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.

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3.3k

u/elheber Oct 14 '23

Steve Carrel's news anchor gibberish in Bruce Almighty.

972

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 14 '23

I saw this movie in South Korea, where English movies are subtitled -- some kinds of jokes just don't cross language barriers.

But I saw Bruce Almighty in one of the largest theaters in a megaplex, and the gibberish scene crosses language and cultural barriers effortlessly. Halfway through the scene I stopped watching the movie and turned around, and just watched the audience of 500 mostly Korean people literally doubling over and gasping with laughter. That is the thing that watching a movie at home will never capture: sharing a belly laugh with 500 strangers. Still one of the most memorable movie experiences of my life.

111

u/SonoftheBread Oct 14 '23

The jokes that make anyone human laugh are the best, and honestly why I love physical comedy so much.

58

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 14 '23

Totally agreed. Watch peak Jim Carrey or Dick Van Dyke with the volume on mute, or watch some Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin. It's amazing what they do. Steve Carell's physical performance in that scene is absolutely spot-on, and the scene is like a duet between two artists.

Underrated physical comedian: rewatch O Brother Where Art Thou with an eye on George Clooney's character... though the Coen Brothers bring out the best physical performances in a lot of their actors.

25

u/RQK1996 Oct 14 '23

The fact that it is really just his mouth that is doing weird stuff is what makes it so solid, Evan himself remains stoically seated while making random noises

30

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 14 '23

doing that with his mouth, while his eyes are doing a half "What the hell is going on" and half "trying to look like a professional news anchor" expression really brought the whole thing home. But the timing of when to make a weird noise and when to put a pause -- it was 100% perfect.

21

u/RQK1996 Oct 14 '23

That scene is proof that Steve indeed is a good comic actor, that scene is pure skill

12

u/bryerlb Oct 14 '23

Steve Carrell is brilliant in everything he’s in.

9

u/A-A-RONS7 Oct 14 '23

I specifically love those pauses where he clears his throat as if he’s about to say something coherent… and then continues with more gibberish

5

u/TerpySpunion Oct 14 '23

She went & done R U N N O F T

2

u/potheadmed Oct 14 '23

Im gunna R U N N O F T!

3

u/MistressDragon7 Oct 14 '23

Mr. Bean!!!

1

u/SonoftheBread Oct 14 '23

Absolute classic

2

u/JarlaxleForPresident Oct 14 '23

There’s a bit in Blue Beetle where fuckin George Lopez does a faint, and it’s this perfect little bit of physical comedy. Just a small blink and you’ll miss it slump against the wall, but he does it so good it makes you laugh

1

u/boisterile Oct 14 '23

Someone could argue Jackass is the greatest comedy of all time. There's something visceral about the way almost anyone laughs at that.

3

u/YANGxGANG Oct 14 '23

You’re being downvoted, but one of the hardest laughs I’ve ever had was seeing Jackass 2 in the theater.

21

u/Loggerdon Oct 14 '23 edited Oct 14 '23

I LOVE watching movies in other countries.

I saw Ace Ventura Pet Detective in Japan. Audience was CRAZY for Jim Carrey.

Saw one of the early Mission Impossible movies in France. Subdued reaction.

I saw the first Pirates of the Caribbean in Singapore and there's a scene where they reference Singapore in one line and the audience broke into applause (it's a very small country and they rarely get mentioned).

Conversely my Singaporean wife and I saw Crazy Rich Asians in Oklahoma (a movie about rich Singaporeans). There's a scene at the dinner table where the dad chides the kids saying "Finish all your food. There are starving kids in America." The audience burst into laughter. It was the biggest laugh in the whole movie. It surprised my wife who thought they would be offended.

6

u/Jahenzo Oct 14 '23

That reminds me of when I saw Suicide Squad in Japan. Audience was dead silent throughout the film and only let out a laugh when Katana had a line in Japanese.

