10. Fletch Lives

This follow-up to his hit film Fletch wasn’t as popular as the original, but was successful enough for another sequel to be contemplated. Plus, you have to love any movie poster that has Chevy Chase looking like he’s in Gone With The Wind.

9. Funny Farm

This was the final film of George Roy Hill (director of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), written by the writer that wrote Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and scored by legendary composer Elmer Bernstein. That much talent plus Chevy Chase can’t make a bad movie. They didn’t.

8. National Lampoon’s European Vacation

Probably the least popular of the “Vacation” films (at least until Vegas Vacation came along), this film still succeeds because of the way Chase embodies the clueless, but eternally driven family man Clark Griswold.

7. Spies Like Us

Reunited with fellow SNL alumnus Dan Ackroyd, this spy spoof, directed by John Landis, delivers a now-dated look at the Cold War. But, it still delivers the laughs and there’s nothing that’s ever dated about a title song sung by Paul McCartney.

6. Foul Play

It’s said that Chase turned down Animal House to act in this, his film breakthrough after his success on SNL. While a regrettable missed opportunity, this film, a comedic tribute to the thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock, wasn’t a bad way to start his film career either, earning him a Golden Globe nomination.

5. Three Amigos

Back with John Landis again, Chevy Chase manages to create chemistry with his co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short. Too bad he didn’t maintain the chemistry off-set, as feuding on the set caused Martin and Chase to fall out with each other for well over a decade after this film. Still, this inspired melding of Hollywood reality and real reality has grown into a classic of 80’s comedy.

4. Fletch

Chevy Chase was born to play a smart aleck, so playing Gregory McDonald’s Fletch wasn’t exactly difficult. Considered one of the best films set in L.A. and a cult classic, Chase managed to add another character that is etched in his cinematic legacy.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

One of the more unlikely Christmas classics, Chase perfected his “jerk with a heart of gold” characterization of Clark Griswold here. Perhaps it’s an odd choice for Christmastime, but maybe, in a time filled with manufactured cheer, the Griswold’s merry chaos is a refreshing change.

2. National Lampoon’s Vacation

The first, the funniest, and most successful of the Vacation movies, the inspired lunacy and an all-star comedy cast drive this vacation into comic history. We’re still mourning Aunt Edna though.

1. Caddyshack

Even if you haven’t seen Caddyshack, you’ve seen Caddyshack; that’s how immersed in popular culture it has become. One of the greatest sports movies, golf movies, and comedies, Caddyshack is the crowning achievement in Chevy Chase’s career that he’s never been able to top. If he ever did, it would be a Cinderella story, outta nowhere.

Chevy Chase may have broken through on television, but his work in movies is what drives us to remember him, even if we sometimes have to be reminded that we should. It gives us reason to hope that, with his return to TV prominence, his triumphant theatrical return might be around the corner. We can dream at least.

10. Risky Business

For everyone who wonders what Tom Cruise looks like in his underwear, this is the film that made it possible. Cruise may have moved on to bigger and better things from here, but he’ll always have Bob Seeger to dance along with.

9. Mission Impossible

While Cruise in his underwear was a touchstone of the 80s, Cruise suspended from the ceiling, inches from the ground, is one of the iconic film images of the 90s. He probably appreciated the image shift.

8. Eyes Wide Shut

Cruise’s only collaboration with Stanley Kubrick and his final film with then-wife Nicole Kidman, this erotic thriller brought out a different Cruise, along with some different parts of Cruise.

7. Top Gun

It’s hard to forgive a movie that introduced us to Jerry Bruckheimer but, since it also brought us Meg Ryan, Anthony Edwards, and Cruise’s need for speed, we’ll forgive this 80’s classic.

6. War of the Worlds

Spielberg’s take on the science fiction classic mixed with post-9/11 themes and anxieties features Cruise playing a flawed, but determined father. It was more than enough to drive this film to great box office returns.

5. Magnolia

While only part of an ensemble cast that features Phillip Seymour Hoffman and William H. Macy, Cruise manages to steal the show, earning himself an Oscar nomination and reminding us that he’s not just another pretty face.

