member. Whether it’s Rudd’s cynical and 30-something energy, Williams’s likable vulgarity, or witnessing Mintz-Please give his all the unusual fantasy world of LARPing,Role Modelswas side-splittingly funny. With the perfect mix of crude humor and genuine heart,Roles Modelsshould be discussed a lot more when it comes to 2000s comedies.
Lars and the Real Girl
Lars and the Real Girl is a drama-comedy film that follows the story of a socially awkward man who forms an emotional bond with a custom-made life-sized doll, which he treats as a real person. The film explores themes of loneliness, acceptance, and the power of community support as Lars' family and friends attempt to help him through his delusion.
Perhaps the reasonLars and the Real Girlhas been mostly forgotten is that it’s just too weird to recommend it to people. However, as one ofRyan Gosling’s best movies, this story about a kind-hearted, socially awkward young man falling in love with an anatomically correct sex doll named Bianca was truly the most underrated comedies of the 2000s. With Gosling exploring a romantic, although not sexual, relationship with a doll, this film touched on topics around the true nature of love and the strange processes people must go through to find meaning in life.
WhileLars and the Real Girlwas a comedy, part of its appeal was in how real it made Gosling’s relationship with Bianca feel. As a therapist encouraged his family to go along with his delusions,Larsand the Real Girl was an off-beat and nuanced exploration of a character who could have come across as a creepy one-note joke.Lars and the Real Girlwas a sweet and innocent comedy, which is not what viewers would usually expect from a movie and a man and his sex doll.