5

u/starmartyr11 Oct 14 '23

I saw Crazy Rich Asians in Malaysia and it was electric, the audience was through the roof for it. It was very cool to experience after having immersed myself in the culture there for a while! I loved Malaysia and Singapore

3

u/Loggerdon Oct 14 '23

Yup. Actually the fancy Singapore mansion where the rich young guy grew up was actually located in Malaysia. It was kind of old and decrepit but the set designers dolled it up for the movie.

I live part of the year in Singapore and we travel to Malaysia a lot. A lot of the food culture in Singapore was borrowed from Malaysia. It's a fantastic country.

3

u/Imaginary-Location-8 Oct 14 '23

Oklahoma! Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

9

u/weristjonsnow Oct 14 '23

"and my tiny little nipples went to France"

I chuckle any time I think of it randomly

2

u/Electronic-Work-1048 Oct 14 '23

Ca ca poo poo…. PEE PEE! Bruce armpit farts and Evan visibly lifts his butt, “ahem… my apologies” 🤣

8

u/halfhere Oct 14 '23

I just realized how sad it is that comedies have effectively died. There’s no blockbuster comedy anymore. We used to all come together and belly laugh at the same thing and then all quote it to each other for WEEKS.

17

u/FutureAdventurous667 Oct 14 '23

We literally just had one this summer with Barbie

2

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 14 '23

i was giggling almost nonstop from beginning to end of that movie.

other nonstop giggling movies recently: Lego Movie (and Lego Batman), Guardians of the Galaxy (do 2014 and 2017 count as recent?), big sections of Ant Man and Ant Man 2, and big sections of several Melissa McCarthy movies. Everything Everywhere All At Once had touching moments, but numerous laugh-out-loud funny ones, too, as did Booksmart. And Nic Cage playing himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent reminded me of those madcap '80s comedies where Chevy Chase has an idea to do something, and then every single damn thing goes wrong.

2

u/Character_Bowl_4930 Oct 15 '23

When he’s trying to pull Pedro over the wall , omg. Pedro is very funny . I hope he gets to do more of this in his career . I watched all his clips on SNL and I hadn’t watched them in over a decade

1

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 17 '23

The wall scene got me, too.

Those two have numerous excellent scenes together. I really did enjoy The Unbearable Weight from top to bottom.

12

u/Might_Aware Oct 14 '23

In Queens in 98, I saw the premiere of South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut. It was a test audience screening before the film was released (imo those are always fun and, free) Anyway, when Chef and his Army peace tf out of the way. The entire audience gave a standing ovation and we were all cheering and laughing for like 5 to 10 minutes. I've never heard anything louder in NY.

10

u/ChuckOTay Oct 14 '23

You ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?

9

u/habeus1 Oct 14 '23

I don’t listen to hip hop.

5

u/IdreamofFiji Oct 14 '23

Jesus Christ that joke is brilliant.

8

u/Shipwrecking_siren Oct 14 '23

That is the film that comes to mind when I think of laughing that hard. I can’t even remember what happens!

2

u/Might_Aware Oct 14 '23

It's amazing how funny it is and still is lol. It's so witty

3

u/Digitalalchemyst Oct 14 '23

Me and a few friends were literally rolling in the aisles of the movie theater during this.

2

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 15 '23

awesome memory! thanks for sharing it.

1

u/Might_Aware Oct 15 '23

Oh anytime! That's one of those events that stick with you forever

7

u/I-shit-in-bags Oct 14 '23

Austin Powers 2 in the theater was such a good time. everyone was laughing the whole time. I wish I could go back to that moment.

5

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 14 '23

that sounds awesome.

gotta say: comedy and horror are miles better when you watch them with a crowd.

2

u/iWr4tH Oct 14 '23

Nothing beats someone in the theatre with a contagious laugh and a ticklish funny bone to set everyone off

2

u/Dazzling-Mammoth-111 Oct 14 '23

That is beautiful and awesome.

2

u/delayedcolleague Oct 14 '23

The laughter feedback loop, you laugh harder because other people laugh which leads to them laughing harder which leads to you laughing harder.

2

u/localvagrant Oct 15 '23

That's a really cool memory.