4. Collateral

Tom Cruise as a hit man sounds like a set-up for a skit, not a movie. But, his portrayal of a chilly assassin proves that the idea is not in the least bit funny.

3. A Few Good Men

Having to act alongside Jack Nicholson usually means that all available scenery will be eaten before you have a chance to pick up a fork. But, Cruise manages to play off Jack and continue his search for the truth.

2. Rain Man

Cruise seems to be at his best playing smooth, cocksure men and the directors who work with him best know how to use that skill and break it down further. In so doing, Barry Levinson excels at showing how Cruise comes to grips with a brother he never knew he had.

1. Jerry Maguire

Show me the money! You had me at hello. We all know these lines like we know our shoe size. It’s because of Cruise that these lines have a home and a place in this film about the rebirth of a sports agent and a man.

Whether we’re at the movies or watching his real-life exploits, Tom Cruise is always good for drama, laughs, and some unexpected twists. Whatever he might be doing, he takes our breath away.

1. Bruce Almighty (2003)

This is Carrey’s second highest grossing leading role, pulling in $242 million at the domestic box office. Carrey plays a struggling weatherman in Buffalo who is given the chance to play God. The supporting cast includes Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, and Jennifer Aniston. It was a huge hit that spawned a sequel, though Carrey did not appear in that. It also received a large number of positive reviews from critics and a 6.6 on IMDB.

2. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

This Jim Carrey hit grossed $127 million in 1994, a big chunk of money. It also scored a 7.2 on IMDB among its favorable reviews from critics. The movie is a fixture on cable television to this day, cementing its legacy as one of Carrey’s most popular movies. It also spawned a TV series and a spin-off.

3. The Truman Show (1998)

Carrey entered more dramatic territory with this Peter Weir film about a man who is unaware that his whole life is a reality show. It was a highly original film that grossed $125 million at the box office. It has an 8.0 rating on IMDB puts in the Top 250 on that site. Carrey received a lot of praise for his performance in the film.

4. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

The first Ace Ventura is the movie that made Jim Carrey a huge star. It grossed $72 million, but had a lower budget. It has a strong 6.6 rating on IMDB and Carrey received good reviews for his performance as the bumbling pet detective assigned to rescue the Miami mascot before the Super Bowl. The sequel made more money than the original, but didn’t receive the same warm reception. The first Ace Ventura still appears on TV many times today, and is responsible for much of Carrey’s career.

5. Liar, Liar (1997)

Prior to Liar, Liar in 1997, Jim Carrey had a couple of flops and his start was thought to be fading. Reuniting with director Tom Shadyac, Carrey played a lawyer who can only tell the truth for 24 hours. It grossed $181 million and produced solid critical and audience responses. It also restored Carrey as a box office star.

6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

This was a truly unique vehicle for Carrey. Though its box office success falls short of most Carrey movies, it is arguably the most favorably reviewed movie on his resume. It has an 8.5 rating on IMDB, landing it in the top 60 movies. It also gave Carrey credibility as a purely dramatic actor. Dealing with erasing bad memories from the mind, it’s one of the more original movies of the decade.

7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

This is Carrey’s highest grossing movie, pulling in $260 million domestic. It received modest reviews, but became a popular holiday hit. It was directed by Ron Howard.

8. The Mask (1994)

No Jim Carrey movie list is complete without this comedy masterpiece. Box office earnings and ratings aside The Mask is a definite favorite of mine, along with 71,575 voters on IMDB. If this list was made based on humor genius alone, The Mask would top this list. Hands down.

9. Horton Hears A Who (2008)

Jim Carrey provided the starring voice in this hit from the Dr. Seuss library. It was a box office, critical, and audience success that has seen great sales on DVD as well.

10. Yes Man (2008)

Jim Carrey plays a man who makes a life changing decision to say yes to everything. It grossed a modest $97 million by Carrey comedy standards, but received positive reviews and a solid 7.0 rating on IMDB.

