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• Comedies of the last 10 years

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Best in Show

Christopher Guest has become the master of the mockumentary, yet this 2000 entry is easily his greatest stroke of genius. Guest and company play a group of dog owners hell-bent on winning the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, infusing witty, dark humor with genuine love for the subject matter and characters. Standouts include Fred Willard as a wildly incompetent announcer at the dog show and Parker Posey as a yuppie who berates anyone who comes between her dog and the blue ribbon.

Mean Girls

Before Tina Fey was Liz Lemon and the media darling that she is today, she penned this 2004 film, regarded as the standout teen comedy of the decade. Mean Girls proves that teen comedies can be razor-sharp and adult-friendly while still holding true to their prom-set roots. What makes Mean Girls so successful is that in the midst of all the absurdity that takes place on-screen, reality is also present as the film gives viewers a biting critique of high school life while still remaining monstrously funny. Rachel McAdams plays super-bitch Regina George to perfection, while Fey herself, Amanda Seyfried, Amy Poehler, and Tim Meadows round out a stellar supporting cast. Even Lindsay Lohan, love her or hate her, is great as the girl who gets sucked into the “plastic” lifestyle.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

No single person has had a bigger influence on the current state of comedy than Judd Apatow. Just his name alone is enough to draw huge crowds to theaters. For his first feature as director, Apatow tells the tale of Andy (Steve Carell), a man who is exactly what the film’s title implies. The film is an uproarious, sweet-natured comedy that really puts its talented cast to use. Carell and Catherine Keener are joined by a slew of stars who became Apatow staples and big names themselves after this picture, most notably Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen. For one movie to have such an impact on the way comedies are made is astounding, as The 40-Year-Old Virgin paved the way for such hits as Superbad, Knocked Up and the upcoming Funny People.