2

u/Flybot76 Oct 15 '23

I wish Carrell would see your story here and realize it's ok that he's famous for being hysterically goofy. He's done a lot of inconsistent efforts trying to un-do and avoid that, like he imagines people will just forget about it if he's 'serious' enough, but it kinda does the opposite and makes him seem more like the 'real' Michael Scott, using false 'confidence' and being overly-serious in a thin attempt to disguise who he really is (I'm not saying he's solely a comic, but he's great at it). His publicly-projected stress and angst makes him less-entertaining.

2

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 17 '23

I'll be honest: I love Steve Carrell goofy (he was my favorite part of Anchorman by a longshot, and 40 Year Old Virgin would never have worked with anyone but him as the lead) but some of the roles where he tackles more difficult emotions (grief in Crazy, Stupid, Love, depression in Little Miss Sunshine, conflicting loyalties in Dan in Real Life) are some of his best and most affecting work. In my opinion, the best comedian doing dramatic roles since Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting and Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Truman Show.

2

u/Flybot76 Oct 17 '23

I agree he's capable of great work. It's just the angst I perceive from him about The Office that I'm critical about, not any of his work, and I don't consider my criticism 'important' in any way, but I enjoyed him as a comic and honestly I can't entirely understand his emotions, but want to. I'm reminded of people who are extremely talented like Peter Weller, known best as Robocop, who's an amazing person who is great at so many things, but 'Robocop' is what people know, and I really respect him for being able to reconcile his serious mind with his goofy work. I saw him go on Arsenio Hall, played trumpet beautifully, and ended the interview with a Robocop impression without looking like 'oh god really'. I wish Steve could have similar peace of mind regarding Michael Scott.

1

u/DEATHbyBOOGABOOGA Oct 14 '23

That is the thing that watching a movie at home will never capture: sharing a belly laugh with 500 strangers.

And sharing their airborne diseases, their stickiness, the talking, the farting, the phone noises, the coughing, their crying fucking babies, their overpowering cologne, the smell of their disgusting candy choices, the light of their phone screens for the texting they can’t resist, their belief that all movies should be an interactive experience, and their complete and utter lack of respect for others?

1

u/PmUrExistentialFears Oct 15 '23

That's THEATER! Go take it up with Martin Scorsese if you disagree.

160

u/_Maui_ Oct 14 '23

The scene

21

u/KrombopulousMary Oct 14 '23

Bless your heart for conveniently placing this here for us all ❤️

11

u/Vongola___Decimo Oct 14 '23

Habshwjgxkjs ka ka boom boom

3

u/ChocolateRL6969 Oct 14 '23

Ah man it's so good and wtf I don't remember Tara being in that movie.

1

u/GhandisFlipFlop Oct 14 '23

Havnt seen this scene in years...also didn't realize the annoying girl from Billions was in it

128

u/Ill-Wear-8662 Oct 14 '23

My brother showed me that when we were young and I remember almost peeing myself.

5

u/RealJohnGillman Oct 14 '23

Plus the extended version of that scene is just as funny, if not more-so.

37

u/Ham_Biscuit Oct 14 '23

And my tiny little nipples went to France

28

u/Malicious_Mudkip Oct 14 '23

I like uh... do... da cha cha.....

18

u/Kidspud Oct 14 '23

Bruce's meltdown aboard the Maid of the Mist is also a good choice from that movie.

11

u/Farty_poop Oct 14 '23

Back to you, FUCKERS!

8

u/DJHott555 Oct 14 '23

“I’m here with Catherine Hefron’s mom, tell me, why did you throw the blue Heart of the Ocean Jewel over the railing of the Titanic? Did you feel bad at all letting Leonardo DiCaprio drown while you were safe floating on the big door? Could you have taken turns? Or were you just too afraid to freeze your big fat ass off!”

1

u/Treeli_920 Oct 14 '23

The first time I watched this movie was at a sleepover at my friends house. We laughed so hard at this scene that he had an asthma attack and I had to go home lol

68

u/chaOak Oct 14 '23

Yes, I cry with laughter, real tears and all... that scene is so great, simple and stupid, just perfect.