1. Home Alone

Kevin McAllister is a young boy who finds himself home alone after his family accidentally leaves him behind for Christmas vacation. He is thrilled at first, until he learns just how much he depends on his family for companionship and support. When robbers threaten to break into his house, he knows he must muster up some independence and fight back.

2. Muppet Christmas Carol

Michael Caine teams up with the Muppets for a retelling of the classic A Christmas Carol. With a cast of mostly non-human entities, the story is given a fresh twist that people of all ages are sure to enjoy.

3. The Santa Clause

In this movie, Tim Allen stars as a savvy toy businessman who accidentally kills Santa; as a result, he must take over the role, much to his chagrin. While his son is quick to accept it, others take his rapid weight gain as a sign of bigger problems.

4. It’s a Wonderful Life

Poor George Bailey is at the end of his rope; it is Christmas Eve, and when many are feeling celebratory, he is miserable. It takes the help of a guardian angel to get him back into the holiday spirit and show him just how much good he has really done.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington rules over Halloween, but he finds himself unhappy with this role. After accidentally stumbling into the world of Christmas, he becomes determined to claim that time of year for his own; and that means getting rid of Santa Claus.

6. Elf

Buddy the Elf moves out of Santa’s Workshop and into human society as he tries to find his real dad. Soon enough, he learns that the real world is not as cheery and content as he had become accustomed.

7. A Christmas Story

All the little boy wanted was a BB gun for Christmas, and yet the adults in his life seem determined to thwart this wish. With many laughs abound, this movie is considered a classic by many.

8. White Christmas

World War II veterans turned entertainers find true love and save the livelihood of a friend in this vintage Christmas movie. With many musical numbers and a cast of likable characters, this should be on any person’s watch list.

9. Miracle on 34th Street

While people are happy to grasp the concept of Santa, when a man named Kris Kringle claims to be the real deal, he soon finds himself labeled insane. If he does not prove to the world, and a cynical little girl, that he is real, Christmas may never be the same.

10. Scrooged

Greedy businessman Frank Cross finds himself acting out the story of A Christmas Carol.

1. Get Him to the Greek

With Jonah Hill and Russell Brand leading the way, Get Him to the Greek succeeds on multiple levels. Directed by the same man who brought you Forgetting Sarah Marshall, this Nicholas Stoller film provides funny performances with a plot that works. It runs on the dry humor of Hill, with plenty of one liners to keep movie quoters afloat for the duration of the summer.

2. MacGruber

The big problem with most comedy films is that they rehash the same tired characters over and over. This film featured Will Forte, Ryan Phillipe and a great performance from Val Kilmer, adding something different in a tried and true comedy world. Though only slapstick humor, MacGruber was funny enough to satisfy audiences.

3. Death at a Funeral

Sometimes a movie’s deficiencies must be overcome by a great cast of actors. Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock qualify and their performance in this movie is what makes it great. The dialogue between Lawrence and Rock is classic, as they become the primary draw in this one.

4. Date Night

Any time Steve Carell is involved, expectations are going to be high. In Date Night, he and Tina Fey played the lead, and produced a moderately funny comedy. Carell himself was able to carry the action, as the plot left something to be desired. Performances from Ray Liotta and Mila Kunis were highly underrated and helped to round out the sophisticated comedy cast.

5. Greenberg

This Ben Stiller flick is a bit more nuanced, as it doesn’t bring the “in your face” comedy style for which he has become famous. Still, he is electric in his role as a down and out New Yorker, and the plot is funny despite hitting home for many viewers in today’s economy.

6. Cop Out

An early February release, Cop Out benefited at the box office from a lack of comedy alternatives. With former SNL funny man Tracey Morgan teaming up with Bruce Willis, there are some moments where the actors’ tension produces the humor. With an uncharacteristically funny performance from Sean William Scott to top things off, Cop Out was as funny as an overdone police movie could be.

