Required Reading: Comedy Screenplays

[darrenm]

I know that I don't read nearly as many screenplays as I ought to, and I'm sure there are a few more on this board in the same boat. To correct this deficiency of mine, I'd love if people could point me in the direction of the MUST-READ comedy screenplays out there. I'm picking comedy because that's what I write and that's what I need to read more of, but feel free to make your own threads for horror, action, etc.

I'll start it off with a couple I've read that I really enjoyed:

1) The Graduate -- Although I do feel the second half is less than believable (marriage seems to happen rather quickly amongst these kids, or maybe it was a different era), it's still one hell of a screenplay. The characters, the tension, the dialogue... it's a great script.
2) American Pie -- Despite its juvenile humour and low brow reputation, this is a rock-solid comedy screenplay. It's very easy and enjoyable to read (which is no doubt why it sold), but it somehow does that with four different main characters, each with a separate romantic interest. The characters are also very well defined, even the minor ones.

[tcsp]

Maybe 'The Producers' although some say it needs a better resolution? I don't know how it went in the US but it was a big hit in England, it's always on TV.

And Hoffman declined the lead to be in The Graduate, with Anne Bancroft...

[trellicktower]

I love reading The 40-Year-Old Virgin, even just for the scene near the beginning where they're sitting around playing poker, and Steve Carell is bluffing about all the sex he's had.

"Back door, side door..." etc.

Cracks me up everytime. A great comedic scene.

[Jeff Messerman]

See attached.

'nuff said?


(shhh.... I may be breaking the Proboard rules a bit by posting this so keep it on the Q.T. and very hush hush, 'k?)

Attachments:

[darrenm]

Feb 18, 2010 16:38:42 GMT -5 trellicktower said:

I love reading The 40-Year-Old Virgin, even just for the scene near the beginning where they're sitting around playing poker, and Steve Carell is bluffing about all the sex he's had.

"Back door, side door..." etc.

Cracks me up everytime. A great comedic scene.

Interesting! I really enjoy the movie, but I found the screenplay to be quite bland. I feel that the movie improved upon it because of the great cast and the insane amount of improv done. It (along with Wedding Crashers) are two movies where I was somewhat let down by reading the screenplay.

Thanks for your input! Also, thank you TCSP and Jeff -- I enjoy both movies, and look forward to reading the screenplays.

[violet]

I think my favorite comedy has got to be Goodbye Lenin. Wish I could read the script, but I don't speak German. My other favorite, Divorce, Italian Style, is also in Italian.

[lazzard]

Very hard to find a decent copy but "Withnail & I" is a masterpiece.
The original slacker movie.

[poindexta]

Has anyone read the Desperados script (2010 Blacklist)? It is very good.

[darrenm]

Feb 24, 2010 22:12:25 GMT -5 poindexta said:

Has anyone read the Desperados script (2010 Blacklist)? It is very good.

I just did a quick look for it, but saw that most of the usual sites had the production companies request that it get taken down. Since they are fighting to keep it out of my hands, I'll respect that decision (for now, anyways!)

[janedonuts]

Tootsie. You must read Tootsie! Hilarious.

[jonnywebb]

I enjoyed Bad Santa, funny dialogue, great descriptions. The Coen Bros revised it (I think). Also Swingers is well put together.

[darrenm]

Feb 25, 2010 3:29:39 GMT -5 janedonuts said:

Tootsie. You must read Tootsie! Hilarious.

I love that movie, and I have the screenplay but haven't read it yet. Thanks for the suggestion!

[attatt]

The great thing about Tootie is that there are a few books about cinema that really dig into why this story works and why the movie works. I echo that suggestion

[martinblank]

The best read of a comedy screenplay ever:

Harold and Maude

Also up there:

Dr. Strangelove

Cheers,
Martin