80's Comedy Face-off - The Final

[Doc Holliday]

So here we are at last. Here are all eight again, with their most popular film from the 80's, as chosen by us.

Tough. tough tough tough. Depending on which films had made it to the final, I could have ended up voting for at least four of these guys. But given the films on offer, my final vote goes to Steve Martin in Planes, Trains and Automobiles - depsite Trading Places' double-header (a potential vote-splitter that could yet undo this contender).

For the last time then - over to you folks!

[The Vicar]

Well, Ghostbusters was probably the best film out of all those offered...so by default, Bill Murray got my vote.

Doesn't mean I'm happy about it.

[tapehead]

Ackroyd - Trading Places - it's the goddamn Citizen Kane of '80's' American comedies, and Ackroyd's finest hour in a comedy performance.

[Fried Gold]

I voted for Rick Moranis in Little Shop of Horrors.

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

Oh. I thought this was a vote to see who was the OVERALL funniest COMEDIAN of the 80s, not the FILM that had the funniest comedian.

Hmm, I'll say no more.

Other than, guys, make sure you vote for the film not because of how funny it is on it's own, but vote for the film that has the funniest comedy PERFORMANCE, and not 'cos of somethign else, like some stupid extra ina green anorak walking past and doing some ghey dance than getting the shit kicked outta him by an old woman, all the while as Clive Owen gets thrown out of a van in the foreground.

I'm going with Bill Murray in Ghostbusters then. Originally I would have voted Steve Martin as the funniest guy from the 80s overall. His lighthearted clownlike performances, free from anything serious or heavy getting in the way of his fun style is what makes him stand out from the others. Not afraid of complete childish stupidity allowed this guy to get to a level of hilariousness that the others put limits on from reaching.

I don't think Plane's Trains and Automobiles was all that funny really. The sentimentality and attempt at drama and the more down to earth approach from Steve Martin, John Candy, the whole damn film gummed up the joke machine for me. So as far as a COMEDY goes, no, it don't do this job as well as other films. Martin was too straight for me, to actually make me laugh out loud at too.

So Ghostbusters it is then. Won't comment on it more. I said a lot about it in the Bill Murray thread, plus I'm supposed to be on Zone Holliday. I'll just say this, Bill Murray's Peter Venkman was so refreshing and inspiring about how cool and stupid you could be in real life and still get away with it, that he became my hero, and I wanted to become him. I think I did for a bit - and it worked! Sorta.

[The Thin Man]

I went for Dan Akroyd. If you look at the list, apart from Hanks who is the only non comedian in the list, he is the only one who is playing against type. The rest are just transferring their comedy personnas to the big screen.

[HollywoodBabylon]

Haven't seen the Martin film here, so that's discounted. Like Vicar says, a lot depends on whether you're judging the whole film itself or just the individual performances in it. With that in mind and trying to strike a balance between the two, I'll go for...let's see..Eddie Murphy in Trading Places with Ackroyd and Pryor as very close second.

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

Shit! All I had to do was press a flippin' button, then I saw Richard Pryor from Stir Crazy!

Shit! Shit! Ooow shit, Skip! This won't be easy now.

[tapehead]

I went for Dan Akroyd. If you look at the list, apart from Hanks who is the only non comedian in the list, he is the only one who is playing against type. The rest are just transferring their comedy personnas to the big screen.

Sure, but in the '80's', Hanks was a comedian - that's where he got his start. Interestingly enough, he's one of just a couple here that didn't come from SNL. Martin was never a cast member even thought he hosted alot, right?

[The Vicar]

I went for Dan Akroyd. If you look at the list, apart from Hanks who is the only non comedian in the list, he is the only one who is playing against type. The rest are just transferring their comedy personnas to the big screen.

Sure, but in the '80's', Hanks was a comedian - that's where he got his start. Interestingly enough, he's one of just a couple here that didn't come from SNL. Martin was never a cast member even thought he hosted alot, right?

Dead on, bro.

[havocSchultz]

just a couple here that didn't come from SNL. Martin was never a cast member even thought he hosted alot, right?

Right.
I believe, until recently - he had the record for the most SNL hosting gigs...

I think Alec Baldwin might have him beat now...

But yeah - Martin was never an official cast member.
And I don't think John Candy was either.
He was part of SCTV - but I don't recall him actually making the SNL jump...

[The Vicar]

just a couple here that didn't come from SNL. Martin was never a cast member even thought he hosted alot, right?

Right.
I believe, until recently - he had the record for the most SNL hosting gigs...

I think Alec Baldwin might have him beat now...

But yeah - Martin was never an official cast member.
And I don't think John Candy was either.
He was part of SCTV - but I don't recall him actually making the SNL jump...

Nope.
Never did.

Only the fat comics die young.......

( Belushi, Candy, Farley......et al )

[The Thin Man]

I went for Dan Akroyd. If you look at the list, apart from Hanks who is the only non comedian in the list, he is the only one who is playing against type. The rest are just transferring their comedy personnas to the big screen.

Sure, but in the '80's', Hanks was a comedian - that's where he got his start. Interestingly enough, he's one of just a couple here that didn't come from SNL. Martin was never a cast member even thought he hosted alot, right?

What I meant was that he was an actor who started off in comedies whereas the rest started out in standup. Mind you, some of his early stuff, like Bachelor Party, can hardly be called acting.

[HollywoodBabylon]

Shit! All I had to do was press a flippin' button, then I saw Richard Pryor from Stir Crazy!

