Top 10 comedy movies

The '80s were perhaps the funniest decade ever, and I'm not even going to mention Devo in this article. This list contains 10 comedic films that defined a decade of laughter. The unfortunate part of the list is that many high quality films had to be left on the proverbial cutting room floor. Perhaps they will be included in the director's cut of "10 greatest comedies of the eighties." Without further ado, here they are:\n1.) The Blues Brothers (1980) \nThis movie follows the exploits of "Joliet" Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) Blues on their "mission from God" to get the band back together. Along the way, they manage to infuriate everyone from state troopers (lead by John Candy) to Jake's psycho ex-girlfriend (Carrie Fisher) to the Illinois Nazis to a country band called The Good Ole Boys. It also features such classic lines as "Are you men policemen?" "No ma'am, we're musicians." And "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it, Elwood." The movie also features great car chases (one in a mall, and one where about half of the Chicago police force crashes) and musical performances from stars like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and John Lee Hooker.\n2.) Airplane! (1980)\nAnother titan from 1980 is "Airplane!" One of the funniest movies ever made, it is a brilliant spoof of disaster movies. A scared ex-combat pilot (Robert Hays) must take control of a plane after the whole crew comes down with food poisoning. Among the other stars providing humorous roles are Lloyd Bridges as control-tower worker Steve McCroskey, and Leslie Nielsen as Dr. Rumack. There is a visual gag in practically every scene in the movie, so it is key to keep an eye out for anything funny. Memorable lines include "Can you fly this plane and land it?" "Surely you can't be serious." "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." And the landing sequence sets up the line "Flight 209 now arriving at gate eight. Gate nine. Gate 10."\n3.) Trading Places (1983)\nThe movie that shows just how funny Eddie Murphy is. The premise of the film is based on a one-dollar bet made by the Duke brothers (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche), who are wealthy stockbrokers in New York. They bet that they can put one of their own men, Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) onto the streets and replace him with homeless Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy). After the deal has been in place, Billy Ray and Louis learn of it and team up to take down the Dukes. The New Year's Eve train scene is one of the funniest ever filmed. It features lines such as "It's beef jerky time! Does anyone want some beef jerky? We've got plenty of it!"\n4.) Caddyshack (1980)\nPossibly the greatest comedy of all time. Or maybe just the greatest movie of all time. And you don't even have to be a looper (you know, a caddy, a pro jock) to figure that out. Bill Murray steals the show as assistant groundskeeper Carl Spackler, whose goal in life is to rid Bushwood Country Club of gophers. Also giving a strong performance is Rodney Dangerfield as Al Czervik, who intends to buy Bushwood and turn it into a condo development, while offending club president Judge Smails (Ted Knight) throughout the film. Almost lost amid these performances is the storyline of caddy Danny Noonan's (Michael O'Keefe) quest to win the caddy scholarship. The most memorable scene may be Bill Murray eating the Baby Ruth bar that he cleaned out of the Bushwood swimming pool. Memorable lines include Dangerfield's "Hey Wang, don't tell them your Jewish," and Murray's "And I says, 'Hey Lama, how about a little something, you know, for the effort?' And he says to me 'On your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.' So I got that going for me, which is nice."\n5.) National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)\nThe original and best. We are introduced to the Griswold's and the Family Truckster in this staple of the 80s. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) plans a family vacation to Wally World in California from their suburban Chicago home. Everything goes wrong from there, including the death of the family dog and Aunt Etna, visiting cousin Eddie, as well as a wrong turn in East St. Louis, Ill. Once they finally arrive at Wally World, it is closed -- requiring a hijacking of security guard John Candy. Eighties staple Anthony Michael Hall appears as son Rusty Griswold. Memorable quote: "The Wagon Queen Family Truckster. You think you hate it now, but wait till you drive it."\n6.) Ghostbusters (1984)\nOften overlooked, though it did make the American Film Institute's list of the Top 100 comedies of all time. And with its synthesizer-driven theme song, it may define the '80s better than any other comedy. The movie follows the exploits of parapsychologists Ray Stantz (Aykroyd), Peter Venkman (Murray), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), who are kicked out of their jobs at Columbia University and form their own ghostbusting outfit. They are joined by Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) once their workload becomes too heavy in their fight against Ghozer the Gozerian. Rick Moranis is hilarious as nerdy accountant Louis Tully/keymaster Vince Clortho. And what ending scene could be better than the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man plodding through New York? Memorable quote: "What are you supposed to be?" "We're the exterminators. Somebody saw a cockroach on 12." "That must be some cockroach." "Yeah, it'll bite your head off." \n7.) Revenge of the Nerds (1984)\n"What are you looking at, nerd?" The answer, of course, is the best college movie made behind "Animal House." After getting kicked out of their dorm by the Alpha Betas, who burned down their fraternity, a group of outcasts bands together to form their own fraternity. What follows is a brilliantly underrated satire of status in greek and college life. Curtis Armstrong gives an inspired performance as Booger, and is supported by a pre-ER Anthony Edwards, who plays Gilbert. Quote: "You college guys are all alike, all you really care about is getting laid. I wish I was going with you."\n8.) Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)\nThe quintessential movie for any business traveler. Steve Martin plays slick advertising executive Neal, and John Candy plays Del, a traveling shower-curtain ring salesman. After a taxi cab mix-up, the two are tied together in their attempts to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving, via any mean of transportation necessary. Memorable line: "Where's your other hand?" "Between two pillows." "Those aren't pillows!" "So… how bout those Bears?"\n9.) The Naked Gun (1987)\nFrom the directors of "Airplane!" comes this farce of cop movies starring Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin of Police Squad. The movie also features O.J. Simpson before he began his search for "the real killers" in the role of Nordberg. The plot revolves around Drebin's attempts to foil an assassination plot of Queen Elizabeth II. The opening scene where Drebin rubs off Gorbachev's birthmark is an '80s fixture, and the climactic scene filmed at Anaheim Stadium provides the funniest baseball scene outside of "Major League," complete with Drebin forgetting the words to the "Star-Spangled Banner." Memorable quote: "Well would you look at that. It's the missing evidence in the Kellner case. He really was innocent!" "He went to the chair five years ago, Frank."\n10.) Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)\nOne of the most excellent comedies ever filmed. The action follows the lives of William S. Preston, Esquire (Alex Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves), two high school slackers who front the band Wyld Stallions. Unfortunately, if they don't pass their history presentation, Ted will be sent to military school. Bogus! Fortunately, the boys run into Rufus (George Carlin) and his time traveling phone booth. They are able to go back into time and bring history's greatest characters back for the presentation. Between Bill and Ted's lack of historical knowledge and the adjustments that characters like Napoleon and Genghis Khan must make to live in the '80s, there are numerous fun moments in this epic. Memorable quote: "Strange things are afoot at the Circle K"