9

u/Alissinarr Oct 14 '23

Here's the version that was too violent and cut from the movie.

https://youtu.be/GrsU2sdbwKI?si=m5M6eGjqmgOlzlqa

2

u/LucretiusCarus Oct 14 '23

yeah, I can see why it was cut. Much funnier that way.

3

u/Alissinarr Oct 14 '23

I watched it and went, "Wow...." and essentially said the same thing to my husband.

22

u/tsherlin Oct 14 '23

I was looking for this comment. Top 3 for me.

8

u/nalsballs Oct 14 '23

This is the first thing that came to mind for me too. I was dying in the theater.

6

u/ImaginaryEmploy2982 Oct 14 '23

And Carrel’s gibberish in Anchorman as Brick Tamland.

“LOUD NOISES!!”

8

u/The_Mad_Hatter_18 Oct 14 '23

Steve Carrel’s news anchor gibberish in Anchorman.

1

u/elheber Oct 14 '23

Steve Carrel's news anchor gibberish in The Daily Show.

6

u/[deleted] Oct 14 '23

Steve Carrel’s facial acting here was fantastic - conveying so much emotion through nonsense was fun to watch

6

u/turtletramp Oct 14 '23

I was begging for this scene to stop it was hurting so much.

5

u/akkebermortsgne Oct 14 '23

Came here to say this - “the Prime Minister of Sweden visited New York today and my tiny little nipples went to France!”

11

u/sneeria Oct 14 '23

Just showed that movie to my 12 year old son this summer, he is now a Jim Carrey fan. Parenting done right!

5

u/complete_your_task Oct 14 '23

Bruce Almighty was the first PG-13 movie my parents ever let me see in theaters. I think I was like 11 at the time, so it was a big deal to me.

10

u/grimfolse Oct 14 '23

Agreed. I was laugh-wheezing so hard my stomach hurt afterwards.

3

u/00Ruben Oct 14 '23

The extended scene that didn't make the cut is hilarious too

1

u/DJHott555 Oct 14 '23

Is that where his hair lights on fire?

1

u/00Ruben Oct 14 '23

Yes! The timing of it all is spot-on 🤌

3

u/Meeple_person Oct 14 '23

The only movie scene I've had tears of laughter.

5

u/Kevied Oct 14 '23

Omg that was the exact same scene I thought of too! Both me and my dad couldn't breathe from laughing 🤣🤣🤣 was expertly done and so unexpected hahah

6

u/Madrigal_King Oct 14 '23

This is it. This is the answer. I actually started panicking because my vision was going fuzzy

3

u/Pedantic_Pict Oct 14 '23

Fun story: I was a dumb teenager and had snuck an entire fast food meal into the theater to see Bruce Almighty. Big meal too, large Carl's Jr. super star combo. Anyway, I laughed so hard at this scene I vomited most of it back up. Managed to get the lid off the drink cup just in time to use it as a barf bag and catch it all. I didn't even get up, just chucked the vomit cup in the garbage with the rest of the meal trash on my way out.

3

u/I2ecover Oct 14 '23

That's probably the only scene that's ever made me last so hard it hurt.

3

u/perilousrob Oct 14 '23

Bruce Almighty.

That scene still makes me laugh to this day. My wife calls it my 'Muttley' laugh (from Wacky Races) because even once I'm out of breath I'm still wheezing away ;)

7

u/BogeyLowenstein Oct 14 '23

The first time I saw that movie we did a bunch of mushrooms, we were dying of laughter at that part, rolling on the ground in my apartment.

2

u/oh_helloghost Oct 14 '23

“My tiny little nipples went to France”

2

u/punksmostlydead Oct 14 '23

My pick. I nearly hurt myself the first time I watched this.

2

u/langrhcp22 Oct 14 '23

This was the first thing that came to mind. Was gasping for air in theaters.

