MovieChat Forums > Top Secret! (1984) Discussion > This Is the Funniest Film Ever Made

This Is the Funniest Film Ever Made


I normally don't like many comedic films, but I have to say that Top Secret gets my nod as the best comedy of all-time. In terms of slapstick, I cannot think of a movie that is more absurd than this one, yet the Zucker Brothers, per usual, use exaggeration and sarcasm to the utmost extreme.

I remember in college when I always watched this movie and only about half of the people in the room thought it was funny. They'd have rather watched Zoolander.

That is what is wrong with my generation.

reply

best comedy of all time?!? you're crazy! its not even the best comedy by the Abrams crew!

and parts of Zoolander are funnier than this -- even though this is far clevererererer

What the $%*& is a Chinese Downhill?!?

reply

this is the best goof spoof of them all.

reply

"even though this is far clevererererer

And Leon's getting larrrrrrger.




I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

reply

Well the best comedy ever is O Brother Where Art Thou, but I guess most people would say Airplane.

This was funny though.

reply

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a great one for sure, but have you seen Sullivan's Travels?

reply

cjvirnig-1: "I remember in college when I always watched this movie and only about half of the people in the room thought it was funny. They'd have rather watched Zoolander."

hahaha, i just saw this on tv last night, and its a pretty stupid movie, but theres one scene in particular that is really stupid. Its when Kilmer goes up on stage thinking he is the one being congratulated, when it was actually some old german. Then he starts singing Tutti Frutti with the band, who somehow all knew that he was going to accidentally come up and sing, while the host and the other guests just let him go on with it.

in Zoolander, he accepts the best male model award when it is clearly meant to go to the other model Hansel, because he is so stupid. He even starts his speech after the whole audience is dumbfounded. This whole scene made sense, and followed the plot well.

i just thought it was interesting that cjvirnig-1 used Zoolander as an example when both films have a very similiar scene, which Zoolander executes better.


...I am Jack's signature...

reply

Oh, you think Top Secret is unrealistic and doesnt make sense.

I Agree

That bit when the guy jumped on the grenade and survived, that didn't make sense, he would so die. And that talking (little) horse, WTF, horses don't talk, it doesn't make sense, unlike in Starsky & Hutch where the (little)horse doesn't talk. How the hell do you go up a Firepole, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. + Why are the Nazis in charge of the USSR, that doesn't make sense. The whole movie doesn't make sense.

Made you look

reply

All I could think of as I read this:

This is Chewbacca. Think about that for a second. That does not make sense! Why am I talking about Chewbacca when a man's life is on the line? I don't know! That does not make sense. If Chewbacca does not make sense, you must acquit. Now look at the monkey. - Johnny Cochrin presenting the Chewbacca defense

reply

you sir are an idiot. You've actually seen this film and you mention the band knowing how to play tutti frutti as evidence of a hole in the logic of what, an otherwise straightforward romantic comedy? My god

reply

"you sir are an idiot. You've actually seen this film and you mention the band knowing how to play tutti frutti as evidence of a hole in the logic of what, an otherwise straightforward romantic comedy? My god"

Obviously I knew this was a comedy, and I was expecting good things from the makers of Airplane/Flying High. Don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to over-analyse anything, of course there were some funny bits. It's just the fact that Zoolander is being used as an example of a poorer film, when both films use a similiar scene that Zoolander executes better.


...I am Jack's signature...

reply

"Its when Kilmer goes up on stage thinking he is the one being congratulated, when it was actually some old german. Then he starts singing Tutti Frutti with the band, who somehow all knew that he was going to accidentally come up and sing, while the host and the other guests just let him go on with it.

in Zoolander, he accepts the best male model award when it is clearly meant to go to the other model Hansel, because he is so stupid. He even starts his speech after the whole audience is dumbfounded. This whole scene made sense, and followed the plot well.

i just thought it was interesting that cjvirnig-1 used Zoolander as an example when both films have a very similiar scene, which Zoolander executes better."

Further proof that you didn't understand one of the simplest gags in the moive is not needed.

reply

Anyone who can't appreciate both movies probably has a pretty crappy sense of humor. Especially if they take any sort of critical analyses of either movie the least bit seriously.

reply

The bit going up on stage instead of an over pompous opera star is lifted right out of a 1939 Deanna Durbin movie called "First Love". The young girl is brimming with youthful confidence and leaps to the stage and sings like an angel. The overstuffed diva goes off in a huff. Its a great scene in a very good movie, in itself a parody of the Cinderella story, lost slipper and all.

reply

Agreed...has to be at least top 5

.:[Humans .... Ya Can't Trust 'Em !!!!!]:.

reply

Lol - you know some people analyse and even over-analyse this movie. It is a spoof, it is not meant to make sense, it is a piss-take, it is not meant to be clever or reveal some unbelievable message on many levels.

It is also a bloody hilarious and under-valued, under-rated romp!

When the guy jumps on the grenade - the results crack me up every time! The resistance guys are amazing. Noughts and crosses in a gun fight, swigging gasoline - even their names.

Great escapism

reply

Yep, I love this movie and there are way too many funny things to even mention. The sight gags are soooo GREAT!!





http://youtu.be/rpqIwiqQE-Q

reply

The pair of boots in the middle of the field, only to reveal there is no person in them.

This movie is absolutely freakin' brilliant.

Nuf said.

reply

Awesome flick :)
One of the best Hollywood comedies I've ever saw.

--
2 + 2 = 22

reply

Now if only you could speak English, we'd have a lot in common.

reply

Agreed. Best comedy ever.

reply

What's amazing is that the people who made the film don't like it today because it's all over the place and the plot doesn't hold together as well as airplane or the naked gun (and mainly because it didn't make them any money at the box office). Goes to show you the importance of good actors. Val Kilmer and Lucy Gutteridge (a goddess) held the movie together despite the directorial team.

reply

yes, a masterpiece. There are few movies with such dense humour. Some really quirky jokes, great filming and setups. Everyone's seen Naked Gun, but only the real ZAZ comedy lovers have seen Top Secret.

reply

Most of the jokes in this movie are extremely lame and stupid. I prefer more intelligent comedy, so probably one of the Monty Python movies deserves the title IMO.



~ Observe, and act with clarity. ~

reply

With respect, the only people that like Monty Python are Americans that think they're being 'alternative' by understanding British humour they know nothing about.

reply

Lol?

That's probably true of much of the Flying Circus.

But their movies are broad parodies.

And full of infinitely more creative and intelligent jokes than having people dress up in a cow suit and get their utter squeezed, for example.



~ Observe, and act with clarity. ~

reply

Or people that just think a man getting his limbs chopped off and arguing that he's winning, or actually enjoy any of the other hundreds of gags in that movie. But you're probably right. I just like it as a fashion statement.

reply

Are you as sad as I am that Paparazzo saw thru us? Here I've been watching MP movies for years, assuming I was enjoying them for the comedy. It turns out I was a clueless poser. Now that I've been exposed, I guess I have to change my name & my sig.

When danger reared its ugly head he bravely turned his tail and fled.

reply