Like so many other industries, historically, comedy has often been seen as the domain of men. From the likes of Robin Williams to Jim Carrie, Eddie Murphy to Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller to Bill Murray, a simple Google search for “best comedy actors” will bring up a litany of talented male leads.
In fact, Google’s search results require one to scroll through three pages of results before you come across the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig.
So we thought it was about time to address this imbalance with our own list of five of the best female-led comedies to hit the silver screen. So, in no particular order, here they are:
Sister Act (1992)
No list like this would be complete without including one of Whoopi Goldberg’s seminal performances. From a setup full of comedic possibilities to a role that Goldberg brings to life, Sister Act is a fun, empowering and hilariously funny comedy about sisters doin’ it for themselves.
Miss Congeniality (2000)
The super-talented and versatile Sandra Bullock has done everything from drama to science fiction. But it is her comedic chops that brought the character of Gracie Hart to life in Miss Congeniality. The sloppy, snorting FBI agent turned beauty queen story also highlights the meaning of feminism and true beauty while making us laugh all the way through.
Clueless (1995)
Alicia Silverstone’s immensely charming performance as the “clueless” teenager is so multifaceted that audiences got a lot more than they bargained for. The spoiled rich girl that is capable of growth and an immeasurable level of empathy is not what we all anticipated. Yet the filmmaker’s understanding of the teenage mindset and the respect shown for their characters provided us with a satirical look at wealthy teens without making fun of them.
Mean Girls (2004)
Written by the inimitable Tina Fey, Bad Girls is another high school satire that caught audiences off-guard thanks to a script that allows us to see the human side of all of the characters, not just the protagonist. From Lindsay Lohan’s good-hearted but corruptible Cady to Regina and her fellow plastics struggling with their own insecurities, it’s clear that there are two sides to every story. Fey walks the tightrope between hatred and sympathy with consummate ease while still finding time to make us laugh with one quotable one-liner after another.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Arguably one of the finest female ensemble comedies to ever grace the silver screen, Bridesmaids is the brainchild of Kristen Wiig who wrote the side-splitting script as well as starring as the maid of honour on the brink of losing it. The cast includes Maya Rudolph, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper and Rose Byrne. However, it’s the always-hilarious Melissa McCarthy that upstages them all, netting her an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the fearless Megan.
What are some of your favourite female-led comedies? Don’t forget to watch Like a Boss on Sunday 29 November at 20:30 on M-Net 101.
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