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Ever since the very first movies ever made, people have enjoyed watching comedies and laughing. Fast forward more than one hundred years, and that's still very much the case. Comedy is one of the most popular genres as it not only helps viewers to relax, but also has the power to transcend nations and cultures since people from different countries can find the same things funny.
2012 was a rich year for comedies and spawned plenty of great movies. However, some of the best 2012 comedy movies have sadly been forgotten, despite the fact that they still hold up well even a decade later. Even today, anybody who watches these fantastic comedy flicks is in for a fun-filled experience.
5 Hotel Transylvania
When the first Hotel Transylvania premiered in 2012, few could have suspected that it would go on to spawn an entire series. That's exactly what happened, though, as the movie is both fast-paced, funny, and has many sympathetic characters. It did what no other Dracula movie adaptation had the guts to do, and presented the iconic vampire not as a monster, but as a caring dad who just wants to take care of his daughter, Mavis, and his beloved hotel that serves as a haven for all monsters hiding from humans.
Both of these things are suddenly in jeopardy when a young human tourist visits the hotel and Dracula has to keep his presence a secret from all of the other guests. The movie is full of gags, both visual ones, and funny conversations. The voice cast includes plenty of well-known names too, but the biggest attention lies on Adam Sandler as Dracula, and Sandler does an excellent job. Hotel Transylvania is the type of animated comedy that's enjoyable both for adults and children, so anybody interested in watching it can stream the movie either on Netflix or on HBO Max.
4 Mirror Mirror
Since this version of Snow White wasn't the only one that premiered that year, it didn't get as much attention as it may have deserved. It combines multiple genres, drama, fantasy, and comedy, but, overall, is much more light-hearted and relaxing than Snow White and the Huntsman (also 2012) with Kristen Stewart playing Snow White. In Mirror Mirror, Lily Collins portrays the iconic fairy tale princess, and she's charming in the role. Julia Roberts as the evil queen doesn't disappoint either, and each of the characters gets the chance to shine and make the audience laugh.
The original Snow White fairy tale is a rather dark and disturbing story, but this adaptation is much more accessible and family-friendly, making it an ideal watch for anybody who enjoys fairy tales and comedies in one package! If that wasn't enough, it's also visually beautiful: a trait shared by many of the movies directed by Tarsem Singh.
3 This Means War!
While not the best comedy in history, This Means War! is fast-paced and charming enough to fulfill its function and help the viewers relax and laugh. It centers around two CIA agents, Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine), who both fall for the same woman, Lauren Scott (Reese Witherspoon). Each decided that they will win her over, even if it means waging a war against the other. That alone would cause enough trouble, but both men still work for CIA and another problem is brewing on the horizon.
This Means War! doesn't take itself too seriously and if the audience is able to accept the premise that two professional agents are acting a bit like schoolboys because they like the same girl, they're in for a lot of fun. The story easily switches between comedy and action scenes, and all three main actors give solid performances. So much so, in fact, that it's difficult to take a pick and decide which one to cheer on - whether Hardy's Tuck or Pine's FDR. However, the result of the story might come across as a surprise, making it yet another reason why it's worth giving this fun movie a chance.
2 Vamps
Vampire movies are more often than not dark and serious, even scary. Just like Hotel Transylvania, though, Vamps proves that's not always the case. The movie is ideal for those who liked Krysten Ritter's superhero Marvel series Jessica Jones and would like to see the actress in a more light-hearted story. Ritter plays Stacey, who lives with her best friend Goody (Alicia Silverstone), also a vampire, in New York. When the two friends fall for mortal men, they decide to pursue the relationships even if it means giving up their immortal life. However, the vampire queen Ciccerus (Sigourney Weaver) doesn't agree with this plan, and if Stacey and Goody want to lead their lives the way they wish, they will have to fight for it first!
The movie is touching at times, especially in its finale, though, for the most part, it remains funny and optimistic. It contains more than one slightly absurd scene and the characters are far from ordinary, making Vamps one of the most colorful vampire comedies around. Both Ritter and Silverstone are clearly enjoying their roles and the friendship between their characters is believable. Other actors, such as Sigourney Weaver and Malcolm McDowell, also give strong performances. Vamps only has ten thousand ratings on IMDb and an average score of 5.2, but if viewers accept the movie's style, they might enjoy it more than its rating would suggest!
1 The Pirates! Band of Misfits
When somebody says "pirate comedy," most people think about Captain Jack Sparrow and The Pirates of the Caribbean movies. However, this overlooked co-production animated movie also deserves attention. It focuses on a pirate captain and his crew who are planning to compete in the pirate of the year competition. However, if they are to have any chance of winning, they'll have to deal with multiple obstacles and enemies first. Once again, the movie works both for adults and children, which means it's a perfect family flick.
The pacing is swift, the story surprising, the humor strong, and the characters well-voiced by known British actors, including Hugh Grant, David Tennant, Martin Freeman, and others. The Pirates! Band of Misfits isn't as well-known as other animated movies, but it's not for the lack of quality. The movie doesn't have any significant downside and is just as amusing today as it was ten years ago. It was even nominated for the Best Animated Picture Oscar back in 2012, though ended up missing out to Brave.