Looking for book and movie suggestions

[Rajah]

I'm looking for some funny books, and funny movies.

Something fun, light-hearted, *clean* (ie: little to no foul language, where the main point of humor isn't bathroom or bedroom humor) to watch and/or read.

Any suggestions?

 

[Michelemouse]

How about "All of Me" with Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. It's one of our favorites!

 

[msteddom]

Read the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. She's a British writer, and the humor can be a bit off color at times, but she in no way relies on it. The Devil Wears Prada is also a very funny book. Hope these help.


Melissa

 

[luvmydogs]

I'm a big fan of anything written by Adriana Trigiani--very lighthearted easy reads. She's not too wordy, and she keeps me interested. She writes a lot of her novels based on her experiences as a first generation Italian-American living in a very small town--and also variations on that theme. Lots of charming but off the wall characters which reminded me a lot of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." I read all four of her books (three are a trilogy) over the summer, and really liked them.

 

[snoopy]

Have you seen Freaky Friday yet? We really enjoyed this movie because its something we felt comfortable watching with our kids. Since you said you wanted clean, I think you would like this.

Another movie that is old, but one that somehow slipped past my radar screen and I just rented it the other day - Ever After. Its the story of Cinderella, with Drew Barrymore in the lead role and Angelica Huston as the evil stepmother. If you haven't seen this, do run to your videostore and rent it. Its wonderful.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Spy Kids and Spy Kids: Island of Lost Dreams are both good(both are aimed towards kids but they are both funny).Alan Cumming is a hoot as Floop(there's little cursing and the 1 word used in Spy Kids is used as part of another word.Lots of fighting but it is a kiddie action movie)

 

[JetMom]

When I need a laugh, I like to read Erma Bombek or Dave Barry.

I also love old movie comedies. I especially like Carey Grant. Arsenic and Old Lace, My Favorite Wife, and Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House are some of my favorites.

 

[WDWAurora]

My usual suggestion the Harry Potter books. While not necessarily funny, certainly good for keeping your interest, and very clean!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Go for the silly 50s & 60s films... Yours Mine & Ours (Lucille Ball & Henry Fonda), Pillow Talk (Doris Day, Rock Hudson), Father Goose (Cary Grant, Leslie Caron)

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Down With Love is in the same spirt as the Doris Day films

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Try "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." Classic stuff that never gets old!

 

[amid chaos]

Bend it like beckham...beautiful movie.

 

[klmklm]

funny movies:
The Princess Bride
The Gods Must Be Crazy

 

[DemonLlama]

Movie Suggestions
OK, here's some we pull out and watch again and again when we're looking for comedy:

The Emperor's New Groove
My Cousin Vinny
Raising Arizona
A Christmas Story
The Princess Bride
Blazing Saddles
Shrek
Any Monty Python
Galaxy Quest
Young Frankenstien
Real Genius

All of these are clean enough that my DD, 8, and DS, 11 don't have to ask, "What did that mean?"

You might check out Amazon's listmania to find some lists of favorite comedies. Once you find a list that has a number of things you know you like, you can try some of the other suggestions you aren't familiar with. This works pretty well with books, I've found.

 

[Cindy B]

Young Frankenstein... cracks me up!

Frau Buehler NEIGH!
In de hay, de hay, de hay

Speaking of Buehler,
Ferris Bueller Day's Off is funny!

Sixteen Candles just good old 80's fluff as well

Men In Black I and II (love those!)
Grease
Dirty Dancing

We just saw Bruce Almighty, and laughed so hard.... usually I'm not a fan of Jim Carrey, but this had us laughing so hard!!!!!

 

[suzannen]

I wholeheartedly concur with msteddom's suggestion of Sophia Kinsella's Shopaholic books. They are some of the funniest books I have ever read. I gave them as gifts for Christmas to my 23 year-old DD; two girlfriends ages 32 to 41; my 50 year-old sister & SIL and finally, my 75 year-old mother & MIL. They have ALL called saying they've rushed out to buy the sequels and how much they loved them.

I also agree with Pat Elliott's "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." It's a classic that keeps getting better.

 

[KrnB]

Rent some old Bill Cosby stand up.... clean and absolutely hilarious! The one about the dentist and the novicane... OMG

Dave Barry came to mind too, and I love JetMom's suggestion about Erma.