Shit! Shit! Ooow shit, Skip! This won't be easy now.

Yes, Kirk, the only reason I voted Murphy just ahead of Pryor was that I thought Trading Places was a better overall film than Stir Crazy, but as a performance alone Pryor's was just as funny....the reason I picked Murphy above Ackroyd was I think he was a shade more enjoyable and anarchic, though certainly Ackroyd's performance had more pathos to it and a certain tragi-comedy element (in a Bill Murray kind of way).

[tapehead]

I went for Dan Akroyd. If you look at the list, apart from Hanks who is the only non comedian in the list, he is the only one who is playing against type. The rest are just transferring their comedy personnas to the big screen.

Sure, but in the '80's', Hanks was a comedian - that's where he got his start. Interestingly enough, he's one of just a couple here that didn't come from SNL. Martin was never a cast member even thought he hosted alot, right?

What I meant was that he was an actor who started off in comedies whereas the rest started out in standup. Mind you, some of his early stuff, like Bachelor Party, can hardly be called acting.

Seem to remember reading Hanks did do stand up, but I may well be wrong.

[TheBaxter]

damn, i can't split my vote between murphy and akroyd on trading places. i chose murphy, because he carries the film a bit more, but i could have gone with either.

[darkjedijaina]

i had to go with Bill Murray for this one. call it childhood nostalgia, but damn i really love him, especially in Ghostbusters.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Nice job onna this a series, eh Doc? I dinna know we were gonna to have a the final face off, anna I gotta to say, it was a the tough choice inna the end, eh?

[Doc Holliday]

Thanks Dino - its not easy at all. Half an hour ago I was ruing not choosing Chevy Chase. But I bet if I went home and watched STIR CRAZY tonight, I'd feel even more of a putz than usual....

[instant_karma]

Seem to remember reading Hanks did do stand up, but I may well be wrong.

Maybe your thinking of Punchline, where he played a really bad stand up.

Went for Billy Murray in the end, but it felt like a betrayal of all the other guys.

I haven't faced a tough choice like that since the time I had to choose between stopping an orphanage from burning down, or having a 2nd bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes. They're so damn moreish...

[Doc Holliday]

Its an age-old dilemma...Crispy Brats or Crunchy Nuts.

You chose............wisely.

/Templar Knight

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

What if it was an Orphange or a Whorehouse that was burning down?

A Whorehouse might have zero value, but I mean, you do know that those orphan kids are just gonna grow up to be wanker chavs who will throw you off trains right?

[Lady Sheridan]

It was a tough call...but I went with John Candy, although there's movies I find him funnier in. He is just my overwhelming funny 80's memory.

But Ghostbusters comes REALLY close...

[instant_karma]

What if it was an Orphange or a Whorehouse that was burning down?

A Whorehouse might have zero value, but I mean, you do know that those orphan kids are just gonna grow up to be wanker chavs who will throw you off trains right?

There's a difference between and orphanage and a whorehouse?!?

[Lord Voldemoo]

jesus christ this is hard.

Ok...I'm going with Murray and Ghostbusters. His deadpan comedic style really works for me and worked perfectly in that film.

[havocSchultz]

What if it was an Orphange or a Whorehouse that was burning down?

A Whorehouse might have zero value, but I mean, you do know that those orphan kids are just gonna grow up to be wanker chavs who will throw you off trains right?

There's a difference between and orphanage and a whorehouse?!?

Ya...

At an orphanage, the sex is free...

[WinslowLeach]

"Ive been known to circumsize a gnat!....You're not a gnat are ya Bug?...wait a second....Bug...Gnat....is there a similarity there? I think there IS!..."

[Pacino86845]

Damn, Doc, this has been a most excellent series of polls, around an awesome theme! I went with Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, 'cause it's Bill Fuckin' Murray!

[The Vicar]

What if it was an Orphange or a Whorehouse that was burning down?

A Whorehouse might have zero value, but I mean, you do know that those orphan kids are just gonna grow up to be wanker chavs who will throw you off trains right?

There's a difference between and orphanage and a whorehouse?!?

Basically the cost of sex......

[WinslowLeach]

Bill IS great. No argument there!!

[tfactor]

I too voted Murray & Ghostbusters primarily because up until a couple months ago we had a CaddyShack restaurant here in Mytle Beach which had the best Chili Cheese Fries. But alas they are gone now. Bill has had a tough year, so I happily raise my pint and offer this toast:

Bill you are a comedy legend and I hope you continue to .. eat drink and be Murray - that was the restaurants tagline, in case you've never been there

[havocSchultz]

What if it was an Orphange or a Whorehouse that was burning down?

A Whorehouse might have zero value, but I mean, you do know that those orphan kids are just gonna grow up to be wanker chavs who will throw you off trains right?

There's a difference between and orphanage and a whorehouse?!?

Basically the cost of sex......

Great minds and what-not eh...?

What if it was an Orphange or a Whorehouse that was burning down?

A Whorehouse might have zero value, but I mean, you do know that those orphan kids are just gonna grow up to be wanker chavs who will throw you off trains right?

There's a difference between and orphanage and a whorehouse?!?

Ya...

At an orphanage, the sex is free...

[minstrel]

Dan Ayckroyd in Trading Places. It's the movie out of that bunch that I enjoy most, at least this morning. Strong arguments can be made for all of them, though.

[Vegeta]

Murray in Ghostbusters. The only choice I voted for from the original polls that showed up in the final.

[TheButcher]

Lily Tomlin 9 to 5