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

This Is the Funniest Film Ever Made

posted 16 years ago by cjvirnig-1
53 replies | jump to latest

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.

[–] gompcreature 10 years ago

Agreed.

Nothing less than the funniest movie ever.

Not as cohesive as Airplane! or even the Naked Gun,(made 4 years earlier and later, respectively) Top Secret! Races maniacally through a tour de force of one insane gag after another that manages to very rarely feel forced, badly timed or out of place in the plot.

Excellent actors like Val Kilmer (his debut!) and Omar Sharif play their roles with a straight face, working perfectly to accentuate the bizarre and zany things that happens in the world of Top Secret!.

It scores plenty of additional points through sheer comedic inventiveness as well. Like the delightful backwards scene in the “Swedish” bookstore. Or the rolling train station.Or when the hero chases away a herd of...bikes. Etc. Etc.

ZAZ is at the top of their games, simple as.

[–] IMDB_Vits 9 years ago

ZOOLANDER: 8/10
TOP SECRET!: 5/10

[–] MonteCarloMan 9 years ago

For pure slapstick Top Secret wins out imho. I hadn't watched this movie in a number of years and caught it on cable recently flipping thru channels. It was every bit as good now as when I saw it in the theatre back in 1984.

[–] Lokisgodhi 9 years ago

Funniest film ever made? Not even close.

Blazing Saddles was the funniest film ever made.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] gompcreature 9 years ago

I have to agree with you on this one, sir. The amount, variety and creativity shown when it comes to gags is astounding.

Only contender to the #1 spot must be Life of Brian.

Don't breathe air. Birds *beep* in it!

[–] hafabee 9 years ago

I watched it tonight, there was some hilarious scenes in this movie! I know what you mean about some people not finding it funny, my girlfriend thought it was low brow. It's not low brow though, it's fairly clever comedy and at times magnificently so, but it's absurd stuff and that type of comedy doesn't suit everyone.

The station pulling away from the train, the backwards filmed scene, the underwater fist-fight and all the silly moments in this movie were not lazily written nor poorly performed, it's good comedy. I'm surprised it's not more highly regarded, but everyone has different tastes in comedy and it's hard to find something that suits everyone.