Random Silly Comedies That End With An Emotional Gut Punch (13 items)

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  (#8) Superbad

  • Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Martha MacIsaac, Emma Stone, Aviva, Joe Lo Truglio, Kevin Corrigan, Stacy Edwards, David Krumholtz, Marcella Lentz-Pope

  The ending of Superbad is actually sort of... depressing. If you've ever had a dear high school friend drift away from you via college or other life endeavors, this one will sting. If you sift through the vulgarity, Superbad has some important and poignant points to make about friendship. The film follows two best friends on a quest to lose their virginity before splitting off to different colleges. But if you've seen the film, you know the subtext goes beyond American Pie values. Superbad takes "bros before hoes" to a subversive place. 

  In the end, Superbad isn't just a gross-out comedy about dudes being dudes. It's about two best friends coming out of their shells and addressing their fears of moving on and being alone. At the end of the film, Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) bump into the girls they like at the mall after an unsuccessful night of trying to get "laid," and by some kind of miracle, they're given a second chance. Evan and Seth shake hands and go off with their respective girls, but keep looking back at each other until they're no longer in eyeshot. The film ends with the pair wishing for more time together. 
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  (#2) Mrs. Doubtfire

  • Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Polly Holliday, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, Mara Wilson, Robert Prosky, Anne Haney, Scott Capurro

  Mrs. Doubtfire follows an actor, Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams), who comes up with a plan to disguise himself as a housekeeper named Mrs. Doubtfire in order to spend some time with his kids after a bitter divorce that left him without custody. Mrs. Doubtfire ends up staying full time and improving the lives of Miranda (Sally Field) and their three children before being exposed as Daniel by the end of the film.

  Most other family-comedy films would have Miranda recognize Daniel's Mrs. Doubtfire shtick as charming and welcome him back to the family, but Mrs. Doubtfire doesn't go the easy route. In the end, Miranda does let Daniel back into their lives, but only to see the kids semi-regularly, without supervised visits. It's not the expected happy ending, but it is more true to the lives of divorced families. Big obnoxious gestures won't reunite a family in real life, but learning to coexist is key, and that's exactly what they do. The film ends with a tear-jerker scene where Daniel accepts that he will have to play by Miranda's rules to have a happy relationship with his family, and a sentimental monologue on his new television show about the importance of family. 
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  (#13) Hot Rod

  • Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Isla Fisher, Sissy Spacek, Ian McShane, Will Arnett, Chris Parnell, Chester Tam, Mark Acheson, Brittany Tiplady, Ken Kirzinger, Britt Irvin, Alana Husband

  The premise of Hot Rod is kind of absurd. Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg), a wannabe stuntman, attempts to raise money via charity stunts to pay for his stepfather Frank's (Ian McShane) heart surgery so he can beat him up and become a man. The movie comes off as goofy, but actually has a lot of heart for such a low-concept plot. Rod even risks his life to earn the money for Frank's surgery, all so he can challenge him to a rematch and take him down. 

  But the subtext underneath the male aggression is the story of a boy becoming a man. Rod's stepfather, Frank, constantly reminds Rod that he's got childish dreams (and that he can't grow a mustache), which affects Rod's desire to become the world's next Evel Knievel. In the end, Rod performs a record-setting motorcycle jump, proving to himself that he doesn't need Frank's approval to become "man enough" to fulfill his purpose. But just when you think it's over, Rod kicks Frank hard in the final scene of the film, providing an emotional catharsis you didn't know you needed. And he is able to grow a mustache! (Kind of.)
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  (#10) Napoleon Dynamite

  • Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Diedrich Bader, Haylie Duff, Trevor Snarr, Shondrella Avery

  Napoleon Dynamite is a special film many people don't truly understand. Often regarded as "plotless," the film is really about how a person like Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) navigates the world. He has a developmental disorder (most likely Asperger's syndrome) that makes him socially inept, and the film is really about how the teen struggles to do regular things, such as go to prom or perform at a talent show. 

  That's why the ending hits extra hard. After jumping through hoops to have what he thinks is a normal life, including asking the snobby popular girl, Trisha (Emily Kennard), to the school dance, and trying to get his best friend Pedro (Efren Ramirez) elected school president, Napoleon realizes he's happier just doing the things he enjoys. The film ends with Napoleon playing tetherball alone when he's joined by Deb (Tina Majorino), a girl who could've made him happy the whole time had he not tried to venture out of his comfort zone. The scene is the best ending Napoleon could've hoped for.
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  (#6) School of Rock

  • Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman, Jordan-Claire Green, Veronica Afflerbach, Miranda Cosgrove, Robert L. Tsai, Angelo Massagli, Kevin Clark, Maryam Hassan, Caitlin Hale, Cole Hawkins, Brian Falduto, James Hosey, Aleisha Allen, Zachary Infante, Joey Gaydos, Rebecca Brown

  School of Rock follows the antics of Dewey Finn (Jack Black), an ex-rocker who decides to accept a job as a substitute teacher, posing as his roommate Ned Schneebly (Mike White) to make money and pay rent. He falls in love with his class and decides to teach them the power of rock. 

  Dewey manages to form a working rock band out of the students in his class, all of whom had never heard rock music before. Not only does the music bring the classmates together, but it also breaks them out of their shells and gives them a purpose: winning the battle of the bands. The film ends with the students losing the competition, but completely winning over the crowd and their strict parents. The film closes on Dewey's new after-school music program, which he's opened up as his new full-time gig. Not only is he able to let go of his tired dreams of being a rock star, but he also learns the importance of shaping the younger generation and the gratification that comes with it. 
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  (#5) When Harry Met Sally...

  • Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Steven Ford, Lisa Jane Persky, Michelle Nicastro, Harley Jane Kozak

  When Harry Met Sally follows the lives of Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) as they bump into each other throughout their lives. It's clear from the start that they have a connection, but one of them is always in a relationship when they meet. Plus, they have a tumultuous relationship from day one, constantly bickering and disagreeing. 

  Harry and Sally inevitably fall in love and live happily ever after, but it's the way they get together that makes the ending so special. After years of will-they-won't-they/passive-aggressive tension, Harry drops the act and surprises Sally at a New Year's Eve party. He doesn't just ask her out; he tells her everything that he loves about her, all summed up in a beautiful monologue about starting their lives together. The monologue has been re-created and parodied in modern cinema, but nothing beats the original. 

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