1100 Best Comedy Movies to Watch (Page 56)

Lisa Kudrow and many other recognizable faces star in this sweet British comedy that feels like a Fleabag take on LGBTQ+ love.

Mae (played by Canadian comedian Mae Martin) is a stand-up comic in London who starts dating a fan, George (Charlotte Ritchie). Up to that point, George had only dated men.

Martin also co-wrote and co-created the show, with Skins’ Joe Hampson, making Feel Good a semi-autobiographical show.

Mae the character is self-destructive, but also funny and sharp. George is lost and unpredictable. Following them as they navigate their new relationship is sometimes funny, more times heartbreaking, but always charming.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Adrian Lukis, Charlotte Ritchie, Lisa Kudrow, Mae Martin, Ophelia Lovibond, Phil Burgers, Ramon Tikaram, Ritu Arya, Sophie Thompson, Tobi Bamtefa, Tom Andrews

Director: Ally Pankiw, Luke Snellin

Rating: TV-MA

There are stories within stories in Fantasmas, which like most of Torres’ work, favors style, theme, and emotion over a straightforward plot. And it works because of Torres’ strong vision: you’re supposed to get lost in his kaleidoscopic world and eventually find yourself through his emotional guides. That’s what makes Fantasmas (and Torres) accessible. There is an undercurrent of relatability in everything he does, so no matter how bizarre and out there his concepts are, real hopes and fears always ground them. There’s his constant dread of being kicked out of his country, and his worry of selling out to suffocating corporations. There’s the isolation of big cities and the limitations of identity. All that in technicolor and dynamic form is what makes Fantasmas (and, again, Torres) so intoxicating to watch.

Genre: Comedy

Actor: Joe Rumrill, Julio Torres, Martine Gutierrez, Tómas Matos

Rating: TV-MA

This ridiculous comedy is about a man who works as a medium between people and their ghosts.

Kevin Pacalioglu sees and communicates with ghosts for a living, but that doesn’t mean he is good at his job. His only friend is also a drug dealer whose services end up worsening Kevin’s motivation even more. In his own words, his living clients “end up wanting to spend more time with the ghosts than me.” So to make ends meet, Kevin ends up accepting ghostly missions from dead clients with unresolved issues.

Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Brandon T. Jackson, Kal Penn, Lucy DeVito, Tyler Labine

With the current deluge of biopics streaming, it’s easy to overlook Clark, Netflix’s fictionalized take on Clark Olofssonm, from whom the term “Stockholm Syndrome” was coined. Bill Skarsgård, Hollywood’s favorite onscreen creep, returns to his native Sweden and plays the titular criminal with such feverish passion that it’s impossible to take your eyes off the screen.

The delirious editing (bordering on excess or camp, depending on your taste) also makes it quite the standout among all the sober real-life adaptations. Clark will surely be hit-or-miss for most people, but its riskiness alone is enough reason to watch. 

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama

Actor: Adam Lundgren, Bill Skarsgård, Hanna Björn, Isabelle Grill, Malin Levanon, Sandra Ilar, Sofie Hoflack, Vilhelm Blomgren

Rating: TV-MA

It's ironic that Pete Davidson is the least interesting part of Bupkis, an autobiographical series about the ins and outs of Davidson's life. The half-hour comedy takes on the same raunchy, stoner, and self-deprecating humor Davidson is known for, so if you've seen some of his stand-up specials, SNL segments, and the film The King of Staten Island (a much better outing, in this writer's opinion), you'll know what to expect in Bupkis: a lot of Davidson revisiting his childhood trauma and poking fun at himself for being the internet's reluctant star.  

That's all fine and funny enough, but what really makes Bupkis much better than your standard sitcom is the people around Davidson. If you can appreciate anything about Davidson, it's his appreciation for the people most others would usually forget after fame. Hometown locals, childhood friends, extended families—they're all here and they all shine much brighter than the series' star. Brilliantly, Joe Pesci plays Davidson's grandfather, Edie Falco his mother, and Bobby Cannavale his uncle. They're fully fleshed and superbly acted, bringing much-needed tenderness and humbleness to the picture. It's a pleasant surprise to see them in a series that is teetering on the verge of self-indulgence. So with Bupkis, you can come out of curiosity, but you will stay for the supporting characters, who truly live up to their role and hold this show up with mighty skill.

Genre: Comedy

Actor: Edie Falco, Joe Pesci, Pete Davidson

Rating: TV-MA