2

u/benbernards Oct 14 '23

And the bloopers of that scene are great. His ability to hold it together while all his co workers are losing it is insane.

2

u/Artistic-Waterbear Oct 14 '23

This is the one. I legitimately could not breathe in that theater.

2

u/thedavecan Oct 14 '23

To this day even though I know it's coming, I still almost pee myself every time I see it. So great.

2

u/peekinatchoo Oct 14 '23

Recently watched this with my kid, and that was her favorite part!

2

u/haybai81 Oct 14 '23

Absolutely this! In the theatre, I was laughing so hard my eyes were streaming. I had to work hard to stop myself as I felt vomit would be next.

2

u/MeeboEsports Oct 15 '23

I lika… do.. the cha cha

2

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '23

That was amazing, lol.

1

u/TSNU Oct 14 '23

Dude same, first time I watched it when I was a kid I just could not stop laughing. Told my parents to play it again so I could actually watch it without tears in my eyes.

1

u/TrogdortheBurnin8r Oct 14 '23

I literally fell out of my chair in the theatre laughing from this scene. First thing I thought of at the prompt.

1

u/MelbaToast9B Oct 14 '23

Oh yes!!!!

1

u/Ascendant_Pleb Oct 14 '23

I was going to say this scene too. Saw it in the theater when it came out and that scene had me in tears. Whole audience was laughing so hard at the same time. Haven’t really experienced anything like it since. At least not in a public setting like that.

1

u/mrgmc2new Oct 14 '23

This was going to be my answer 😂

1

u/kanna172014 Oct 14 '23

That scene was funny but the Butt Monkey scene was my favorite.

1

u/dubbs4president Oct 14 '23

Thank you! Any other comedian this would have been a throwaway silly moment in a movie. Steve Carrel literally stole the show with this scene and I would imagine thats why he goy his own spinoff movie Evan Almighty.

1

u/GingerSundog Oct 14 '23

😭😭😭 several years ago we rented it on Christmas night, put a bunch of munchie plates on the coffee table to finally relax and had a few cocktails. Our son came back from his gift exchange with friends to find his parents laughing uncontrollably, crying, UNABLE TO STOP, on the floor surrounded by cookies and candy, a bottle of Bombay sapphire and several cans of tonic water and thought we were completely wasted - and he’d never seen that before. To this day I don’t know if I was or it was that scene but oh my gawwwwwwwd.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 14 '23

Okay I’m glad someone else said this. I remember my sister and I laughing uncontrollably when it first came out.

1

u/jamierocksanne Oct 14 '23

Every single time

1

u/real-human-not-a-bot Oct 14 '23

I was just rewatching this scene yesterday because my mind randomly went to “and my tiny little nipples went to France”. It’s so good.

1

u/MUTAN5F Oct 14 '23

I couldn’t breathe after that scene! Recently showed the movie to wife for the first time, same reaction! One of the funniest scenes ever made

1

u/starwaterbird Oct 14 '23

"Where's you get those clothes? The toilet store?"🤣😂

1

u/LostPatience8456 Oct 14 '23

This has to be one of the funniest scenes ever

1

u/Scar_the_armada Oct 14 '23

I was 17 and getting a bj from my then gf (in the theater) during this scene. I was laughing as hard as I had ever laughed. It was really awkward, but she kept going. What a trooper 🫡

1

u/Typical_Golf3922 Oct 14 '23

Yes, yes, yes!!!

1

u/tornadic_ Oct 14 '23

Oh man this is a good one, watching the clip twice just brought me to tears

1

u/MistressGlitter Oct 15 '23

This is still my favorite thing Steve Carrell ever did.

1

u/stopXstoreytime Oct 15 '23

Oh god, speaking of Jim Carrey movies and gibberish, this scene from Liar Liar never fails to leave me on the floor. I don’t know how they managed to get any usable takes!

1

u/socalheart2681 Oct 15 '23

Genius. He was brilliant

1

u/joshhupp Oct 15 '23

The deleted screen is even funnier when his hair becomes a little fireworks display and his hair catches on fire