It takes a certain kind of brilliance to be stupid.
Crafting a joke so disarmingly dumb that you can’t help but laugh requires clockwork precision. It is the kind of skill that often goes unrecognized by Oscar voters, but comedy—the kind that truly hits you in the gut—is some of the hardest filmmaking to pull off.
Whether it is the physical feats of silent-era pioneers like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin; the stylish screwball comedies of Howard Hawks and Preston Sturges; or the over-the-top spoofs of Mel Brooks, Abrahams, and Zucker, the best movie comedies expertly blend concept with perfectly timed execution in a way that makes it all look effortless.
That tradition roars back to life on our screen this weekend with “The Naked Gun,” a legacy sequel to the beloved crime-spoof franchise. “The Naked Gun” is a capital-C Comedy: a tight 90 minutes with a joke in every single one. It updates the material for today without losing the core appeal of the original: a movie designed to make you laugh with the dumbest gags imaginable.
Comedies like “The Naked Gun” have mostly been relegated to streaming in recent years, fueling the misconception that they are not worth seeing in a theater. But its release is a welcome reminder of why comedies have always been essential to movie history: When it comes to the theatrical experience, there is nothing like laughing with a crowd.
Now Playing
“The Bad Guys 2”
A family-friendly heist film from Dreamworks Animation.
A family-friendly spin on the heist movie, Mr. Wolf and his crew are back for one last job in “The Bad Guys 2”! Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, and Maria Bakalova join Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkwafina in this new adventure that sees the titular team pulled back into a life of crime by an all-female squad of thieves.
Starts Friday.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
A retrofuturistic adventure with Marvel’s first family!
Director Matt Shakman (“WandaVision”) brings a retrofuturistic spin to the first family of comics with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”! When Earth becomes targeted by ravenous space god Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), it is up to Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) to do what they do best: save the world.
Coming Soon
“Freakier Friday”
Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis see lightning strike twice in “Freakier Friday”! This follow-up to the beloved early aughts comedy sees mother and daughter swap bodies with a new generation right before their families are set to merge.
Starts August 8.
“The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg”
A pioneering figure in Major League Baseball, celebrate “The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg” with director Aviva Kempner on August 16! A power hitter for the Detroit Tigers who faced down antisemitism throughout his career, Greenberg’s story continues to resonate nearly 100 years after his first at bat. After the film, join Aviva for a discussion about what it took to create the film and its legacy over 25 years after its release.
August 16, at 7 p.m.
“Mishmash presents: A Dirty Shame”
Host of the long-running freeform radio show “Mishmash,” Michelle Kaplan brings her singular sense of cultural exploration to The Triplex on August 19! Join Michelle for “Mishmash presents: A Dirty Shame,” a screening of the obscenely out-there late John Waters classic starring Tracey Ullman, Johnny Knoxville, and Selma Blair.
In a small town split between the puritanical neuters and the horn-dog perverts, prudish Sylvia Stickles (Ullman) has her life turned upside down after an accident transforms her into a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world’s greatest orgasm, igniting a sexual revolution that threatens to tear their town apart.
August 19, at 8 p.m.
Queer Cinema Club: “But I’m a Cheerleader”
Join programmer Champika Fernando for the inaugural installment of Queer Cinema Club! A meetup for queer folks in the Berkshires, Hudson Valley, and beyond, Queer Cinema Club is a showcase of some of the best films in the queer canon. First up: Jamie Babbit’s “But I’m a Cheerleader,” the early ’00s conversion-camp, coming-of-age story starring Natasha Lyonne, Clea Duvall, and RuPaul Charles. Pulling inspiration from John Waters, “Edward Scissorhands,” and “Barbie,” don’t miss your chance to see this cult classic on the big screen!
August 20, at 8 p.m.