7. Our Family Wedding

This film touched on many sensitive themes, including interracial marriages and cultural strife. Still, Forrest Whitaker delivers in his customary way, and Carlos Mencia is there to provide humor on the side. Anyone who has been through a wedding can enjoy the mishaps and hilarity that ensue when the pressure is so high.

8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This is a somewhat different comedy attempt, as it is an adaptation from an illustrated work. The work includes some real life adventures that just about anyone can relate to, which makes it especially funny at parts. Zachary Gordon also provides something of a come-out performance.

9. Hot Tub Time Machine

In typical fashion, many of the funniest parts of this movie were shown in the trailer. It was still good enough to produce laughs for a couple of hours, though. The idea behind the movie is somewhat cheesy, but the situations and performances are good enough. A guest appearance by Chevy Chase is what puts this movie over the top.

10. I Love you, Phillip Morris

Jim Carey’s latest film can be called many things, with funny and weird among those things. A racy film about a gay love affair and a con scheme, this one was not as popular at the box office as it should have been. Not surprisingly, it is Carey’s performance that powers this film.

10. Marriage

The romance between Rob and Kristen. Is it real? Is it just hype? Apparently Rob Pattinson really did propose marriage to Kristen Stewart. She said no. The world was shocked and dismayed. The stock market somehow managed to open on the following business day- but even that was half-hearted and somehow sad.

9. Lookin’ For Trouble

Robert Pattinson is currently the #6 most searched for star on STARmeter Top 10. What does this mean? Obviously there are many MANY takers on the offer he gave to Kristen Stewart. Many of us would pay money to see what he gets in his fan mail every day.

8. People Will Buy Anything

When Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the series was released it sold 1.3 million copies in the first 24 hours. Sarah Palin’s book Going Rogue sold 700,000 copies in the first week. This has nothing to do with anything, I just think chicks in helicopters with guns are hot. Though it is interesting how one piece of fiction can so easily outsell another….

7. Dreams

Author Stephenie Meyer was a stay-at-home mother of three when the idea for Twilight came to her. She says the idea for the book came to her in a dream. She dreamed the scene with Bella and Edward in the woods, and sat down the next day and wrote it. The rest followed. Why couldn’t she fuel her boredom with Xanex and vodka like the rest of the bored housewives I know?

6. Special Effect Genuis

In the ballet-studio fight scene, honey and chicken were used to simulate “parts and peices.” I submit cooking it and serving it on a buffet would have been more productive. “Children are starving in Japan,” my mother would say. Now we know why. Another piece of FX trivia for you; before CGI, red food coloring and oatmeal was the preferred method of making lava.

5. Not First

Stephanie Meyer’s top pick to play Edward Cullen was little known actor Henry Cavill, and not Robert Pattinson. Honestly? Did it matter THAT MUCH? Any underwear model would have done just as well. Apparently in the beginning Meyer’s view of Edward differed radically from Pattinson’s. In the end Pattison played it his way. Said Meyer of the performance “..in the performance, he did what he wanted, and it turned out how I wanted it.”

4. Another shocker

The script for the movie only took six weeks to finish. Yup, a month and a half. I was surprised it took that long. Perhaps it had something to do with how well written the books were….

3. Identifying

The character Bella grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. Coincidentally enough so did the author of the series, Stephenie Meyer. This leads one to wonder if being porked by a vampire is some sort of compulsion the author might have. BERRY interestink.

2. More Evidence

Meyer named a few of the characters from the series after ex-boyfriends. Hmmm, this is starting to take on a pattern….. In the article 10 Ways to Survive a Break Up it does not mention becoming an author and turning your former love interests into a bloodsucking creatures in print. They have lawyers for that sort of thing.

1. Fan Fiction

A Google search for Twilight fanfiction sites yields about 962,000 results (in 0.23 seconds- who cares?). A web search for Trek Trek fanfiction yields but 518,000 results (in 0.30 seconds- guess they’re older). This proves conclusively that there are more 12-16 year-olds than Trekkies (or Trekkers) on the internet… Having said that, let’s launch some prep-school tweeners into space.