The funniest scenes are sometimes the most ridiculous, witty, offensive. I’m not a big fan of slapstick except when it’s unexpected. Wit is it for me. Sometimes, so is the ridiculous. It’s all a matter of delivery, really. Sometimes you watch a movie that’s marked as a comedy but you don’t even crack a smile throughout the (wasted) hour and a half. Most Jim Carrey films fall in that category for me. But then there are some films that are well done, quite funny, but it’s almost like you’re laughing on the inside only. Like that scene from Raising Arizona when H. I. (Nicolas Cage) is running through the dark streets with a stocking over his face, a gun in one hand and a pack of diapers in the other. Quite funny, but not laugh out loud funny. I guess, more amusing?? Nonetheless, Raising Arizona is a great movie. Anyway, it seems ultimately that humor is relative. What is slated as funny to some might just be ridiculous to others and not worth a chuckle or two to yet others.

Here are some of the funniest scenes I’ve seen in a comedy recently (in no particular order):

• Sideways: Fat Naked Lovin’
  The scene: Jack forget’s his wallet (with his wedding ring in it) at a woman’s house and convinces Miles to get it for him. Miles does and sneaks into the bedroom of the woman’s house to find she and her husband (all 500 punds of them both) getting it on with dirty talk. The husband catches a glimpse of Miles crawling on the floor of their bedroom. But, instead of putting on at least a pair of pants to chase the fleeing Miles. The naked man chases Miles to his car (where Jack waits for him) twig and berries (and fat) flapping about. Miles gets in the car with Jack but you see the hubby running towards the camera, then pressing up against the drivers side of the car while Miles and Jack (being men) look away in horror fumbling to get the car started and their asses out of (naked) dodge. Bloody funny scene!
• Austin Powers International Man of Mystery: Nooooooooooooo!
  The best thing about a spoof is that you’re bound to get, and sometimes really get at least one reference joke.
  The scene: Austin Powers and Vanessa on a steam roller trying to get Dr. Evil. An employee of Dr. Evil’s (played by a lesser known then, Will Ferrell) gets in the way and starts screaming “Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!” while holding out an arm. What makes this scene so funny is that the employee is about 5 yards away, totally capable of escaping the steam roller’s path leaving time to even have a cup of coffee. It takes you back to all those bad cheesy scenes in horror films or thrillers when people are being chased by a man or monster who walks negative the speed of light and those action flicks where some vehicle is about to hit some idiot who you could always swear could have gotten out of the way save for the plot of the film.
• Waiting for Guffman: “…’cause you’re Bastard People!”
  Christopher Guest is a brilliant satirist. Probably the best in the business. Spinal Tap, Best in Show and this film, Waiting for Guffman, are my favorite.
  The scene: Corky Sherwood (a very gay man in a small town full of nice and sophisticated folks) has just been told by the town committee that he can’t have the extra $100,000 he wanted to put on his play commemorating the 150th anniversary of Blane, Missouri whose annual budget is $15,000. Corky proceeds to have a fit: “…you’re forcing me to go home…and I say, no way Corky. You’re not putting up with these people. And I’ll tell you why you’re not putting up with these people: ’cause you’re bastard people. That’s what you are, you’re just bastard people. And i’m going home and I’m gonna bite my pillow is what i’m gonna do.” Classic!
• Donnie Darko: “Goddamn right I will!”
  Jake Gyllenhaal has a certain something that makes you want to watch him. Granted he’s not the best actor in the world, but he’s solid. And sometimes, especially in Donnie Darko, just right on the mark. The scene where Donnie is walking his soon to be girlfriend Gretchen home is quite endearing. But, sometimes just one line can make you laugh just by the way it’s said. It’s a you-have-to-see-it-to-get-it type of line/moment.
  The scene: Donnie: [taking a cigarette from a friend] What will happen if you tell mom about this?
  Samantha Darko [sister]: You’ll put Ariel [her doll] in the garbage disposal.
  Donnie: Goddamn right I will.
• The Thin Man: Wit is it
  The whole damn movie is full of funny scenes. The best things about the scenes, however is the witty dialogue and jokes.
  

Nick Charles: I’m a hero. I was shot twice in the Tribune.
Nora Charles: I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids.
Nick Charles: It’s not true. He didn’t come anywhere near my tabloids.