Ricky Gervais names his five favourite comedy movies
Long before Ricky Gervais had turned into something of a provocateur for mere provocation’s sake, he was one of Britain’s most respected comedians and writers. As comfortable and witty on stage as he was on script, Gervais led the line when it came to comedic excellence.
With the likes of The Office and Extras under his belt – two of the most significant comedy series of all time – and a string of quality live shows like Animals and Politics, Gervais was well deserving of his title as Britain’s best comic, but his insistence on repeating the same joke thrice has lowered his estimation in the public’s eye somewhat.
Of course, there’s a deep satire that runs throughout Gervais’ comedy, one that many of his critics are somewhat quick to overlook, and that admiration for parody and close-to-the-bone humour comes from his favourite comedy movies of all time, which he once stated on Twitter.
Gervais begins with Trey Parker’s 2004 puppetry comedy film Team America: World Police, in which he, along with his South Park sidekick Matt Stone, delivers a raucous satire of action movies and American patriotism telling of a ridiculous police force who attempt to save the world from the hands Kim Jong Il. That’s typical fare for Parker and Stone, then.
Up next is the legendary mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap, directed by Rob Reiner in his feature directorial debut, released in 1984 and starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer as the members of a fictional English heavy metal band, serving as a satire on the pretentious and outlandish behaviour of rock outfits.
Gervais continues with Airplane!, proving further his admiration for parody and satire, only this time with a focus on surrealism and slapstick comedy. The 1980 Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker movie stars Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty and uses the disaster movie genre as its point of ridicule.
The works of Woody Allen look to be of admiration in Gervais, who chooses his 1972 movie Play It Again, Sam, directed by Herbert Ross, a rare occurrence for Allen, who usually directs the films he writes. Allen stars as a recently divorced film critic who begins dating at the insistence of his best friend and his wife.
Finally, Gervais’ list is rounded off by the legendary Monty Python movie Life of Brian, released in 1979. More satire, this time from the iconic British comedy group, which tells of a young Jewish-Roman man who is born on the same day and next door to Jesus Christ and subsequently gets mistaken as the Messiah.
Ricky Gervais’ five favourite comedy movies:
- Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
- This is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
- Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David and Jerry Zucker, 1980)
- Play It Again, Sam (Herbert Ross, 1972)
- Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
