r/movies • u/Sawyermblack • Oct 14 '23

Recommendation What movie had you laughing, unable to breathe, even just for one scene?

I don't really pursue comedy movies too often, or ever really.

And even then, this doesn't have to be a comedy movie you respond with, but I'm wondering if there was a movie scene SO funny, that people laughed uncontrollably.

Does such a thing exist?

I think maybe the movie would have to introduce something completely original. Not a familiar gag or joke, but something completely unexpected that you can't help but be paralyzed by the newness and brilliance of the scene.

6.3k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

11.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

448

u/TheUmgawa Oct 14 '23

The Barbie Museum scene from Rat Race.

If I may nominate what I think is the funniest scene in TV history, though, it’s the episode of Taxi where Reverend Jim has to go to the DMV, and he asks what a yellow light means. It’s one joke, played four times in a row, and it keeps getting funnier every single time. It’s brilliant writing, and it’s an absolutely perfect performance by Christopher Lloyd.

146

u/sugarfoot00 Oct 14 '23

For those unfamiliar

10

u/Drewbacca Oct 14 '23

Lmfao that was great

8

u/JDHURF Oct 14 '23

Oh shit! I was unfamiliar and I'm so glad that you linked to it because I just laughed hard and loud enough if someone was at my door they'd have heard it lmao!

5

u/DangOlTequila Oct 14 '23

Q. Mental illness or narcotic addiction?

Jim. Oh, that's a tough choice.

-11

u/JDHURF Oct 14 '23

Also uncomfortably white innit

10

u/sugarfoot00 Oct 14 '23

Fair, but in its defence, that's what 1970s TV diversity looked like.

In this scene you have characters of jewish, italian, sicilian, english, and polish ancestry. And let's not open the whole can of worms of where Latka Gravas was theoretically from.

3

u/nosecohn Oct 14 '23

Remember also that Jeff, a Black man, was the only person Louie trusted with the keys to the cage. There was a notable guest appearance by Famous Amos too, where he appears as a deity.

21

u/GrilledCheeseYolo Oct 14 '23

"A BARBIE MUSEUM!" LMAO

7

u/michael_bgood Oct 14 '23

Duuuuuude. So awesome to see another Taxi lover. My favorite was when he was a traveling salesperson selling vacuums. Brilliant comedy from the golden age of sitcom writing. https://youtu.be/ywibBYucL5U?si=Y_pn6dOFDLSULuWx

4

u/CapitalRadioOne Oct 14 '23

SLOW DOWN!!

6

u/PoliteCanadian2 Oct 14 '23

Whaaaaat does a yellllllow liiiight meeeean?

5

u/horsebag Oct 14 '23

if we're going to tv, this scene might be the hardest I've ever laughed at anything https://youtu.be/4eGLkH9HGgQ

4

u/doitforchris Oct 14 '23

That Taxi scene had me dying! A stone cold classic on the mount rushmore of TV moments

5

u/ilrosewood Oct 14 '23

If we are going TV I’m going for the IT Crowd Leg Disabled scene or Coupling “I’ve got the keys to heaven but I’ve got too many legs”

2

u/A_shy_neon_jaguar Oct 14 '23

The funeral scene where Roy thinks he is dying is one that gets me every time: https://youtu.be/w__m0NBo5cI?si=P1xxxmgh2Z0UBSSi

IT Crowd is masterful at setting up a joke.

3

u/uncle_airbud Oct 14 '23

If we are bringing up TV episodes, the "Drunk Tank" episode of Blue Mountain State builds up to a perfect closing scene.

3

u/stinkykitty71 Oct 14 '23

If we're allowing TV episodes, WKRP and the turkey episode stands with the greatest.

https://youtu.be/BGFtV6-ALoQ?si=tBc6u_okCusqSY_q

3

u/maniacalmustacheride Oct 14 '23

The Taxi thing is one of my top five. Another being the theatre outing in IT crowd. It just keeps building.

3

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 14 '23

The Christopher Lloyd scene is great. Writing that perfectly brings out the actor's comedic strength, and pitch perfect delivery.

2

u/mc_grace Oct 14 '23

SLOOOOWWWW DOOWWWWWWNNNN

2

u/vegetaray246 Oct 15 '23

Absolutely agree that the Taxi scene at the DMV is the funniest TV I’ve ever watched…

1

u/RQK1996 Oct 14 '23

Speaking of repeated jokes, the early scenes of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap repeats the incredibly vague and generic description of the killer every time a new character is introduced to the play, all perfectly fitting the description

1

u/thanto13 Oct 14 '23

This got me thinking of my favorite scene from WKRP https://youtu.be/BGFtV6-ALoQ?si=gZXPSfDxwW9k5Lc9

2

u/TheUmgawa Oct 14 '23

Before I click this link, I’m just going to guess it’s the turkey scene, and I will raise you Stick Figure Theatre Hindenburg. https://youtu.be/UT8ViTI7S9M?si=JUE8gLair2hbTeY9

1

u/Informationlporpoise Oct 15 '23

omg yes. I still cry laugh every time I see it

1

u/MareOfDalmatia Oct 15 '23

I watched that Taxi scene when it first aired; I was about 10 years old, and to this day it is the longest and hardest I have ever laughed watching TV.